My university requires that I take attendance. How should I treat students who arrive late to class?











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I studied many courses, and the behaviour of faculty in this particular aspect varies from one another. The following are the behaviours of faculties I observed mostly:




  1. Allowing the latecomer into the class at any time and giving attendance to the latecomer.


  2. Allowing the latecomer into the class at any time, asking a reason for being late, and then giving attendance to the latecomer.


  3. Allowing the latecomer into the class, but giving attendance based on the reason the latecomer gives for being late.


  4. Disallowing the latecomer by closing doors or with strict instruction.



So, I came to the impression that it totally depends on the particular faculty. Mostly I observed 1, 2 and 4. I observed 3 very rarely.



But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.



What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards latecomers?



Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above 75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.










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  • 5




    I flagged as primarily opinion based. It depends on the institution and culture. Set a rule. Put it in the syllabus. Eg: class is 1 hour 15 minutes long. If 60% late, count absent. Less is just tardy if you even record that. University sets rule: 6 absences = fail. Department manages/escalates case by case. Professors and TAs are just people. Systems are just systems arguably made to be broken or abused by people and nature. We all abide by time. Choose a path of less resistance and apply effort toward quality instruction and assessments. “Rules were made to be broken.” IMHO
    – ThisClark
    2 days ago








  • 1




    When you record attendance you can only record an absent/present flag? Cannot you record the time for late comers so that they get some minutes removed from their attendance?
    – Bakuriu
    yesterday






  • 9




    Is there any requirement for being awake during the lecture? Do I get attendance if I arrive in time, then go to sleep, and no attendance if I'm late and listen attentively to the lecture?
    – gnasher729
    yesterday






  • 12




    Some people do not understand that institutions exist where recording attendance is mandatory inspite of the age of the students as the government requires a record of attendance as part of the continued issuing of a student visa. If the student does not attend and is expelled from the school, then the visa is cancelled and the student has to leave the country.
    – Solar Mike
    19 hours ago






  • 5




    In the US, it is often a requirement because of federal financial aid. When a school has too many aid cases flagged as "fraudulent" because students are taking out aid and then getting no credits (failing all their classes), they have to start showing that these are legitimate students (who show up).
    – Dawn
    17 hours ago















up vote
31
down vote

favorite
4












I studied many courses, and the behaviour of faculty in this particular aspect varies from one another. The following are the behaviours of faculties I observed mostly:




  1. Allowing the latecomer into the class at any time and giving attendance to the latecomer.


  2. Allowing the latecomer into the class at any time, asking a reason for being late, and then giving attendance to the latecomer.


  3. Allowing the latecomer into the class, but giving attendance based on the reason the latecomer gives for being late.


  4. Disallowing the latecomer by closing doors or with strict instruction.



So, I came to the impression that it totally depends on the particular faculty. Mostly I observed 1, 2 and 4. I observed 3 very rarely.



But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.



What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards latecomers?



Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above 75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.










share|improve this question




















  • 5




    I flagged as primarily opinion based. It depends on the institution and culture. Set a rule. Put it in the syllabus. Eg: class is 1 hour 15 minutes long. If 60% late, count absent. Less is just tardy if you even record that. University sets rule: 6 absences = fail. Department manages/escalates case by case. Professors and TAs are just people. Systems are just systems arguably made to be broken or abused by people and nature. We all abide by time. Choose a path of less resistance and apply effort toward quality instruction and assessments. “Rules were made to be broken.” IMHO
    – ThisClark
    2 days ago








  • 1




    When you record attendance you can only record an absent/present flag? Cannot you record the time for late comers so that they get some minutes removed from their attendance?
    – Bakuriu
    yesterday






  • 9




    Is there any requirement for being awake during the lecture? Do I get attendance if I arrive in time, then go to sleep, and no attendance if I'm late and listen attentively to the lecture?
    – gnasher729
    yesterday






  • 12




    Some people do not understand that institutions exist where recording attendance is mandatory inspite of the age of the students as the government requires a record of attendance as part of the continued issuing of a student visa. If the student does not attend and is expelled from the school, then the visa is cancelled and the student has to leave the country.
    – Solar Mike
    19 hours ago






  • 5




    In the US, it is often a requirement because of federal financial aid. When a school has too many aid cases flagged as "fraudulent" because students are taking out aid and then getting no credits (failing all their classes), they have to start showing that these are legitimate students (who show up).
    – Dawn
    17 hours ago













up vote
31
down vote

favorite
4









up vote
31
down vote

favorite
4






4





I studied many courses, and the behaviour of faculty in this particular aspect varies from one another. The following are the behaviours of faculties I observed mostly:




  1. Allowing the latecomer into the class at any time and giving attendance to the latecomer.


  2. Allowing the latecomer into the class at any time, asking a reason for being late, and then giving attendance to the latecomer.


  3. Allowing the latecomer into the class, but giving attendance based on the reason the latecomer gives for being late.


  4. Disallowing the latecomer by closing doors or with strict instruction.



So, I came to the impression that it totally depends on the particular faculty. Mostly I observed 1, 2 and 4. I observed 3 very rarely.



But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.



What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards latecomers?



Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above 75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.










share|improve this question















I studied many courses, and the behaviour of faculty in this particular aspect varies from one another. The following are the behaviours of faculties I observed mostly:




  1. Allowing the latecomer into the class at any time and giving attendance to the latecomer.


  2. Allowing the latecomer into the class at any time, asking a reason for being late, and then giving attendance to the latecomer.


  3. Allowing the latecomer into the class, but giving attendance based on the reason the latecomer gives for being late.


  4. Disallowing the latecomer by closing doors or with strict instruction.



So, I came to the impression that it totally depends on the particular faculty. Mostly I observed 1, 2 and 4. I observed 3 very rarely.



But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.



What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards latecomers?



Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above 75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.







students attendance






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edited 11 hours ago









Kat

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asked 2 days ago









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  • 5




    I flagged as primarily opinion based. It depends on the institution and culture. Set a rule. Put it in the syllabus. Eg: class is 1 hour 15 minutes long. If 60% late, count absent. Less is just tardy if you even record that. University sets rule: 6 absences = fail. Department manages/escalates case by case. Professors and TAs are just people. Systems are just systems arguably made to be broken or abused by people and nature. We all abide by time. Choose a path of less resistance and apply effort toward quality instruction and assessments. “Rules were made to be broken.” IMHO
    – ThisClark
    2 days ago








  • 1




    When you record attendance you can only record an absent/present flag? Cannot you record the time for late comers so that they get some minutes removed from their attendance?
    – Bakuriu
    yesterday






  • 9




    Is there any requirement for being awake during the lecture? Do I get attendance if I arrive in time, then go to sleep, and no attendance if I'm late and listen attentively to the lecture?
    – gnasher729
    yesterday






  • 12




    Some people do not understand that institutions exist where recording attendance is mandatory inspite of the age of the students as the government requires a record of attendance as part of the continued issuing of a student visa. If the student does not attend and is expelled from the school, then the visa is cancelled and the student has to leave the country.
    – Solar Mike
    19 hours ago






  • 5




    In the US, it is often a requirement because of federal financial aid. When a school has too many aid cases flagged as "fraudulent" because students are taking out aid and then getting no credits (failing all their classes), they have to start showing that these are legitimate students (who show up).
    – Dawn
    17 hours ago














  • 5




    I flagged as primarily opinion based. It depends on the institution and culture. Set a rule. Put it in the syllabus. Eg: class is 1 hour 15 minutes long. If 60% late, count absent. Less is just tardy if you even record that. University sets rule: 6 absences = fail. Department manages/escalates case by case. Professors and TAs are just people. Systems are just systems arguably made to be broken or abused by people and nature. We all abide by time. Choose a path of less resistance and apply effort toward quality instruction and assessments. “Rules were made to be broken.” IMHO
    – ThisClark
    2 days ago








  • 1




    When you record attendance you can only record an absent/present flag? Cannot you record the time for late comers so that they get some minutes removed from their attendance?
    – Bakuriu
    yesterday






  • 9




    Is there any requirement for being awake during the lecture? Do I get attendance if I arrive in time, then go to sleep, and no attendance if I'm late and listen attentively to the lecture?
    – gnasher729
    yesterday






  • 12




    Some people do not understand that institutions exist where recording attendance is mandatory inspite of the age of the students as the government requires a record of attendance as part of the continued issuing of a student visa. If the student does not attend and is expelled from the school, then the visa is cancelled and the student has to leave the country.
    – Solar Mike
    19 hours ago






  • 5




    In the US, it is often a requirement because of federal financial aid. When a school has too many aid cases flagged as "fraudulent" because students are taking out aid and then getting no credits (failing all their classes), they have to start showing that these are legitimate students (who show up).
    – Dawn
    17 hours ago








5




5




I flagged as primarily opinion based. It depends on the institution and culture. Set a rule. Put it in the syllabus. Eg: class is 1 hour 15 minutes long. If 60% late, count absent. Less is just tardy if you even record that. University sets rule: 6 absences = fail. Department manages/escalates case by case. Professors and TAs are just people. Systems are just systems arguably made to be broken or abused by people and nature. We all abide by time. Choose a path of less resistance and apply effort toward quality instruction and assessments. “Rules were made to be broken.” IMHO
– ThisClark
2 days ago






I flagged as primarily opinion based. It depends on the institution and culture. Set a rule. Put it in the syllabus. Eg: class is 1 hour 15 minutes long. If 60% late, count absent. Less is just tardy if you even record that. University sets rule: 6 absences = fail. Department manages/escalates case by case. Professors and TAs are just people. Systems are just systems arguably made to be broken or abused by people and nature. We all abide by time. Choose a path of less resistance and apply effort toward quality instruction and assessments. “Rules were made to be broken.” IMHO
– ThisClark
2 days ago






1




1




When you record attendance you can only record an absent/present flag? Cannot you record the time for late comers so that they get some minutes removed from their attendance?
– Bakuriu
yesterday




When you record attendance you can only record an absent/present flag? Cannot you record the time for late comers so that they get some minutes removed from their attendance?
– Bakuriu
yesterday




9




9




Is there any requirement for being awake during the lecture? Do I get attendance if I arrive in time, then go to sleep, and no attendance if I'm late and listen attentively to the lecture?
– gnasher729
yesterday




Is there any requirement for being awake during the lecture? Do I get attendance if I arrive in time, then go to sleep, and no attendance if I'm late and listen attentively to the lecture?
– gnasher729
yesterday




12




12




Some people do not understand that institutions exist where recording attendance is mandatory inspite of the age of the students as the government requires a record of attendance as part of the continued issuing of a student visa. If the student does not attend and is expelled from the school, then the visa is cancelled and the student has to leave the country.
– Solar Mike
19 hours ago




Some people do not understand that institutions exist where recording attendance is mandatory inspite of the age of the students as the government requires a record of attendance as part of the continued issuing of a student visa. If the student does not attend and is expelled from the school, then the visa is cancelled and the student has to leave the country.
– Solar Mike
19 hours ago




5




5




In the US, it is often a requirement because of federal financial aid. When a school has too many aid cases flagged as "fraudulent" because students are taking out aid and then getting no credits (failing all their classes), they have to start showing that these are legitimate students (who show up).
– Dawn
17 hours ago




In the US, it is often a requirement because of federal financial aid. When a school has too many aid cases flagged as "fraudulent" because students are taking out aid and then getting no credits (failing all their classes), they have to start showing that these are legitimate students (who show up).
– Dawn
17 hours ago










11 Answers
11






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126
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I use another option:



0) Allow all students in class and do not monitor attendance.



They are adults and they come to learn. As long as they do not disrupt the class they are free to come and go as they please. I do not see which purpose the monitoring of attendance serves. It sends the wrong signal and focuses students on signing the register sheet rather than on the objective of the class.



I do, however, start each class by thanking students who attend and come in time. Latecomers will miss this part.






