The Space-Time Continuum Page

The Attendance and Assignment Policies of
Shelley Reid, Austin College

Please note: The policies outlined below are general in nature; please consult your printed class syllabus for the individual nuances of your educational galaxy and temporal stratum.


Space

Your psychophysical presence is required in class. When you listen to views not your own, write notes to yourself about topics you hadn't yet considered, and voice publicly your reactions and analyses for others to learn from, you increase your own depth and breadth of learning immeasurably. Since I assume that students who are present in class are learning more than those who are not -- an assumption at least as useful as the assumption that students who do well on tests are learning more in class than those who are not -- I take attendance and use it as a component of your final grade.

Absences due to Uncontrollable Natural Disasters (illness, family emergencies, alien abductions) will be "excused" but will be noted; excuses other than UNDs need not be recited.

If you begin to accumulate absences of any sort, you should see me to make sure you're getting what you need to from the course. You also need to plan to be alert during class. Students who are psychically elsewhere may be marked absent.


Time

Lateness is allowed for (since past and present and future are, of course, all occurring all the time) but as in most places in our unremittingly linear society, it will not be without consequences.

Note: Sports competitions, class trips, interviews, and other school-associated events are laudable endeavors, but are not Uncontrollable Natural Disasters. While a conscientious student should be able to "make up" most missed work, some crucial class experiences are "had to be there" events, particularly those involving small group discussions, and thus sometimes neither the experience nor its grade-equivalent can be "made up." Students planning such absences must take responsibility for checking the syllabus, informing the instructor well in advance, and completing applicable assignments in advance. They should also attempt to reduce other absences; if students' total absence count reaches 4 or higher, they must take responsibility for contacting the instructor to discuss class participation and grade credit.

Penalties for late assignments cannot be erased by revision.


Continuum

Special cases will receive special consideration. Overwork, as you know from your friends' experiences, is not a special case. Alien abduction is a special case. Between the two lie a range of cases that can be discussed. Don't panic -- but do plan ahead when possible.


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Questions or comments to
Shelley Reid
sreid@austinc.edu

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