Attendance Policy

The student population at ALHOSN University is an exceptional one in that the majority of our students are somewhat older than the typical college student, many are working full-time, and about half are even married. Finding the time to attend class is not as simple for our students as it is for younger, single, and unemployed students.

American-born and -raised college students do generally attend classes on their own violation even though the vast majority of undergraduate schools do not require attendance as a matter of university-wide policy (although individual professors generally have the right to set their own attendance policies).

American graduate schools are an entirely different matter: Attendance is usually strictly enforced, especially at professional graduate schools. In other words, programs that lead to professional licensing such as law school, medical school, engineering programs, and graduate degree programs in psychology and social work maintain rigid attendance policies and strictly enforce them. These attendance requirements are generally coming directly from each profession’s accrediting body, i.e., professional schools must enforce strict attendance policies or they will lose their accreditation. When I was attending the master’s and doctoral degree programs at Columbia University, we were only allowed three absences per class per semester. After three absences, we would automatically receive an administrative grade of “F.”

In terms of sociodemographic characteristics and logistical pressures, our undergraduate students resemble American doctoral students. The reality is it takes an enormous amount of motivation and self-discipline to study and complete assignments on your own when there is no teacher standing over you to make sure that you do the work. The truth is, this is the main reason why an estimated 51 percent of all doctoral students who complete all their coursework and exams (what we call “all but dissertation” or ABD) never finish their degrees (Townsend, 2008): They lack the discipline to work independently (i.e., write a doctoral dissertation) without the structure that enforced class attendance provides. Like the majority of our students at ALHOSN University, most American doctoral students have very busy lives and never seem to find the time to write their dissertations. After seven to eight years, approximately 51 percent of all doctoral students are dropped from the university's registrar and are no longer eligible to receive a degree from that school. All that time and money has been wasted.

Given the enormous family and work obligations that most of our students have outside of class, we know that the majority of our students would not find the time to complete the readings and other requirements on their own without the twice-weekly structure that enforced attendance provides. In addition, allowing students to arrive in class at various times throughout a 90-minute class is not only disruptive to the instructor but to the other students as well.

What Time Does the Class Really Start?

University policy allows students a 10-minute grace period. Personally, I think this leeway is more than adequate and even generous. I expect all students to be in class as close to the beginning of the hour as possible. Please be advised that:

1. Students who are not in attendance by 10 minutes after the start of class will be marked absent. Under no circumstances will any exceptions be made.
2. Students who leave the class after attendance is taken and are absent for more than 10 minutes will also be marked absent.
3. Students who leave the class before the class is formally dismissed will be marked absent.
4. If you have a bona fide time conflict between school and work, you MUST get the conflict resolved from a supervisor or manager at work before the class begins. You cannot resolve the conflict by consistently coming late to class. The University can and will provide you with a letter for this purpose.

If you plan on attending class, then please allow enough time for commuting, traffic, and parking. If you come to class late, please do not speak with me at the end of class for the purpose of negotiating a change in your absence status. I do not plan to be in the position of having to make case-by-case judgment calls about who has a good versus bad reason for being late.

University policy allows students seven (7) absences per class per semester without penalty. Seven absences represents close to one-third of our class time together (figuring 12 full weeks of classes after subtracting the two weeks for exams and review). Use your allowed absences wisely.

Please Note: If you anticipate needing to be absent for more than one consecutive class, I urge you to speak directly with Provost Tennant so that a possible exception can be made. Only the Provost’s office can reverse a recorded absence.

Notes

Townsend, R. B. (2008). Challenges for History Doctoral Programs and Students: Rising Admissions and High Attrition. American Historical Association. Retrieved July 21, 2011 from http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/2008/0805/0805new1.cfm