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  • 21




    Policies are a product of agreement, and as such can be re-negotiated, if they are no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.
    – Dmitry Savostyanov
    2 days ago






  • 9




    Yes, the management agrees that this is the policy and we follow...
    – Solar Mike
    2 days ago






  • 88




    -1 I think this does not answer the question. The question (while poorly written and arguably not a good fit for this site) implies that the OP is at a mandatory-attendance institution, and is too far down the hierarchy to affect that policy. Such policies may come from non-teaching administration or state government and be beyond outside negotiation.
    – Daniel R. Collins
    2 days ago






  • 11




    @DmitrySavostyanov Policies can't necessarily be renegotiated. For example, I know at least one British university that takes attendance in lectures to demonstrate to the UK government that people given visas to study there are genuine students and not people committing immigration fraud. Now, the fact that not all British universities do that clearly shows that it's not a legal requiremnet, but there's no way on earth that you're going to get that university-wide policy changed.
    – David Richerby
    2 days ago






  • 27




    I think if the OP feels the attendance policy is non negotiably imposed from above, then the lateness policy must come from the same place.
    – emory
    2 days ago


















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67
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I'll try to provide an answer in light of the fact that many answers here will come from professors who do not realize how common it is for some college institutions to have mandatory attendance-taking policies. The OP's question is this:




What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards late comers?




My answer would be: Whatever is least disruptive and takes the least time away from focus on the academic subject matter.



Attendance-taking is, historically, an act taken by custodians of young children (elementary or secondary school). As you can see from other answers, many professors are actually aghast at the idea of taking time to track attendance for adult college students -- and rightfully so! However, I understand that the OP is at an institution where attendance-taking is mandatory (possibly via a policy by the academic department, college administration, funding agency, or state government).



Most professors will (I think) agree that attendance-taking is a distraction and painful loss of time from focus on the academic subject matter that we are there to share. So -- granted your institutional parameters -- I think that you should minimize such loss of time as much as possible. Some suggested cases:




  1. If it is in your power to waive attendance-taking, then do so.


  2. If you must take some kind of attendance records, consider whether it is in your power to define what "attendance" means for your course. Perhaps attendance (course participation) is adjudicated by the most recent work submission, or weekly activity in an online discussion board.


  3. If you must take actual attendance in-class, then find the protocol that you spend the least amount of time adjudicating (incl. time on excuses/arguments/challenges, etc.). Perhaps this is easiest via a sign-in sheet, simultaneous with a practice exercise, or at the end of class.







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  • 1




    @JeffE Assigned seats and a seating chart make it fairly fast, just mark off the empty seats, or it could be done electronically with classes that use "clicker" response systems during lectures (cue students giving their clicker to their friends to be marked present). It's all still more time consuming than not taking attendance at all.
    – Zach Lipton
    yesterday








  • 2




    @JeffE I know classes where there is a small (tiny) grade bonus for being in class. TAs hand out lists of every student supposed to be attending at the beginning of class and this list is passed around and signed. Sure that's not "secure" in any sense of the word. But I (student's perspective) think it probably works ok. There are harsh disciplinary measures for any kind of cheating and most students wouldn't anyway. (other than that I'm happy to be at a university which doesn't allow instructors to really enforce attendance)
    – Nobody
    yesterday






  • 2




    No, I’m not wondering how to force students to attend, but rather how to force instructors to accurately report attendance, as opposed to just reporting everyone present and getting on with their job.
    – JeffE
    yesterday








  • 3




    @JeffE I have heard horror stories where the institution audits the attendance records and follows up on irregularities (such as picture perfect attendance) by questioning the faculty member and the TAs(!) of the course. The reason for the frankly ridiculous audit was supposedly to prepare for an audit by the government, which should be no surprise at all. Amazing what magnifying effect a few layers of bureaucracy can have, isn't it.
    – SolveIt
    22 hours ago






  • 10




    Noone seems to have yet brought up that the reason this is required. The reasoning is related to financial aid fraud. It seems that students are taking out loans and then never attending courses (and failing the course, usually). The federal government believes this behavior is detrimental to both the government and the student (going into debt without getting any educational credits in the end). When a school has a lot of cases of this, the school can get sanctioned and can lose some of its aid. It is paternalistic, but the government also has an interest in spending its money well.
    – Dawn
    17 hours ago


















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In this case, attendance is a requirement mandated from above. You could ask for clarification from the powers that be who set the rule. For example, you could ask ... Is attendance to be recorded at the start, middle, or end of class? In other words, you could push the decision process back up the chain from where it came.



This approach is likely best done only when you have lots of free time, you have a thick skin, and you just want to annoy your superiors.



The inference is that you have the freedom to define your approach to how you record attendance. Dissecting each of your options, I might see them this way ...



1) You record attendance at the end of class



2) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses that you then ignore anyway



3) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses AND try to parse the excuses based on a matrix that relies on other potentially unclear and arbitrary rules AND use an on-the-spot decision from that ruling to erase attendance



4) You record attendance at the start of class AND shut out latecomers from even entering the class which only serves to annoy the "honest latecomers", stoke your ego, and count attendance twice because the latecomers may also be shut out of the final exam



I hope that, with this analysis, you see the excess overhead and futility of using options 2-4.



Let's presume that you do not have the option to IGNORE taking attendance. Perhaps for example you are mandated to make a report that proves that you did. In this case, I suggest, with the freedom that you have to define attendance, you have two approaches.



Attendance Means You Were Here for the (Majority of the) Lecture



Record attendance at a certain point in time near start of class and then be done with it. Latecomers should be allowed a certain grace, perhaps even to the middle of class. After that grace, they can show up but they will be recorded as having been absent. Attendance then becomes a consistent message, both in what it means and in when it is recorded. You don't bother yourself with policing attendance on-the-spot, either by parsing excuses or by shutting out latecomers.



When you would do as above, figure out how you will handle students who ARE late yet will try to say "I was there by the time the attendance was recorded and you missed me." The clicker system that is oft-used in US classrooms can be great for this ... With due diligence, it should not be easily cheated. Other methods have their pros and cons. In the end, whatever you decide to handle such cases, keep it simple and consistent.



Attendance Means You Were Here by the Time the Lecture Ended



Record attendance at the end of the lecture and be done with it.






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  • 1




    Overall, I like this approach, but I'm a bit unclear on whether the grace period you mention means that folks arriving then will be counted as in-attendance, or just that the door won't be locked against them. (Also, clicker attendance absolutely can be cheated; this came up recently when my institution tried to use them to count votes in faculty meetings, and a CS professor hacked the "trial" vote.)
    – 1006a
    2 days ago








  • 3




    It’s pretty easy. I have seen students come to class with eight clickers.
    – JeffE
    yesterday










  • @JeffE I've added "with due diligence" about clickers. Interesting to hear about the ease with which students can find loopholes. Perhaps this means that clickers should come with thumb-print or facial recognition as the only way to activate them.
    – Jeffrey J Weimer
    yesterday










  • Interestingly, "whence" already includes "from" merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whence
    – Azor Ahai
    14 hours ago










  • @AzorAhai Ha! Thanks. Fixed that one.
    – Jeffrey J Weimer
    10 hours ago


















up vote
8
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At university level students are adults. It is their choice, their life, their responsibility.



If they decide to come late and miss things this is their choice and their personal consequences. It is not the responsibility of a teacher at university level (Bachelors, Masters of Doctoral) to discipline them as schoolchildren or parents.



The only proviso is that they must not interfere with the learning opportunities of other students in the class by being disruptive. If they arrive late, they should do so discretely and give appropriate apologies if convenient.



I know many students who have family commitments (such as children's doctors appointments) or travel long distances to class and suffer the vagaries of the public transport system. It would be quite unfair and prejudicial to single them out with negative comments.



You should reflect on your attitude to student learning and teaching, and not those of your class.






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  • 4




    The faculty are adults, but will they arrive late? And will they do that often? Faculty tend to be late rarely.... Faculty also have family and commitments...
    – Solar Mike
    2 days ago








  • 4




    It looks like this is a course with mandatory attendance, so that decision has already been taken above OP's level.
    – Federico Poloni
    2 days ago






  • 3




    @DanielR.Collins that was added in a comment after my answer, however my answer still stands. Someone who is late has still attended. Its all about respect from both sides of the class.
    – Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩
    2 days ago






  • 6




    @SolarMike I really hate the narrative that attendance is a sign of “respect”. It is not. Mandatory attendance is asking for compliance, which is not the same thing.
    – JeffE
    yesterday






  • 3




    @JeffE attending on time, or before time is a sign of respect in most situations... Being late is taken as rude in many situations, leading to the phrase often used " He (or she) will be late for their own funeral". Being late to a doctor's appointment may lead to you being charged anyway, being late to your meeting with a bank manager won't help your case. Many of us were taught by our parents that being on time was a virtue.
    – Solar Mike
    yesterday


















up vote
4
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Most of the answers are very tolerant. Since this is obviously a matter of preference, I always went for 4 (close the doors and nobody comes in after my lecture started).



Missing one class is not the end of the world for them. It will, however, teach them something: that time is valuable and that they must make whatever they can to be on time. Even if it means being there 15 minutes early because of an unfortunate train connection.



Being late of course happens, and the world will usually not be waiting for you. You were late for the plane, it is gone. You were late for a doctor appointment, the next patient jumped in.



This is simply life and being late is often a decision, and sometimes bad luck.



If being late means that they will get sick, die, or miss a once-in-a-life opportunity then laxism is welcome. Otherwise this is just teaching them that the world is what it is, and being on time is an asset.



Today, outside of academia, I start my meetings sharp. If someone is late then I never summarize what happened earlier in the meeting (I do not usually have, technically, the possibility to block them).



One last point to take into account is the commute between courses or meetings: people building timetables think that this is done over teleportation and do not add buffers between classes. They should not work where they work because they are simply incompetent.



I finish the meetings / courses I am in control of a few minutes early but if I stuck with one which finishes sharp and the next one starts sharp as well, I make decisions: to leave early or to be late (and possibly miss the meeting). Be nice and if your course is right behind the one of someone who has no understanding that commute time is necessary then you may start yours 5 minutes later (I did this a few times not to penalize the students because of decisions outside their control)



One last edit: I strongly believe that we should treat students as adults and leave attendance to the students. If the rules are different though, they should be enforced (for their own good - and apparently they are not such grown up adults yet)






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  • 5




    That may work in some places but many campuses don't allow sufficient time for all students to make it between lectures (especially disabled students). I've taught labs where a large subset of the students were expected to walk from another site in zero time, a walk that took me 10 minutes.
    – Chris H
    21 hours ago










  • @ChrisH: this is exactly why I mentioned that some people think that teleportation works between meetings/courses and plan the timings around this ridiculous idea (those people are idiots and should be treated as such when there is an opportunity). One should either put pressure so that courses take this into account, or be the reasonable/kind person who will be starting the class a bit later (clearly announcing it, and that after the initial 5 minutes the class is closed). This also means not starting on tile as one cannot penalized the ones who are on time (within the 5 minutes).
    – WoJ
    17 hours ago










  • College students who've paid for the class shouldn't be locked out of it even if you're going to mark them as absent. Your syllabus probably wasn't readily available when they paid for the class, after all. This could potentially open the college up to a lawsuit. Second, unless the name of the class is, "how to be a douche by example" this type of behavior is really uncalled for. You aren't there to teach them this sort of life lesson. If you want to mark them down as not attending that is one thing but to bar access to the class or otherwise demean or sabotage the student is just being cruel.
    – krowe2
    11 hours ago










  • @krowe2: a plane you paid for will not be waiting for you. They are not douchebags - it is just life. If this is "behaviour uncalled for" then you live in a happy place where your money means that you are entitled to everything, by the mere fact of paying. I am not sabotaging students - they do this themselves by choosing to be late (in most of the cases, except the ones I noted in my answer). Next time they will be more careful and plan better - which is a valuable lesson learned. (and to your first point: where I live education is free as it should be everywhere - answer stays the same)
    – WoJ
    18 mins ago




















up vote
3
down vote













While my preferred method is to just leave attendance up to the student entirely, recognizing that "things happen" and "people can learn differently", for the situation in which you must take attendance, you want a method that is painless and flexible.



