tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post9145486537031981830..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Stumped Stevo Poses an Early Thirsty. "What Do I Say?"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-81862806431402125262011-04-02T16:55:13.999-04:002011-04-02T16:55:13.999-04:00If I were in your shoes, I would ask myself, "...If I were in your shoes, I would ask myself, "What if I don't bend the rules, and then the student freaks out and kills herself or someone else?" So I tend to bend the rules, but only as much as is necessary to avoid feeling regret/remorse/guilt later on.Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-56273865300727507302011-03-30T22:34:43.476-04:002011-03-30T22:34:43.476-04:00It *is* tough when they are older than you. But t...It *is* tough when they are older than you. But that's not relevant to the situation at hand -- you are credentialed to be teaching them, whatever your age. So, yeah, I'm on the side of documentation. You can even ask for it somewhat apologetically, as in, "I'm terribly sorry to add to your burden, but documentation is required to excuse the absence." Note the excellent Frog and Toadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377542172335502858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-37392318582361754902011-03-30T19:46:00.069-04:002011-03-30T19:46:00.069-04:00Establish and maintain a hierarchy of valid excuse...Establish and maintain a hierarchy of valid excuses with appropriate standards for documentation - and enforce the requirements.<br /><br />In some cases, the proper remedy is denial of excuse, in some cases the solution is a medical withdrawal. A structured, documented rack of W's is better than a pile of F's. And a medical or other planned withdrawal provides a path for return when cerberushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815215612313814929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-32954485861977185572011-03-30T19:15:44.258-04:002011-03-30T19:15:44.258-04:00I require documentation, dead grandmother in Mexic...I require documentation, dead grandmother in Mexico? Surgery? Colicy baby? Show me the paperwork. The one I won't accept, jail time. I had a student call me from jail once wanting an extension.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12653265363298375065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-249605636160643042011-03-30T17:57:20.819-04:002011-03-30T17:57:20.819-04:00I'd cut slack once, but make it clear that you...I'd cut slack once, but make it clear that you'll need documentation, just like you would with other students, and notify them that they'll need to negotiate with you in the future, if they have outside responsibilities, just like you would have to do with your chair if you had to drive your mom to her MRI during a time when you needed to be in class (if it were a regular occurrence, The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-38521299424677906712011-03-30T15:37:19.964-04:002011-03-30T15:37:19.964-04:00My class doesn't have exams, but it does have ...My class doesn't have exams, but it does have several major papers. I allow all students one extension. No excuse is needed, they can request it for any assignment. I usually assign a new due date for a few days after the original one.<br /><br />With this particular case, I'd probably let her retake the exam. But for future classes, maybe including a policy about showing documentation. <Online Opheliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827136939916922069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-61830429997757868132011-03-30T10:56:25.059-04:002011-03-30T10:56:25.059-04:00Here are a couple of things that work for me.
Fir...Here are a couple of things that work for me.<br /><br />First, cut students some slack (did I just write that?). You have an official policy but it can't cover everything, like your 55 year old student's situation. Talk to that student and let them retake the exam. If this unofficial policy snowballs into everybody getting retakes, require more documentation for the next round of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-46926966002716839002011-03-30T09:58:06.098-04:002011-03-30T09:58:06.098-04:00I tend to be willing to give one "reasonable ...I tend to be willing to give one "reasonable high stakes excuse" card per course to a student (like your 55 year old with MS taking her mom for an MRI). She can't do it twice; at that point she has to accept that her current life circumstances make it impossible for her to take the class right now.<br /><br />I have a student who missed a test because he had to work. Then he Merely Academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00452389428113097744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-82111446405027046372011-03-30T09:51:57.035-04:002011-03-30T09:51:57.035-04:00Oh for Christ's sake. let her take the exam. A...Oh for Christ's sake. let her take the exam. Ask her for some sort of documentation if you want. Explain that it's just to be consistent (so other students can't say, 'well you didn't ask HER for proof!") but give the woman the exam.Middle-Aged and Morosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058963404500281265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-36386404494156432822011-03-30T09:23:31.014-04:002011-03-30T09:23:31.014-04:00Look at it like this: this is also training for th...Look at it like this: this is also training for the real world. The 55 yr old has to decide her priorities. A higher education may not be cut out for everyone. If someone is doing this for retraining purposes (due to the economy), they better get on the stick.<br /><br />If they are ill or have family problems, provide a reasonable, but defined, absence policy. <br /><br />If they said they had Dr Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444414777736734711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-72569350162945561862011-03-30T07:31:51.654-04:002011-03-30T07:31:51.654-04:00I find this is always easy for someone else's ...I find this is always easy for someone else's class, but never for my own.<br /><br />It's true that many returning students have pressures that far exceed those of a "traditional" college student.<br /><br />But, you need to continue to teach a college-level course, with deadlines, assignments, and accountability.<br /><br />Laxing it up for some with legitimate priorities Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com