With midterms wrapped up and the end of the semester quickly approaching, this time of year is characterized by students weighing their options for the last of the semester.
With the final withdrawal date passed, students needing a change are now locking in, with the final push towards finals coming in at full force.
One of the factors of success at Ferris is attendance, with several professors across departments enlisting an attendance policy to keep students active in class.
Feelings on campus are mixed about attendance policies, with some students and faculty finding that it holds people accountable, providing that extra push and motivation to go to class, yet others find that it discourages them from going to class.
Professors who have an attendance policy are concerned that students aren’t retaining the information or taking full advantage of their learning opportunities. In their eyes, students should attend class because they are paying to be there.
History and Justice professor Jana Pisani explained that making sure students are with the material is a primary concern.
“I get worried if students don’t attend class because I don’t know if they’re even reading the material or how they’re learning,” Pisani said.
She further explained that she feels it’s important for students to be there in person in order to absorb the material, learn and participate.
Professors have also noticed a difference in performance in students who come to class versus those who don’t.
Early childhood education professor Nicole Erickson stated that she could attest to this sentiment.
“Students who don’t come to class will not understand the content or how to apply it,” Erickson said.
Erickson further expressed that when students miss important questions that are covered in class, they typically end up doing poorly in the class or failing, which can result in students having to retake the course.
On the other side of this debate, some professors don’t have an attendance policy and think students should have the freedom to choose.
Mathematics professor Mike Decker explained that college students are adults and have the ability to make their own decisions.
“I’m not gonna play babysitter, we’re all adults here,” Decker said. “I’m not gonna try and make you come to class with some gimmicky sort of thing that gives you points for being here, not me”.
Decker also acknowledged that students have a life outside of class and that sometimes, things arise unexpectedly.
“If they do have a reason for not coming, it’s probably a good reason,” Decker said. “I wouldn’t use an attendance policy that just like terribly hurts somebody who just misses a few classes.”
Attendance policies have often been thought to motivate students to succeed and implement accountability in regards to their education and career skills.
Nursing junior Aubriana Foster explained that from her point of view, attendance points are the easiest to earn in a class while helping a student stay successful.
“They’re pretty helpful, especially because I think it’s easy points to just show up to class,” Foster said. “I feel like an attendance policy should count toward a final grade. I think attendance is pretty important in maintaining a good grade.”
She further noted that an attendance policy has never kept her from taking a class.
Some students don’t agree that an attendance policy is helpful.
Music Business junior Cervonte’ Plair explained that if a medical emergency happens, students can be wrongfully punished for that.
“I can’t be there because I’m hospitalized. I’m trying not to lose those points because I’m not able to make it,” Plair said. “Thankfully, since I came to Ferris, I haven’t had a bad professor. I had bad people, but never a bad professor.”
According to professor and department chair of interdisciplinary studies Kristin Conley, Ferris has a good retention rate and does not commonly find students withdrawing from classes.
“I don’t have a huge attendance problem. Even right now I haven’t had one person that didn’t come this week.”
Conley emphasized that it all comes down to how you teach a course and leave an impact on your students.
Final exam season is approaching, with exam week beginning on Dec. 8 and final grades due on Dec. 15.