One way is to require that students give you an index card with their name and date for each class. You can do this for the latecomers only, or actually for everyone. When they come in, they hand you a card. This assumes, of course, a suitable scale. I wouldn't require a card for everyone for 100 students, but for 30 it is fine.



If you want/need to make judgements about excuses, then latecomers can write their reason for lateness on the card.



In this way you don't need to interrupt the class, just collect the cards for later processing. You can also make notations on the cards as the class proceeds if you want to record in-process events of any kind.



My students typically would have cards as a matter of course for note-taking and other in-class activities, but you can provide the cards yourself.



For an especially small class, say a dozen or so, I would just carry one card for each student while I was teaching. I could easily sort the cards into those present and those not and annotate absences on the card after the class ends.



Of course, you may need to worry about people turning in cards for others, but a count will tell you if that has happened. And, of course, you must deal with "early leavers" with a different method, but if you know the name-face correspondences it isn't too hard to handle.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    3
    down vote













    Mandatory attendance institutions are quite common in some parts of the world. I used to study in one.



    We used to have a roll call. If you are present while your number is called out, your attendance is marked. If you are not, then it is not. Exceptions were made for some known problems like heavy rain or bus/train strikes, and people were always welcome to sit through a lecture without their attendance being marked if they wanted to. This system is prone to a lot of problems though. For example, politically well connected students were able to bully some professors into marking their attendance (yes, this happens).



    The most effective system I heard implemented (not in my institution) was to take it out of the hands of the professors. One institution had some helps (or 'peons", as they are called locally) that they employed. Say a lecture starts at 1:00 pm. The helps used to run around their sections of classes at around 1:10 pm and collect all the attendance sheets. They had later started to up their tech and had fingerprint readers to mark attendance which were powered off remotely 10 minutes into every lecture.



    There's (hopefully) no way to make a change after that. This system is less prone to manipulation. Few, if any, had the political clout to challenge a higher up to whom these sheets were submitted. More importantly, it keeps the relationship between the professors and their students healthy.



    I will admit that most students never liked the mandatory attendance policy. But there certainly are good reasons for its existence in some countries. Those reasons are outside the scope of this answer.






    share|improve this answer




























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      When you are a TA, you have to follow the local rules and will have little power to change them (although you have every right to discuss them with colleagues). The way to do so, and the choice to do so in a more general situation, is an important matter.



      Many colleagues, and many answer above dismiss the need to bother with attendance and lateness ("as long as it does not disturb the class"), on the ground that students are adults. I very much disagree with this argument. Since this is not a popular opinion, I feel the need to give some context and justification.



      First, recall that there are many many situations where rules are made for people own good, even adults - mandatory belts in cars, for example (as in France, I do not know the law in other countries). When first enforced, this kind of rule tend to be rejected as treating people as children; after a time, they often get adopted and become obvious. Did people get more adult in the meantime? No, but our behavior, and what we consider proper behavior, is shaped by what others do and what rules (explicit or implicit, legal or traditional) are in force.



      Second, recall that this applies to us academics, however grown up we are. Do you think that the attitude of staff when you turn your paperwork for your next conference late past the deadline has no bearing on your behavior next time? If administrative staff simply treats this as if it where normal, don't you think you would probably miss the deadline quite often? On the contrary, if they (respectfully) mention how much more difficult it makes their job, wouldn't you be more careful? Do you think it is necessarily treating faculty as children to have rules and deadlines for paperwork? Or can you see it is (in good cases) about all of us to interact smoothly and work efficiently? We all act according to a large set of rules, and good rules are those that have a good incentive/heaviness ratio. The most permissive rules are not necessarily optimal.



      Similarly, students attitude toward "going into class" will be shaped by what they see other student do, and how teachers react to what they do. Simply ignoring late students, or student that only show up every other class, will send a very clear message: that it is okay to do so. In most cases, this message is actually detrimental to their study.



      Teachers should not ignore that the way they react sends a message, and they should thus choose how to react in a way that sends a message they believe is accurate and supports our goal: to have student learn. Since I believe the correct message is that showing up in class on time is an important part of studying, I try to adopt rules consistent with this message (one can feel differently about importance of showing up in class on time, but beware that a small proportion of student that can dispense from it should not hide a vast majority that cannot afford this).



      The precise rule I adopt has changed over time. Lately, I have settled for the following: whenever a student shows up more than (literally) 1-2 minutes late, I ask her or him to wait outside; I finish what I was saying and let a little something to think about to the class; I go see the late student, and ask why he or she is late; I always let her or him get in, but make sure to mention being late is not a good thing; then I carry on with the course. This has I think a good balance, even in amphitheaters (first lectures I usually get a dozen late student at a time, then they mostly show up on time - or not at all).






      share|improve this answer




























        up vote
        2
        down vote













        I taught at the university level for years and disagree with most of the above. Yes, students are "adults" but the ones traipsing in 5 or 10 mins late rarely are acting like them. They disrupt the class, and more importantly miss important notes or announcements, requiring YOU to consistently do extra work. If they are adults, they can decide whether to come to class or skip it, but if they come, they shouldn't be arriving after the door closes (give a couple minutes' grace period) and they shouldn't be asking YOU to handhold them the entire semester while they figure out to set their alarm clock.



        And since taking attendance is a requirement as noted by the OP's edit, his or her implementing of this will be evaluated and possibly become a part of the decision to rehire. So being lax about this or deciding to secretly not do it seems unwise.



        Anyone who's fine letting kids come in late doesn't understand how distracting to the REAL adults (instructor and kids who got there on time!!!) that policy is. And while you can certainly make an exception for the good student who has a flat tire that one day, being the prof who everyone knows will let you arrive any time will be a Pandora's Box that once opened, will be hard to close.



        Whatever policy you choose, make sure it's clearly in the syllabus and that you stick to it. But think about the students who CARE about your class, getting there on time, eager to learn, who have to put up with you admitting and addressing a stream of stragglers who arrive whenever they feel like it each time.






        share|improve this answer








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          up vote
          1
          down vote













          Students are adults. It is their life and their choice. In some countries they pay thousands of dollars to be there which means they do care about being there. Maybe they are late because of a doctors appointment, they have to take care of their own children, they have to take care of their parents, they can't afford to live in the same city as the university and have to commute and got stuck in traffic. It is none of your business what their reason might be. Your job is to just teach and not to be their parents and not to teach them about responsibility. If they miss too much of class they will face the consequences on the exams.
          I will mention to those who commented that the faculty don't have the option to show up late, that the faculty GET PAID and IT IS THEIR JOB to show up and lecture. Being a student is not a job it is a means for getting a better job in the future. This means many of your students are probably working to put themselves through school and you better bet that they show up on time for that.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 1




            Sorry, but some students see class as an occupational hazard and turn up late, then expect to disrupt class to get information about what they missed to the cost of those who turn up on time - all down to respect...
            – Solar Mike
            2 days ago






          • 2




            If that is their expectation, then you need to clamp down on them disrupting the class. Disrupting class is not acceptable. But whether a student comes late or not at all or is asleep as long as they don't snore, why would you care?
            – gnasher729
            yesterday










          • I agree in that disrupting class is not acceptable, however you should really find out if they are late because of another reason. Not all students are as lazy and disrespectful as you think they are. Most students are in school because they value education or else why bother with it especially if it is expensive. Even if they view it as "occupational hazard" then they are still paying to attend lectures, be it late anyways, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it unless other student's directly complain.
            – jamis
            yesterday




















          up vote
          1
          down vote














          But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.




          So is this a hypothetical question? As in, you're not actually a TA yet?




          Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above
          75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a
          percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a
          medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not
          allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.




          In my experience as a student in the US, TAs were Teaching Assistants--they were responsible for running science labs, discussion groups, and tutoring sessions for a specific professor. The quote above makes it sound like you'd be in a similar situation. So ask your supervising professor how they want you to handle it, or ask your fellow TAs what that professor prefers.



          If it's up to you, find a method for taking attendance that works for you. Assigned seats, roll call, exit tickets, retinal scanners, whatever. The last university I taught at actually implemented a custom Bluetooth-based attendance app that we were all supposed to use. Any student more than 15 meters away or not logged in at the same time as the instructors was counted absent and actually lost points. I've also seen QR codes posted by the doors that linked to Google forms.



          If you're responsible for making the quizzes and exams, warn your students that a certain percentage of the questions (like 10%, nothing too high) will come purely from lecture and won't explicitly be in the textbook/posted notes. Or give some sort of incentive for perfect attendance. One school I've taught at had a limit on how many A's and B's I could award--I often awarded the higher grade to the student with the better attendance because they put forth more of an effort.



          How do you feel about your fellow students when they arrive late? How do you feel about the current policies you've experienced? What seems least disruptive/most fair to you? When you start TA-ing, your feelings may change. As an instructor, my annoyance reflects the disruption the latecomer causes. I really don't care most of the time. But if I have to wait for them to catch up, or if they ask questions/interrupt me to discuss something we covered before they arrived, then I get annoyed.






          share|improve this answer























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            11 Answers
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            11






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            up vote
            126
            down vote













            I use another option:



            0) Allow all students in class and do not monitor attendance.



            They are adults and they come to learn. As long as they do not disrupt the class they are free to come and go as they please. I do not see which purpose the monitoring of attendance serves. It sends the wrong signal and focuses students on signing the register sheet rather than on the objective of the class.



            I do, however, start each class by thanking students who attend and come in time. Latecomers will miss this part.






            share|improve this answer

















            • 21




              Policies are a product of agreement, and as such can be re-negotiated, if they are no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.
              – Dmitry Savostyanov
              2 days ago






            • 9




              Yes, the management agrees that this is the policy and we follow...
              – Solar Mike
              2 days ago






            • 88




              -1 I think this does not answer the question. The question (while poorly written and arguably not a good fit for this site) implies that the OP is at a mandatory-attendance institution, and is too far down the hierarchy to affect that policy. Such policies may come from non-teaching administration or state government and be beyond outside negotiation.
              – Daniel R. Collins
              2 days ago






            • 11




              @DmitrySavostyanov Policies can't necessarily be renegotiated. For example, I know at least one British university that takes attendance in lectures to demonstrate to the UK government that people given visas to study there are genuine students and not people committing immigration fraud. Now, the fact that not all British universities do that clearly shows that it's not a legal requiremnet, but there's no way on earth that you're going to get that university-wide policy changed.
              – David Richerby
              2 days ago






            • 27




              I think if the OP feels the attendance policy is non negotiably imposed from above, then the lateness policy must come from the same place.
              – emory
              2 days ago















            up vote
            126
            down vote













            I use another option:



            0) Allow all students in class and do not monitor attendance.



            They are adults and they come to learn. As long as they do not disrupt the class they are free to come and go as they please. I do not see which purpose the monitoring of attendance serves. It sends the wrong signal and focuses students on signing the register sheet rather than on the objective of the class.



