By Bricey Bradshaw
Guest writer
As of this new school year, Shorter University has enacted a new attendance policy that all students must follow.
According to Shorter’s website, classes meeting three times per week are allotted 11
absences. Classes that are meeting two times per week are allotted six, and classes meeting one time per week are allotted three. If students hit the “11th,” “7th,” or “4th” absence, they will receive a grade of “FA” (Failure for Absences) for that class.
According to the new policy, an absence is defined as non-attendance for any reason, whether illness, emergency or official leave. Basically, “Shorter excused” does not exist any more.
In order to make up an assignment or an exam for the class, pertinent documentation related to the reason of absence must be presented to the professor. Students scheduled to represent Shorter at university-sponsored events must make arrangements with the professor prior to the event if an exam falls on the same day.
Faculty, staff, and students have many differing opinions about this new policy.
Speaking generally, many professors think it’s too generous, some student athletes are frustrated and confused by it and non-athletes love it.
Some professors have even added their own attendance expectations into their syllabi, stating that if a student misses more than two classes per semester in a 3-day-a-week, he or she will fail the class.
Cynthia Womack, executive assistant to the provost, says that she likes the new attendance policy.
“I think the new policy is easy to understand. It creates a school-wide standard for all students to follow so that each professor doesn’t have to come up with his own,” explains Womack.
Some students who do not participate in sports agree with the new policy. They think that it is lenient and generous.
Hannah Hughes, senior early childhood education major, explains that for the most part she agrees with the policy.
“Being a part of the Education Department has made me accustomed to always being at class anyways, so I think that as long as students are responsible about their attendance decisions, this policy is a good thing,” stated Hughes.
However, some athletes are less than thrilled with the policy. Lindsey Crawford, junior nursing major and part of the Lady Hawks basketball team, is nervous about missing too many classes because of tournaments and away games.
“At first I was nervous about the new policy because of our traveling basketball schedule, and I didn’t know how it was going to work out,” said Crawford. ”However, I have faith that the administration will work with the athletic department to make sure we will be taken care of.”
