The Waiting Room

I started receiving emails from academic ad visors asking me what Joe or Jane Student must do to pass my class. Joe/Jane Student has not attended class since the third week of school. Joe/Jane Student has not contacted me to explain their absence or to discuss a plan to make up the work But, Joe/Jane Student has not trouble crying to his/her advisor about how they are now in trouble and want to "atone".

My guess is that the majority of academic advisers just send these emails even though the advisor knows that there is a snowball's chance in hell that the student will make up the work, let alone be permitted to make up work. It shows the student that every possible remedy was exhausted, but the buck stops at the instructor.

In my experience, that has not always been the case. At my last college, instructors were often pressured, even bullied, into allow students to make up work, even if the instructor's syllabus stated that no make work is permitted. The administration viewed that such harshness has a negative impact on student success. Ultimately, instructors, particularly adjuncts, would cave because of possible blow back from defying authority.

I have not had that experience at New College yet. It seems that when I tell the advisor that the student is SOL, the advisor will accept my decision and explain it to the student.

And that's the way it should be. What are we teaching students if we say "We will let you make up all this work, even though you have missed 3/4 of the semester without explanation or reason." "So what if there are those students who busted their asses, despite dealing with serious problems or issues." How does that teach students that with success comes responsibility?

It doesn't. It just reinforces that the student's behavior and choices are acceptable.

So until either students get it or I find some other way to explain to students that no make up work means no make up work, I guess I will just keep answering the emails.