            I do, however, start each class by thanking students who attend and come in time. Latecomers will miss this part.






            share|improve this answer

















            • 21




              Policies are a product of agreement, and as such can be re-negotiated, if they are no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.
              – Dmitry Savostyanov
              2 days ago






            • 9




              Yes, the management agrees that this is the policy and we follow...
              – Solar Mike
              2 days ago






            • 88




              -1 I think this does not answer the question. The question (while poorly written and arguably not a good fit for this site) implies that the OP is at a mandatory-attendance institution, and is too far down the hierarchy to affect that policy. Such policies may come from non-teaching administration or state government and be beyond outside negotiation.
              – Daniel R. Collins
              2 days ago






            • 11




              @DmitrySavostyanov Policies can't necessarily be renegotiated. For example, I know at least one British university that takes attendance in lectures to demonstrate to the UK government that people given visas to study there are genuine students and not people committing immigration fraud. Now, the fact that not all British universities do that clearly shows that it's not a legal requiremnet, but there's no way on earth that you're going to get that university-wide policy changed.
              – David Richerby
              2 days ago






            • 27




              I think if the OP feels the attendance policy is non negotiably imposed from above, then the lateness policy must come from the same place.
              – emory
              2 days ago













            up vote
            126
            down vote










            up vote
            126
            down vote









            I use another option:



            0) Allow all students in class and do not monitor attendance.



            They are adults and they come to learn. As long as they do not disrupt the class they are free to come and go as they please. I do not see which purpose the monitoring of attendance serves. It sends the wrong signal and focuses students on signing the register sheet rather than on the objective of the class.



            I do, however, start each class by thanking students who attend and come in time. Latecomers will miss this part.






            share|improve this answer












            I use another option:



            0) Allow all students in class and do not monitor attendance.



            They are adults and they come to learn. As long as they do not disrupt the class they are free to come and go as they please. I do not see which purpose the monitoring of attendance serves. It sends the wrong signal and focuses students on signing the register sheet rather than on the objective of the class.



            I do, however, start each class by thanking students who attend and come in time. Latecomers will miss this part.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 2 days ago









            Dmitry Savostyanov

            23.6k851105




            23.6k851105








            • 21




              Policies are a product of agreement, and as such can be re-negotiated, if they are no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.
              – Dmitry Savostyanov
              2 days ago






            • 9




              Yes, the management agrees that this is the policy and we follow...
              – Solar Mike
              2 days ago






            • 88




              -1 I think this does not answer the question. The question (while poorly written and arguably not a good fit for this site) implies that the OP is at a mandatory-attendance institution, and is too far down the hierarchy to affect that policy. Such policies may come from non-teaching administration or state government and be beyond outside negotiation.
              – Daniel R. Collins
              2 days ago






            • 11




              @DmitrySavostyanov Policies can't necessarily be renegotiated. For example, I know at least one British university that takes attendance in lectures to demonstrate to the UK government that people given visas to study there are genuine students and not people committing immigration fraud. Now, the fact that not all British universities do that clearly shows that it's not a legal requiremnet, but there's no way on earth that you're going to get that university-wide policy changed.
              – David Richerby
              2 days ago






            • 27




              I think if the OP feels the attendance policy is non negotiably imposed from above, then the lateness policy must come from the same place.
              – emory
              2 days ago














            • 21




              Policies are a product of agreement, and as such can be re-negotiated, if they are no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.
              – Dmitry Savostyanov
              2 days ago






            • 9




              Yes, the management agrees that this is the policy and we follow...
              – Solar Mike
              2 days ago






            • 88




              -1 I think this does not answer the question. The question (while poorly written and arguably not a good fit for this site) implies that the OP is at a mandatory-attendance institution, and is too far down the hierarchy to affect that policy. Such policies may come from non-teaching administration or state government and be beyond outside negotiation.
              – Daniel R. Collins
              2 days ago






            • 11




              @DmitrySavostyanov Policies can't necessarily be renegotiated. For example, I know at least one British university that takes attendance in lectures to demonstrate to the UK government that people given visas to study there are genuine students and not people committing immigration fraud. Now, the fact that not all British universities do that clearly shows that it's not a legal requiremnet, but there's no way on earth that you're going to get that university-wide policy changed.
              – David Richerby
              2 days ago






            • 27




              I think if the OP feels the attendance policy is non negotiably imposed from above, then the lateness policy must come from the same place.
              – emory
              2 days ago








            21




            21




            Policies are a product of agreement, and as such can be re-negotiated, if they are no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.
            – Dmitry Savostyanov
            2 days ago




            Policies are a product of agreement, and as such can be re-negotiated, if they are no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.
            – Dmitry Savostyanov
            2 days ago




            9




            9




            Yes, the management agrees that this is the policy and we follow...
            – Solar Mike
            2 days ago




            Yes, the management agrees that this is the policy and we follow...
            – Solar Mike
            2 days ago




            88




            88




            -1 I think this does not answer the question. The question (while poorly written and arguably not a good fit for this site) implies that the OP is at a mandatory-attendance institution, and is too far down the hierarchy to affect that policy. Such policies may come from non-teaching administration or state government and be beyond outside negotiation.
            – Daniel R. Collins
            2 days ago




            -1 I think this does not answer the question. The question (while poorly written and arguably not a good fit for this site) implies that the OP is at a mandatory-attendance institution, and is too far down the hierarchy to affect that policy. Such policies may come from non-teaching administration or state government and be beyond outside negotiation.
            – Daniel R. Collins
            2 days ago




            11




            11




            @DmitrySavostyanov Policies can't necessarily be renegotiated. For example, I know at least one British university that takes attendance in lectures to demonstrate to the UK government that people given visas to study there are genuine students and not people committing immigration fraud. Now, the fact that not all British universities do that clearly shows that it's not a legal requiremnet, but there's no way on earth that you're going to get that university-wide policy changed.
            – David Richerby
            2 days ago




            @DmitrySavostyanov Policies can't necessarily be renegotiated. For example, I know at least one British university that takes attendance in lectures to demonstrate to the UK government that people given visas to study there are genuine students and not people committing immigration fraud. Now, the fact that not all British universities do that clearly shows that it's not a legal requiremnet, but there's no way on earth that you're going to get that university-wide policy changed.
            – David Richerby
            2 days ago




            27




            27




            I think if the OP feels the attendance policy is non negotiably imposed from above, then the lateness policy must come from the same place.
            – emory
            2 days ago




            I think if the OP feels the attendance policy is non negotiably imposed from above, then the lateness policy must come from the same place.
            – emory
            2 days ago










            up vote
            67
            down vote













            I'll try to provide an answer in light of the fact that many answers here will come from professors who do not realize how common it is for some college institutions to have mandatory attendance-taking policies. The OP's question is this:




            What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards late comers?




            My answer would be: Whatever is least disruptive and takes the least time away from focus on the academic subject matter.



            Attendance-taking is, historically, an act taken by custodians of young children (elementary or secondary school). As you can see from other answers, many professors are actually aghast at the idea of taking time to track attendance for adult college students -- and rightfully so! However, I understand that the OP is at an institution where attendance-taking is mandatory (possibly via a policy by the academic department, college administration, funding agency, or state government).



            Most professors will (I think) agree that attendance-taking is a distraction and painful loss of time from focus on the academic subject matter that we are there to share. So -- granted your institutional parameters -- I think that you should minimize such loss of time as much as possible. Some suggested cases:




            1. If it is in your power to waive attendance-taking, then do so.


            2. If you must take some kind of attendance records, consider whether it is in your power to define what "attendance" means for your course. Perhaps attendance (course participation) is adjudicated by the most recent work submission, or weekly activity in an online discussion board.


            3. If you must take actual attendance in-class, then find the protocol that you spend the least amount of time adjudicating (incl. time on excuses/arguments/challenges, etc.). Perhaps this is easiest via a sign-in sheet, simultaneous with a practice exercise, or at the end of class.







            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              @JeffE Assigned seats and a seating chart make it fairly fast, just mark off the empty seats, or it could be done electronically with classes that use "clicker" response systems during lectures (cue students giving their clicker to their friends to be marked present). It's all still more time consuming than not taking attendance at all.
              – Zach Lipton
              yesterday








            • 2




              @JeffE I know classes where there is a small (tiny) grade bonus for being in class. TAs hand out lists of every student supposed to be attending at the beginning of class and this list is passed around and signed. Sure that's not "secure" in any sense of the word. But I (student's perspective) think it probably works ok. There are harsh disciplinary measures for any kind of cheating and most students wouldn't anyway. (other than that I'm happy to be at a university which doesn't allow instructors to really enforce attendance)
              – Nobody
              yesterday






            • 2




              No, I’m not wondering how to force students to attend, but rather how to force instructors to accurately report attendance, as opposed to just reporting everyone present and getting on with their job.
              – JeffE
              yesterday








            • 3




              @JeffE I have heard horror stories where the institution audits the attendance records and follows up on irregularities (such as picture perfect attendance) by questioning the faculty member and the TAs(!) of the course. The reason for the frankly ridiculous audit was supposedly to prepare for an audit by the government, which should be no surprise at all. Amazing what magnifying effect a few layers of bureaucracy can have, isn't it.
              – SolveIt
              22 hours ago






            • 10




              Noone seems to have yet brought up that the reason this is required. The reasoning is related to financial aid fraud. It seems that students are taking out loans and then never attending courses (and failing the course, usually). The federal government believes this behavior is detrimental to both the government and the student (going into debt without getting any educational credits in the end). When a school has a lot of cases of this, the school can get sanctioned and can lose some of its aid. It is paternalistic, but the government also has an interest in spending its money well.
              – Dawn
              17 hours ago















            up vote
            67
            down vote













            I'll try to provide an answer in light of the fact that many answers here will come from professors who do not realize how common it is for some college institutions to have mandatory attendance-taking policies. The OP's question is this:




            What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards late comers?




            My answer would be: Whatever is least disruptive and takes the least time away from focus on the academic subject matter.



            Attendance-taking is, historically, an act taken by custodians of young children (elementary or secondary school). As you can see from other answers, many professors are actually aghast at the idea of taking time to track attendance for adult college students -- and rightfully so! However, I understand that the OP is at an institution where attendance-taking is mandatory (possibly via a policy by the academic department, college administration, funding agency, or state government).



            Most professors will (I think) agree that attendance-taking is a distraction and painful loss of time from focus on the academic subject matter that we are there to share. So -- granted your institutional parameters -- I think that you should minimize such loss of time as much as possible. Some suggested cases:




            1. If it is in your power to waive attendance-taking, then do so.


            2. If you must take some kind of attendance records, consider whether it is in your power to define what "attendance" means for your course. Perhaps attendance (course participation) is adjudicated by the most recent work submission, or weekly activity in an online discussion board.


            3. If you must take actual attendance in-class, then find the protocol that you spend the least amount of time adjudicating (incl. time on excuses/arguments/challenges, etc.). Perhaps this is easiest via a sign-in sheet, simultaneous with a practice exercise, or at the end of class.







            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              @JeffE Assigned seats and a seating chart make it fairly fast, just mark off the empty seats, or it could be done electronically with classes that use "clicker" response systems during lectures (cue students giving their clicker to their friends to be marked present). It's all still more time consuming than not taking attendance at all.
              – Zach Lipton
              yesterday








            • 2




              @JeffE I know classes where there is a small (tiny) grade bonus for being in class. TAs hand out lists of every student supposed to be attending at the beginning of class and this list is passed around and signed. Sure that's not "secure" in any sense of the word. But I (student's perspective) think it probably works ok. There are harsh disciplinary measures for any kind of cheating and most students wouldn't anyway. (other than that I'm happy to be at a university which doesn't allow instructors to really enforce attendance)
              – Nobody
              yesterday






            • 2




              No, I’m not wondering how to force students to attend, but rather how to force instructors to accurately report attendance, as opposed to just reporting everyone present and getting on with their job.
              – JeffE
              yesterday








            • 3




              @JeffE I have heard horror stories where the institution audits the attendance records and follows up on irregularities (such as picture perfect attendance) by questioning the faculty member and the TAs(!) of the course. The reason for the frankly ridiculous audit was supposedly to prepare for an audit by the government, which should be no surprise at all. Amazing what magnifying effect a few layers of bureaucracy can have, isn't it.
              – SolveIt
              22 hours ago






            • 10




              Noone seems to have yet brought up that the reason this is required. The reasoning is related to financial aid fraud. It seems that students are taking out loans and then never attending courses (and failing the course, usually). The federal government believes this behavior is detrimental to both the government and the student (going into debt without getting any educational credits in the end). When a school has a lot of cases of this, the school can get sanctioned and can lose some of its aid. It is paternalistic, but the government also has an interest in spending its money well.
              – Dawn
              17 hours ago













            up vote
            67
            down vote










            up vote
            67
            down vote









            I'll try to provide an answer in light of the fact that many answers here will come from professors who do not realize how common it is for some college institutions to have mandatory attendance-taking policies. The OP's question is this:




            What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards late comers?




            My answer would be: Whatever is least disruptive and takes the least time away from focus on the academic subject matter.



            Attendance-taking is, historically, an act taken by custodians of young children (elementary or secondary school). As you can see from other answers, many professors are actually aghast at the idea of taking time to track attendance for adult college students -- and rightfully so! However, I understand that the OP is at an institution where attendance-taking is mandatory (possibly via a policy by the academic department, college administration, funding agency, or state government).



            Most professors will (I think) agree that attendance-taking is a distraction and painful loss of time from focus on the academic subject matter that we are there to share. So -- granted your institutional parameters -- I think that you should minimize such loss of time as much as possible. Some suggested cases:




            1. If it is in your power to waive attendance-taking, then do so.


            2. If you must take some kind of attendance records, consider whether it is in your power to define what "attendance" means for your course. Perhaps attendance (course participation) is adjudicated by the most recent work submission, or weekly activity in an online discussion board.


            3. If you must take actual attendance in-class, then find the protocol that you spend the least amount of time adjudicating (incl. time on excuses/arguments/challenges, etc.). Perhaps this is easiest via a sign-in sheet, simultaneous with a practice exercise, or at the end of class.







            share|improve this answer














            I'll try to provide an answer in light of the fact that many answers here will come from professors who do not realize how common it is for some college institutions to have mandatory attendance-taking policies. The OP's question is this:




            What is the recommended and proper behaviour towards late comers?




            My answer would be: Whatever is least disruptive and takes the least time away from focus on the academic subject matter.



            Attendance-taking is, historically, an act taken by custodians of young children (elementary or secondary school). As you can see from other answers, many professors are actually aghast at the idea of taking time to track attendance for adult college students -- and rightfully so! However, I understand that the OP is at an institution where attendance-taking is mandatory (possibly via a policy by the academic department, college administration, funding agency, or state government).



            Most professors will (I think) agree that attendance-taking is a distraction and painful loss of time from focus on the academic subject matter that we are there to share. So -- granted your institutional parameters -- I think that you should minimize such loss of time as much as possible. Some suggested cases:




            1. If it is in your power to waive attendance-taking, then do so.


            2. If you must take some kind of attendance records, consider whether it is in your power to define what "attendance" means for your course. Perhaps attendance (course participation) is adjudicated by the most recent work submission, or weekly activity in an online discussion board.


            3. If you must take actual attendance in-class, then find the protocol that you spend the least amount of time adjudicating (incl. time on excuses/arguments/challenges, etc.). Perhaps this is easiest via a sign-in sheet, simultaneous with a practice exercise, or at the end of class.








            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 2 days ago

























            answered 2 days ago









            Daniel R. Collins

            17.5k44670




            17.5k44670








            • 1




              @JeffE Assigned seats and a seating chart make it fairly fast, just mark off the empty seats, or it could be done electronically with classes that use "clicker" response systems during lectures (cue students giving their clicker to their friends to be marked present). It's all still more time consuming than not taking attendance at all.
              – Zach Lipton
              yesterday








            • 2




              @JeffE I know classes where there is a small (tiny) grade bonus for being in class. TAs hand out lists of every student supposed to be attending at the beginning of class and this list is passed around and signed. Sure that's not "secure" in any sense of the word. But I (student's perspective) think it probably works ok. There are harsh disciplinary measures for any kind of cheating and most students wouldn't anyway. (other than that I'm happy to be at a university which doesn't allow instructors to really enforce attendance)
              – Nobody
              yesterday






            • 2




              No, I’m not wondering how to force students to attend, but rather how to force instructors to accurately report attendance, as opposed to just reporting everyone present and getting on with their job.
              – JeffE
              yesterday








            • 3




              @JeffE I have heard horror stories where the institution audits the attendance records and follows up on irregularities (such as picture perfect attendance) by questioning the faculty member and the TAs(!) of the course. The reason for the frankly ridiculous audit was supposedly to prepare for an audit by the government, which should be no surprise at all. Amazing what magnifying effect a few layers of bureaucracy can have, isn't it.
              – SolveIt
              22 hours ago






            • 10




              Noone seems to have yet brought up that the reason this is required. The reasoning is related to financial aid fraud. It seems that students are taking out loans and then never attending courses (and failing the course, usually). The federal government believes this behavior is detrimental to both the government and the student (going into debt without getting any educational credits in the end). When a school has a lot of cases of this, the school can get sanctioned and can lose some of its aid. It is paternalistic, but the government also has an interest in spending its money well.
              – Dawn
              17 hours ago














            • 1




              @JeffE Assigned seats and a seating chart make it fairly fast, just mark off the empty seats, or it could be done electronically with classes that use "clicker" response systems during lectures (cue students giving their clicker to their friends to be marked present). It's all still more time consuming than not taking attendance at all.
              – Zach Lipton
              yesterday








            • 2




              @JeffE I know classes where there is a small (tiny) grade bonus for being in class. TAs hand out lists of every student supposed to be attending at the beginning of class and this list is passed around and signed. Sure that's not "secure" in any sense of the word. But I (student's perspective) think it probably works ok. There are harsh disciplinary measures for any kind of cheating and most students wouldn't anyway. (other than that I'm happy to be at a university which doesn't allow instructors to really enforce attendance)
              – Nobody
              yesterday






            • 2




              No, I’m not wondering how to force students to attend, but rather how to force instructors to accurately report attendance, as opposed to just reporting everyone present and getting on with their job.
              – JeffE
              yesterday








            • 3




              @JeffE I have heard horror stories where the institution audits the attendance records and follows up on irregularities (such as picture perfect attendance) by questioning the faculty member and the TAs(!) of the course. The reason for the frankly ridiculous audit was supposedly to prepare for an audit by the government, which should be no surprise at all. Amazing what magnifying effect a few layers of bureaucracy can have, isn't it.
              – SolveIt
              22 hours ago






            • 10




              Noone seems to have yet brought up that the reason this is required. The reasoning is related to financial aid fraud. It seems that students are taking out loans and then never attending courses (and failing the course, usually). The federal government believes this behavior is detrimental to both the government and the student (going into debt without getting any educational credits in the end). When a school has a lot of cases of this, the school can get sanctioned and can lose some of its aid. It is paternalistic, but the government also has an interest in spending its money well.
              – Dawn
              17 hours ago








            1




            1




            @JeffE Assigned seats and a seating chart make it fairly fast, just mark off the empty seats, or it could be done electronically with classes that use "clicker" response systems during lectures (cue students giving their clicker to their friends to be marked present). It's all still more time consuming than not taking attendance at all.
            – Zach Lipton
            yesterday






            @JeffE Assigned seats and a seating chart make it fairly fast, just mark off the empty seats, or it could be done electronically with classes that use "clicker" response systems during lectures (cue students giving their clicker to their friends to be marked present). It's all still more time consuming than not taking attendance at all.
            – Zach Lipton
            yesterday






            2




            2




            @JeffE I know classes where there is a small (tiny) grade bonus for being in class. TAs hand out lists of every student supposed to be attending at the beginning of class and this list is passed around and signed. Sure that's not "secure" in any sense of the word. But I (student's perspective) think it probably works ok. There are harsh disciplinary measures for any kind of cheating and most students wouldn't anyway. (other than that I'm happy to be at a university which doesn't allow instructors to really enforce attendance)
            – Nobody
            yesterday




            @JeffE I know classes where there is a small (tiny) grade bonus for being in class. TAs hand out lists of every student supposed to be attending at the beginning of class and this list is passed around and signed. Sure that's not "secure" in any sense of the word. But I (student's perspective) think it probably works ok. There are harsh disciplinary measures for any kind of cheating and most students wouldn't anyway. (other than that I'm happy to be at a university which doesn't allow instructors to really enforce attendance)
            – Nobody
            yesterday




            2




            2




            No, I’m not wondering how to force students to attend, but rather how to force instructors to accurately report attendance, as opposed to just reporting everyone present and getting on with their job.
            – JeffE
            yesterday






            No, I’m not wondering how to force students to attend, but rather how to force instructors to accurately report attendance, as opposed to just reporting everyone present and getting on with their job.
            – JeffE
            yesterday






            3




            3




            @JeffE I have heard horror stories where the institution audits the attendance records and follows up on irregularities (such as picture perfect attendance) by questioning the faculty member and the TAs(!) of the course. The reason for the frankly ridiculous audit was supposedly to prepare for an audit by the government, which should be no surprise at all. Amazing what magnifying effect a few layers of bureaucracy can have, isn't it.
            – SolveIt
            22 hours ago




            @JeffE I have heard horror stories where the institution audits the attendance records and follows up on irregularities (such as picture perfect attendance) by questioning the faculty member and the TAs(!) of the course. The reason for the frankly ridiculous audit was supposedly to prepare for an audit by the government, which should be no surprise at all. Amazing what magnifying effect a few layers of bureaucracy can have, isn't it.
            – SolveIt
            22 hours ago




            10




            10




            Noone seems to have yet brought up that the reason this is required. The reasoning is related to financial aid fraud. It seems that students are taking out loans and then never attending courses (and failing the course, usually). The federal government believes this behavior is detrimental to both the government and the student (going into debt without getting any educational credits in the end). When a school has a lot of cases of this, the school can get sanctioned and can lose some of its aid. It is paternalistic, but the government also has an interest in spending its money well.
            – Dawn
            17 hours ago




            Noone seems to have yet brought up that the reason this is required. The reasoning is related to financial aid fraud. It seems that students are taking out loans and then never attending courses (and failing the course, usually). The federal government believes this behavior is detrimental to both the government and the student (going into debt without getting any educational credits in the end). When a school has a lot of cases of this, the school can get sanctioned and can lose some of its aid. It is paternalistic, but the government also has an interest in spending its money well.
            – Dawn
            17 hours ago










            up vote
            17
            down vote













            In this case, attendance is a requirement mandated from above. You could ask for clarification from the powers that be who set the rule. For example, you could ask ... Is attendance to be recorded at the start, middle, or end of class? In other words, you could push the decision process back up the chain from where it came.



            This approach is likely best done only when you have lots of free time, you have a thick skin, and you just want to annoy your superiors.



            The inference is that you have the freedom to define your approach to how you record attendance. Dissecting each of your options, I might see them this way ...



            1) You record attendance at the end of class



            2) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses that you then ignore anyway



            3) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses AND try to parse the excuses based on a matrix that relies on other potentially unclear and arbitrary rules AND use an on-the-spot decision from that ruling to erase attendance



            4) You record attendance at the start of class AND shut out latecomers from even entering the class which only serves to annoy the "honest latecomers", stoke your ego, and count attendance twice because the latecomers may also be shut out of the final exam



            I hope that, with this analysis, you see the excess overhead and futility of using options 2-4.



            Let's presume that you do not have the option to IGNORE taking attendance. Perhaps for example you are mandated to make a report that proves that you did. In this case, I suggest, with the freedom that you have to define attendance, you have two approaches.



            Attendance Means You Were Here for the (Majority of the) Lecture



            Record attendance at a certain point in time near start of class and then be done with it. Latecomers should be allowed a certain grace, perhaps even to the middle of class. After that grace, they can show up but they will be recorded as having been absent. Attendance then becomes a consistent message, both in what it means and in when it is recorded. You don't bother yourself with policing attendance on-the-spot, either by parsing excuses or by shutting out latecomers.



            When you would do as above, figure out how you will handle students who ARE late yet will try to say "I was there by the time the attendance was recorded and you missed me." The clicker system that is oft-used in US classrooms can be great for this ... With due diligence, it should not be easily cheated. Other methods have their pros and cons. In the end, whatever you decide to handle such cases, keep it simple and consistent.



            Attendance Means You Were Here by the Time the Lecture Ended



            Record attendance at the end of the lecture and be done with it.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              Overall, I like this approach, but I'm a bit unclear on whether the grace period you mention means that folks arriving then will be counted as in-attendance, or just that the door won't be locked against them. (Also, clicker attendance absolutely can be cheated; this came up recently when my institution tried to use them to count votes in faculty meetings, and a CS professor hacked the "trial" vote.)
              – 1006a
              2 days ago








            • 3




              It’s pretty easy. I have seen students come to class with eight clickers.
              – JeffE
              yesterday










            • @JeffE I've added "with due diligence" about clickers. Interesting to hear about the ease with which students can find loopholes. Perhaps this means that clickers should come with thumb-print or facial recognition as the only way to activate them.
              – Jeffrey J Weimer
              yesterday










            • Interestingly, "whence" already includes "from" merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whence
              – Azor Ahai
              14 hours ago










            • @AzorAhai Ha! Thanks. Fixed that one.
              – Jeffrey J Weimer
              10 hours ago















            up vote
            17
            down vote













            In this case, attendance is a requirement mandated from above. You could ask for clarification from the powers that be who set the rule. For example, you could ask ... Is attendance to be recorded at the start, middle, or end of class? In other words, you could push the decision process back up the chain from where it came.



            This approach is likely best done only when you have lots of free time, you have a thick skin, and you just want to annoy your superiors.



            The inference is that you have the freedom to define your approach to how you record attendance. Dissecting each of your options, I might see them this way ...



            1) You record attendance at the end of class



            2) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses that you then ignore anyway



            3) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses AND try to parse the excuses based on a matrix that relies on other potentially unclear and arbitrary rules AND use an on-the-spot decision from that ruling to erase attendance



            4) You record attendance at the start of class AND shut out latecomers from even entering the class which only serves to annoy the "honest latecomers", stoke your ego, and count attendance twice because the latecomers may also be shut out of the final exam



            I hope that, with this analysis, you see the excess overhead and futility of using options 2-4.



            Let's presume that you do not have the option to IGNORE taking attendance. Perhaps for example you are mandated to make a report that proves that you did. In this case, I suggest, with the freedom that you have to define attendance, you have two approaches.



            Attendance Means You Were Here for the (Majority of the) Lecture



            Record attendance at a certain point in time near start of class and then be done with it. Latecomers should be allowed a certain grace, perhaps even to the middle of class. After that grace, they can show up but they will be recorded as having been absent. Attendance then becomes a consistent message, both in what it means and in when it is recorded. You don't bother yourself with policing attendance on-the-spot, either by parsing excuses or by shutting out latecomers.



            When you would do as above, figure out how you will handle students who ARE late yet will try to say "I was there by the time the attendance was recorded and you missed me." The clicker system that is oft-used in US classrooms can be great for this ... With due diligence, it should not be easily cheated. Other methods have their pros and cons. In the end, whatever you decide to handle such cases, keep it simple and consistent.



            Attendance Means You Were Here by the Time the Lecture Ended



            Record attendance at the end of the lecture and be done with it.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              Overall, I like this approach, but I'm a bit unclear on whether the grace period you mention means that folks arriving then will be counted as in-attendance, or just that the door won't be locked against them. (Also, clicker attendance absolutely can be cheated; this came up recently when my institution tried to use them to count votes in faculty meetings, and a CS professor hacked the "trial" vote.)
              – 1006a
              2 days ago








            • 3




              It’s pretty easy. I have seen students come to class with eight clickers.
              – JeffE
              yesterday










            • @JeffE I've added "with due diligence" about clickers. Interesting to hear about the ease with which students can find loopholes. Perhaps this means that clickers should come with thumb-print or facial recognition as the only way to activate them.
              – Jeffrey J Weimer
              yesterday










            • Interestingly, "whence" already includes "from" merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whence
              – Azor Ahai
              14 hours ago










            • @AzorAhai Ha! Thanks. Fixed that one.
              – Jeffrey J Weimer
              10 hours ago













            up vote
            17
            down vote










            up vote
            17
            down vote









            In this case, attendance is a requirement mandated from above. You could ask for clarification from the powers that be who set the rule. For example, you could ask ... Is attendance to be recorded at the start, middle, or end of class? In other words, you could push the decision process back up the chain from where it came.



            This approach is likely best done only when you have lots of free time, you have a thick skin, and you just want to annoy your superiors.



            The inference is that you have the freedom to define your approach to how you record attendance. Dissecting each of your options, I might see them this way ...



            1) You record attendance at the end of class



            2) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses that you then ignore anyway



            3) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses AND try to parse the excuses based on a matrix that relies on other potentially unclear and arbitrary rules AND use an on-the-spot decision from that ruling to erase attendance



            4) You record attendance at the start of class AND shut out latecomers from even entering the class which only serves to annoy the "honest latecomers", stoke your ego, and count attendance twice because the latecomers may also be shut out of the final exam



            I hope that, with this analysis, you see the excess overhead and futility of using options 2-4.



            Let's presume that you do not have the option to IGNORE taking attendance. Perhaps for example you are mandated to make a report that proves that you did. In this case, I suggest, with the freedom that you have to define attendance, you have two approaches.



            Attendance Means You Were Here for the (Majority of the) Lecture



            Record attendance at a certain point in time near start of class and then be done with it. Latecomers should be allowed a certain grace, perhaps even to the middle of class. After that grace, they can show up but they will be recorded as having been absent. Attendance then becomes a consistent message, both in what it means and in when it is recorded. You don't bother yourself with policing attendance on-the-spot, either by parsing excuses or by shutting out latecomers.



            When you would do as above, figure out how you will handle students who ARE late yet will try to say "I was there by the time the attendance was recorded and you missed me." The clicker system that is oft-used in US classrooms can be great for this ... With due diligence, it should not be easily cheated. Other methods have their pros and cons. In the end, whatever you decide to handle such cases, keep it simple and consistent.



            Attendance Means You Were Here by the Time the Lecture Ended



            Record attendance at the end of the lecture and be done with it.






            share|improve this answer














            In this case, attendance is a requirement mandated from above. You could ask for clarification from the powers that be who set the rule. For example, you could ask ... Is attendance to be recorded at the start, middle, or end of class? In other words, you could push the decision process back up the chain from where it came.



            This approach is likely best done only when you have lots of free time, you have a thick skin, and you just want to annoy your superiors.



            The inference is that you have the freedom to define your approach to how you record attendance. Dissecting each of your options, I might see them this way ...



            1) You record attendance at the end of class



            2) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses that you then ignore anyway



            3) You record attendance at the end of class AND ask the latecomers for excuses AND try to parse the excuses based on a matrix that relies on other potentially unclear and arbitrary rules AND use an on-the-spot decision from that ruling to erase attendance



            4) You record attendance at the start of class AND shut out latecomers from even entering the class which only serves to annoy the "honest latecomers", stoke your ego, and count attendance twice because the latecomers may also be shut out of the final exam



            I hope that, with this analysis, you see the excess overhead and futility of using options 2-4.



            Let's presume that you do not have the option to IGNORE taking attendance. Perhaps for example you are mandated to make a report that proves that you did. In this case, I suggest, with the freedom that you have to define attendance, you have two approaches.



            Attendance Means You Were Here for the (Majority of the) Lecture



            Record attendance at a certain point in time near start of class and then be done with it. Latecomers should be allowed a certain grace, perhaps even to the middle of class. After that grace, they can show up but they will be recorded as having been absent. Attendance then becomes a consistent message, both in what it means and in when it is recorded. You don't bother yourself with policing attendance on-the-spot, either by parsing excuses or by shutting out latecomers.



            When you would do as above, figure out how you will handle students who ARE late yet will try to say "I was there by the time the attendance was recorded and you missed me." The clicker system that is oft-used in US classrooms can be great for this ... With due diligence, it should not be easily cheated. Other methods have their pros and cons. In the end, whatever you decide to handle such cases, keep it simple and consistent.



            Attendance Means You Were Here by the Time the Lecture Ended



            Record attendance at the end of the lecture and be done with it.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 10 hours ago

























            answered 2 days ago









            Jeffrey J Weimer

            1,243110




            1,243110








            • 1




              Overall, I like this approach, but I'm a bit unclear on whether the grace period you mention means that folks arriving then will be counted as in-attendance, or just that the door won't be locked against them. (Also, clicker attendance absolutely can be cheated; this came up recently when my institution tried to use them to count votes in faculty meetings, and a CS professor hacked the "trial" vote.)
              – 1006a
              2 days ago








            • 3




              It’s pretty easy. I have seen students come to class with eight clickers.
              – JeffE
              yesterday










            • @JeffE I've added "with due diligence" about clickers. Interesting to hear about the ease with which students can find loopholes. Perhaps this means that clickers should come with thumb-print or facial recognition as the only way to activate them.
              – Jeffrey J Weimer
              yesterday










            • Interestingly, "whence" already includes "from" merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whence
              – Azor Ahai
              14 hours ago










            • @AzorAhai Ha! Thanks. Fixed that one.
              – Jeffrey J Weimer
              10 hours ago














            • 1




              Overall, I like this approach, but I'm a bit unclear on whether the grace period you mention means that folks arriving then will be counted as in-attendance, or just that the door won't be locked against them. (Also, clicker attendance absolutely can be cheated; this came up recently when my institution tried to use them to count votes in faculty meetings, and a CS professor hacked the "trial" vote.)
              – 1006a
              2 days ago








            • 3




              It’s pretty easy. I have seen students come to class with eight clickers.
              – JeffE
              yesterday










            • @JeffE I've added "with due diligence" about clickers. Interesting to hear about the ease with which students can find loopholes. Perhaps this means that clickers should come with thumb-print or facial recognition as the only way to activate them.
              – Jeffrey J Weimer
              yesterday










            • Interestingly, "whence" already includes "from" merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whence
              – Azor Ahai
              14 hours ago










            • @AzorAhai Ha! Thanks. Fixed that one.
              – Jeffrey J Weimer
              10 hours ago








            1




            1




            Overall, I like this approach, but I'm a bit unclear on whether the grace period you mention means that folks arriving then will be counted as in-attendance, or just that the door won't be locked against them. (Also, clicker attendance absolutely can be cheated; this came up recently when my institution tried to use them to count votes in faculty meetings, and a CS professor hacked the "trial" vote.)
            – 1006a
            2 days ago






            Overall, I like this approach, but I'm a bit unclear on whether the grace period you mention means that folks arriving then will be counted as in-attendance, or just that the door won't be locked against them. (Also, clicker attendance absolutely can be cheated; this came up recently when my institution tried to use them to count votes in faculty meetings, and a CS professor hacked the "trial" vote.)
            – 1006a
            2 days ago






            3




            3




            It’s pretty easy. I have seen students come to class with eight clickers.
            – JeffE
            yesterday




            It’s pretty easy. I have seen students come to class with eight clickers.
            – JeffE
            yesterday












            @JeffE I've added "with due diligence" about clickers. Interesting to hear about the ease with which students can find loopholes. Perhaps this means that clickers should come with thumb-print or facial recognition as the only way to activate them.
            – Jeffrey J Weimer
            yesterday




            @JeffE I've added "with due diligence" about clickers. Interesting to hear about the ease with which students can find loopholes. Perhaps this means that clickers should come with thumb-print or facial recognition as the only way to activate them.
            – Jeffrey J Weimer
            yesterday












            Interestingly, "whence" already includes "from" merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whence
            – Azor Ahai
            14 hours ago




            Interestingly, "whence" already includes "from" merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whence
            – Azor Ahai
            14 hours ago












            @AzorAhai Ha! Thanks. Fixed that one.
            – Jeffrey J Weimer
            10 hours ago




            @AzorAhai Ha! Thanks. Fixed that one.
            – Jeffrey J Weimer
            10 hours ago










            up vote
            8
            down vote













            At university level students are adults. It is their choice, their life, their responsibility.



            If they decide to come late and miss things this is their choice and their personal consequences. It is not the responsibility of a teacher at university level (Bachelors, Masters of Doctoral) to discipline them as schoolchildren or parents.



            The only proviso is that they must not interfere with the learning opportunities of other students in the class by being disruptive. If they arrive late, they should do so discretely and give appropriate apologies if convenient.



            I know many students who have family commitments (such as children's doctors appointments) or travel long distances to class and suffer the vagaries of the public transport system. It would be quite unfair and prejudicial to single them out with negative comments.



            You should reflect on your attitude to student learning and teaching, and not those of your class.






            share|improve this answer

















            • 4




              The faculty are adults, but will they arrive late? And will they do that often? Faculty tend to be late rarely.... Faculty also have family and commitments...
              – Solar Mike
              2 days ago








            • 4




              It looks like this is a course with mandatory attendance, so that decision has already been taken above OP's level.
              – Federico Poloni
              2 days ago






            • 3




              @DanielR.Collins that was added in a comment after my answer, however my answer still stands. Someone who is late has still attended. Its all about respect from both sides of the class.
              – Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩
              2 days ago






            • 6




              @SolarMike I really hate the narrative that attendance is a sign of “respect”. It is not. Mandatory attendance is asking for compliance, which is not the same thing.
              – JeffE
              yesterday






            • 3




              @JeffE attending on time, or before time is a sign of respect in most situations... Being late is taken as rude in many situations, leading to the phrase often used " He (or she) will be late for their own funeral". Being late to a doctor's appointment may lead to you being charged anyway, being late to your meeting with a bank manager won't help your case. Many of us were taught by our parents that being on time was a virtue.
              – Solar Mike
              yesterday















            up vote
            8
            down vote













            At university level students are adults. It is their choice, their life, their responsibility.



            If they decide to come late and miss things this is their choice and their personal consequences. It is not the responsibility of a teacher at university level (Bachelors, Masters of Doctoral) to discipline them as schoolchildren or parents.



            The only proviso is that they must not interfere with the learning opportunities of other students in the class by being disruptive. If they arrive late, they should do so discretely and give appropriate apologies if convenient.



            I know many students who have family commitments (such as children's doctors appointments) or travel long distances to class and suffer the vagaries of the public transport system. It would be quite unfair and prejudicial to single them out with negative comments.



            You should reflect on your attitude to student learning and teaching, and not those of your class.






            share|improve this answer

















            • 4




              The faculty are adults, but will they arrive late? And will they do that often? Faculty tend to be late rarely.... Faculty also have family and commitments...
              – Solar Mike
              2 days ago








            • 4




              It looks like this is a course with mandatory attendance, so that decision has already been taken above OP's level.
              – Federico Poloni
              2 days ago






            • 3




              @DanielR.Collins that was added in a comment after my answer, however my answer still stands. Someone who is late has still attended. Its all about respect from both sides of the class.
              – Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩
              2 days ago






            • 6




              @SolarMike I really hate the narrative that attendance is a sign of “respect”. It is not. Mandatory attendance is asking for compliance, which is not the same thing.
              – JeffE
              yesterday






            • 3




              @JeffE attending on time, or before time is a sign of respect in most situations... Being late is taken as rude in many situations, leading to the phrase often used " He (or she) will be late for their own funeral". Being late to a doctor's appointment may lead to you being charged anyway, being late to your meeting with a bank manager won't help your case. Many of us were taught by our parents that being on time was a virtue.
              – Solar Mike
              yesterday













            up vote
            8
            down vote










            up vote
            8
            down vote









            At university level students are adults. It is their choice, their life, their responsibility.



            If they decide to come late and miss things this is their choice and their personal consequences. It is not the responsibility of a teacher at university level (Bachelors, Masters of Doctoral) to discipline them as schoolchildren or parents.



            The only proviso is that they must not interfere with the learning opportunities of other students in the class by being disruptive. If they arrive late, they should do so discretely and give appropriate apologies if convenient.



            I know many students who have family commitments (such as children's doctors appointments) or travel long distances to class and suffer the vagaries of the public transport system. It would be quite unfair and prejudicial to single them out with negative comments.



            You should reflect on your attitude to student learning and teaching, and not those of your class.






            share|improve this answer












            At university level students are adults. It is their choice, their life, their responsibility.



            If they decide to come late and miss things this is their choice and their personal consequences. It is not the responsibility of a teacher at university level (Bachelors, Masters of Doctoral) to discipline them as schoolchildren or parents.



            The only proviso is that they must not interfere with the learning opportunities of other students in the class by being disruptive. If they arrive late, they should do so discretely and give appropriate apologies if convenient.



            I know many students who have family commitments (such as children's doctors appointments) or travel long distances to class and suffer the vagaries of the public transport system. It would be quite unfair and prejudicial to single them out with negative comments.



            You should reflect on your attitude to student learning and teaching, and not those of your class.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 2 days ago









            Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩

            9,23933045




            9,23933045








            • 4




              The faculty are adults, but will they arrive late? And will they do that often? Faculty tend to be late rarely.... Faculty also have family and commitments...
              – Solar Mike
              2 days ago








            • 4




              It looks like this is a course with mandatory attendance, so that decision has already been taken above OP's level.
              – Federico Poloni
              2 days ago






            • 3




              @DanielR.Collins that was added in a comment after my answer, however my answer still stands. Someone who is late has still attended. Its all about respect from both sides of the class.
              – Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩
              2 days ago






            • 6




              @SolarMike I really hate the narrative that attendance is a sign of “respect”. It is not. Mandatory attendance is asking for compliance, which is not the same thing.
              – JeffE
              yesterday






            • 3




              @JeffE attending on time, or before time is a sign of respect in most situations... Being late is taken as rude in many situations, leading to the phrase often used " He (or she) will be late for their own funeral". Being late to a doctor's appointment may lead to you being charged anyway, being late to your meeting with a bank manager won't help your case. Many of us were taught by our parents that being on time was a virtue.
              – Solar Mike
              yesterday














            • 4




              The faculty are adults, but will they arrive late? And will they do that often? Faculty tend to be late rarely.... Faculty also have family and commitments...
              – Solar Mike
              2 days ago








            • 4




              It looks like this is a course with mandatory attendance, so that decision has already been taken above OP's level.
              – Federico Poloni
              2 days ago






            • 3




              @DanielR.Collins that was added in a comment after my answer, however my answer still stands. Someone who is late has still attended. Its all about respect from both sides of the class.
              – Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩
              2 days ago






            • 6




              @SolarMike I really hate the narrative that attendance is a sign of “respect”. It is not. Mandatory attendance is asking for compliance, which is not the same thing.
              – JeffE
              yesterday






            • 3




              @JeffE attending on time, or before time is a sign of respect in most situations... Being late is taken as rude in many situations, leading to the phrase often used " He (or she) will be late for their own funeral". Being late to a doctor's appointment may lead to you being charged anyway, being late to your meeting with a bank manager won't help your case. Many of us were taught by our parents that being on time was a virtue.
              – Solar Mike
              yesterday








            4




            4




            The faculty are adults, but will they arrive late? And will they do that often? Faculty tend to be late rarely.... Faculty also have family and commitments...
            – Solar Mike
            2 days ago






            The faculty are adults, but will they arrive late? And will they do that often? Faculty tend to be late rarely.... Faculty also have family and commitments...
            – Solar Mike
            2 days ago






            4




            4




            It looks like this is a course with mandatory attendance, so that decision has already been taken above OP's level.
            – Federico Poloni
            2 days ago




            It looks like this is a course with mandatory attendance, so that decision has already been taken above OP's level.
            – Federico Poloni
            2 days ago




            3




            3




            @DanielR.Collins that was added in a comment after my answer, however my answer still stands. Someone who is late has still attended. Its all about respect from both sides of the class.
            – Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩
            2 days ago




            @DanielR.Collins that was added in a comment after my answer, however my answer still stands. Someone who is late has still attended. Its all about respect from both sides of the class.
            – Brian Tompsett - 汤莱恩
            2 days ago




            6




            6




            @SolarMike I really hate the narrative that attendance is a sign of “respect”. It is not. Mandatory attendance is asking for compliance, which is not the same thing.
            – JeffE
            yesterday




            @SolarMike I really hate the narrative that attendance is a sign of “respect”. It is not. Mandatory attendance is asking for compliance, which is not the same thing.
            – JeffE
            yesterday




            3




            3




            @JeffE attending on time, or before time is a sign of respect in most situations... Being late is taken as rude in many situations, leading to the phrase often used " He (or she) will be late for their own funeral". Being late to a doctor's appointment may lead to you being charged anyway, being late to your meeting with a bank manager won't help your case. Many of us were taught by our parents that being on time was a virtue.
            – Solar Mike
            yesterday




            @JeffE attending on time, or before time is a sign of respect in most situations... Being late is taken as rude in many situations, leading to the phrase often used " He (or she) will be late for their own funeral". Being late to a doctor's appointment may lead to you being charged anyway, being late to your meeting with a bank manager won't help your case. Many of us were taught by our parents that being on time was a virtue.
            – Solar Mike
            yesterday










            up vote
            4
            down vote













            Most of the answers are very tolerant. Since this is obviously a matter of preference, I always went for 4 (close the doors and nobody comes in after my lecture started).



            Missing one class is not the end of the world for them. It will, however, teach them something: that time is valuable and that they must make whatever they can to be on time. Even if it means being there 15 minutes early because of an unfortunate train connection.



            Being late of course happens, and the world will usually not be waiting for you. You were late for the plane, it is gone. You were late for a doctor appointment, the next patient jumped in.



            This is simply life and being late is often a decision, and sometimes bad luck.



            If being late means that they will get sick, die, or miss a once-in-a-life opportunity then laxism is welcome. Otherwise this is just teaching them that the world is what it is, and being on time is an asset.



            Today, outside of academia, I start my meetings sharp. If someone is late then I never summarize what happened earlier in the meeting (I do not usually have, technically, the possibility to block them).



            One last point to take into account is the commute between courses or meetings: people building timetables think that this is done over teleportation and do not add buffers between classes. They should not work where they work because they are simply incompetent.



            I finish the meetings / courses I am in control of a few minutes early but if I stuck with one which finishes sharp and the next one starts sharp as well, I make decisions: to leave early or to be late (and possibly miss the meeting). Be nice and if your course is right behind the one of someone who has no understanding that commute time is necessary then you may start yours 5 minutes later (I did this a few times not to penalize the students because of decisions outside their control)



            One last edit: I strongly believe that we should treat students as adults and leave attendance to the students. If the rules are different though, they should be enforced (for their own good - and apparently they are not such grown up adults yet)






            share|improve this answer



















            • 5




              That may work in some places but many campuses don't allow sufficient time for all students to make it between lectures (especially disabled students). I've taught labs where a large subset of the students were expected to walk from another site in zero time, a walk that took me 10 minutes.
              – Chris H
              21 hours ago










            • @ChrisH: this is exactly why I mentioned that some people think that teleportation works between meetings/courses and plan the timings around this ridiculous idea (those people are idiots and should be treated as such when there is an opportunity). One should either put pressure so that courses take this into account, or be the reasonable/kind person who will be starting the class a bit later (clearly announcing it, and that after the initial 5 minutes the class is closed). This also means not starting on tile as one cannot penalized the ones who are on time (within the 5 minutes).
              – WoJ
              17 hours ago










            • College students who've paid for the class shouldn't be locked out of it even if you're going to mark them as absent. Your syllabus probably wasn't readily available when they paid for the class, after all. This could potentially open the college up to a lawsuit. Second, unless the name of the class is, "how to be a douche by example" this type of behavior is really uncalled for. You aren't there to teach them this sort of life lesson. If you want to mark them down as not attending that is one thing but to bar access to the class or otherwise demean or sabotage the student is just being cruel.
              – krowe2
              11 hours ago










            • @krowe2: a plane you paid for will not be waiting for you. They are not douchebags - it is just life. If this is "behaviour uncalled for" then you live in a happy place where your money means that you are entitled to everything, by the mere fact of paying. I am not sabotaging students - they do this themselves by choosing to be late (in most of the cases, except the ones I noted in my answer). Next time they will be more careful and plan better - which is a valuable lesson learned. (and to your first point: where I live education is free as it should be everywhere - answer stays the same)
              – WoJ
              18 mins ago

















            up vote
            4
            down vote













            Most of the answers are very tolerant. Since this is obviously a matter of preference, I always went for 4 (close the doors and nobody comes in after my lecture started).



            Missing one class is not the end of the world for them. It will, however, teach them something: that time is valuable and that they must make whatever they can to be on time. Even if it means being there 15 minutes early because of an unfortunate train connection.



            Being late of course happens, and the world will usually not be waiting for you. You were late for the plane, it is gone. You were late for a doctor appointment, the next patient jumped in.



            This is simply life and being late is often a decision, and sometimes bad luck.



            If being late means that they will get sick, die, or miss a once-in-a-life opportunity then laxism is welcome. Otherwise this is just teaching them that the world is what it is, and being on time is an asset.



            Today, outside of academia, I start my meetings sharp. If someone is late then I never summarize what happened earlier in the meeting (I do not usually have, technically, the possibility to block them).



            One last point to take into account is the commute between courses or meetings: people building timetables think that this is done over teleportation and do not add buffers between classes. They should not work where they work because they are simply incompetent.



            I finish the meetings / courses I am in control of a few minutes early but if I stuck with one which finishes sharp and the next one starts sharp as well, I make decisions: to leave early or to be late (and possibly miss the meeting). Be nice and if your course is right behind the one of someone who has no understanding that commute time is necessary then you may start yours 5 minutes later (I did this a few times not to penalize the students because of decisions outside their control)



            One last edit: I strongly believe that we should treat students as adults and leave attendance to the students. If the rules are different though, they should be enforced (for their own good - and apparently they are not such grown up adults yet)






            share|improve this answer



















            • 5




              That may work in some places but many campuses don't allow sufficient time for all students to make it between lectures (especially disabled students). I've taught labs where a large subset of the students were expected to walk from another site in zero time, a walk that took me 10 minutes.
              – Chris H
              21 hours ago










            • @ChrisH: this is exactly why I mentioned that some people think that teleportation works between meetings/courses and plan the timings around this ridiculous idea (those people are idiots and should be treated as such when there is an opportunity). One should either put pressure so that courses take this into account, or be the reasonable/kind person who will be starting the class a bit later (clearly announcing it, and that after the initial 5 minutes the class is closed). This also means not starting on tile as one cannot penalized the ones who are on time (within the 5 minutes).
              – WoJ
              17 hours ago










            • College students who've paid for the class shouldn't be locked out of it even if you're going to mark them as absent. Your syllabus probably wasn't readily available when they paid for the class, after all. This could potentially open the college up to a lawsuit. Second, unless the name of the class is, "how to be a douche by example" this type of behavior is really uncalled for. You aren't there to teach them this sort of life lesson. If you want to mark them down as not attending that is one thing but to bar access to the class or otherwise demean or sabotage the student is just being cruel.
              – krowe2
              11 hours ago










            • @krowe2: a plane you paid for will not be waiting for you. They are not douchebags - it is just life. If this is "behaviour uncalled for" then you live in a happy place where your money means that you are entitled to everything, by the mere fact of paying. I am not sabotaging students - they do this themselves by choosing to be late (in most of the cases, except the ones I noted in my answer). Next time they will be more careful and plan better - which is a valuable lesson learned. (and to your first point: where I live education is free as it should be everywhere - answer stays the same)
              – WoJ
              18 mins ago















            up vote
            4
            down vote










            up vote
            4
            down vote









            Most of the answers are very tolerant. Since this is obviously a matter of preference, I always went for 4 (close the doors and nobody comes in after my lecture started).



            Missing one class is not the end of the world for them. It will, however, teach them something: that time is valuable and that they must make whatever they can to be on time. Even if it means being there 15 minutes early because of an unfortunate train connection.



            Being late of course happens, and the world will usually not be waiting for you. You were late for the plane, it is gone. You were late for a doctor appointment, the next patient jumped in.



            This is simply life and being late is often a decision, and sometimes bad luck.



            If being late means that they will get sick, die, or miss a once-in-a-life opportunity then laxism is welcome. Otherwise this is just teaching them that the world is what it is, and being on time is an asset.



            Today, outside of academia, I start my meetings sharp. If someone is late then I never summarize what happened earlier in the meeting (I do not usually have, technically, the possibility to block them).



            One last point to take into account is the commute between courses or meetings: people building timetables think that this is done over teleportation and do not add buffers between classes. They should not work where they work because they are simply incompetent.



            I finish the meetings / courses I am in control of a few minutes early but if I stuck with one which finishes sharp and the next one starts sharp as well, I make decisions: to leave early or to be late (and possibly miss the meeting). Be nice and if your course is right behind the one of someone who has no understanding that commute time is necessary then you may start yours 5 minutes later (I did this a few times not to penalize the students because of decisions outside their control)



            One last edit: I strongly believe that we should treat students as adults and leave attendance to the students. If the rules are different though, they should be enforced (for their own good - and apparently they are not such grown up adults yet)






            share|improve this answer














            Most of the answers are very tolerant. Since this is obviously a matter of preference, I always went for 4 (close the doors and nobody comes in after my lecture started).



            Missing one class is not the end of the world for them. It will, however, teach them something: that time is valuable and that they must make whatever they can to be on time. Even if it means being there 15 minutes early because of an unfortunate train connection.



            Being late of course happens, and the world will usually not be waiting for you. You were late for the plane, it is gone. You were late for a doctor appointment, the next patient jumped in.



            This is simply life and being late is often a decision, and sometimes bad luck.



            If being late means that they will get sick, die, or miss a once-in-a-life opportunity then laxism is welcome. Otherwise this is just teaching them that the world is what it is, and being on time is an asset.



            Today, outside of academia, I start my meetings sharp. If someone is late then I never summarize what happened earlier in the meeting (I do not usually have, technically, the possibility to block them).



            One last point to take into account is the commute between courses or meetings: people building timetables think that this is done over teleportation and do not add buffers between classes. They should not work where they work because they are simply incompetent.



            I finish the meetings / courses I am in control of a few minutes early but if I stuck with one which finishes sharp and the next one starts sharp as well, I make decisions: to leave early or to be late (and possibly miss the meeting). Be nice and if your course is right behind the one of someone who has no understanding that commute time is necessary then you may start yours 5 minutes later (I did this a few times not to penalize the students because of decisions outside their control)



            One last edit: I strongly believe that we should treat students as adults and leave attendance to the students. If the rules are different though, they should be enforced (for their own good - and apparently they are not such grown up adults yet)







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 3 mins ago

























            answered 22 hours ago









            WoJ

            2,493714




            2,493714








            • 5




              That may work in some places but many campuses don't allow sufficient time for all students to make it between lectures (especially disabled students). I've taught labs where a large subset of the students were expected to walk from another site in zero time, a walk that took me 10 minutes.
              – Chris H
              21 hours ago










            • @ChrisH: this is exactly why I mentioned that some people think that teleportation works between meetings/courses and plan the timings around this ridiculous idea (those people are idiots and should be treated as such when there is an opportunity). One should either put pressure so that courses take this into account, or be the reasonable/kind person who will be starting the class a bit later (clearly announcing it, and that after the initial 5 minutes the class is closed). This also means not starting on tile as one cannot penalized the ones who are on time (within the 5 minutes).
              – WoJ
              17 hours ago










            • College students who've paid for the class shouldn't be locked out of it even if you're going to mark them as absent. Your syllabus probably wasn't readily available when they paid for the class, after all. This could potentially open the college up to a lawsuit. Second, unless the name of the class is, "how to be a douche by example" this type of behavior is really uncalled for. You aren't there to teach them this sort of life lesson. If you want to mark them down as not attending that is one thing but to bar access to the class or otherwise demean or sabotage the student is just being cruel.
              – krowe2
              11 hours ago










            • @krowe2: a plane you paid for will not be waiting for you. They are not douchebags - it is just life. If this is "behaviour uncalled for" then you live in a happy place where your money means that you are entitled to everything, by the mere fact of paying. I am not sabotaging students - they do this themselves by choosing to be late (in most of the cases, except the ones I noted in my answer). Next time they will be more careful and plan better - which is a valuable lesson learned. (and to your first point: where I live education is free as it should be everywhere - answer stays the same)
              – WoJ
              18 mins ago
















            • 5




              That may work in some places but many campuses don't allow sufficient time for all students to make it between lectures (especially disabled students). I've taught labs where a large subset of the students were expected to walk from another site in zero time, a walk that took me 10 minutes.
              – Chris H
              21 hours ago










            • @ChrisH: this is exactly why I mentioned that some people think that teleportation works between meetings/courses and plan the timings around this ridiculous idea (those people are idiots and should be treated as such when there is an opportunity). One should either put pressure so that courses take this into account, or be the reasonable/kind person who will be starting the class a bit later (clearly announcing it, and that after the initial 5 minutes the class is closed). This also means not starting on tile as one cannot penalized the ones who are on time (within the 5 minutes).
              – WoJ
              17 hours ago










            • College students who've paid for the class shouldn't be locked out of it even if you're going to mark them as absent. Your syllabus probably wasn't readily available when they paid for the class, after all. This could potentially open the college up to a lawsuit. Second, unless the name of the class is, "how to be a douche by example" this type of behavior is really uncalled for. You aren't there to teach them this sort of life lesson. If you want to mark them down as not attending that is one thing but to bar access to the class or otherwise demean or sabotage the student is just being cruel.
              – krowe2
              11 hours ago










            • @krowe2: a plane you paid for will not be waiting for you. They are not douchebags - it is just life. If this is "behaviour uncalled for" then you live in a happy place where your money means that you are entitled to everything, by the mere fact of paying. I am not sabotaging students - they do this themselves by choosing to be late (in most of the cases, except the ones I noted in my answer). Next time they will be more careful and plan better - which is a valuable lesson learned. (and to your first point: where I live education is free as it should be everywhere - answer stays the same)
              – WoJ
              18 mins ago










            5




            5




            That may work in some places but many campuses don't allow sufficient time for all students to make it between lectures (especially disabled students). I've taught labs where a large subset of the students were expected to walk from another site in zero time, a walk that took me 10 minutes.
            – Chris H
            21 hours ago




            That may work in some places but many campuses don't allow sufficient time for all students to make it between lectures (especially disabled students). I've taught labs where a large subset of the students were expected to walk from another site in zero time, a walk that took me 10 minutes.
            – Chris H
            21 hours ago












            @ChrisH: this is exactly why I mentioned that some people think that teleportation works between meetings/courses and plan the timings around this ridiculous idea (those people are idiots and should be treated as such when there is an opportunity). One should either put pressure so that courses take this into account, or be the reasonable/kind person who will be starting the class a bit later (clearly announcing it, and that after the initial 5 minutes the class is closed). This also means not starting on tile as one cannot penalized the ones who are on time (within the 5 minutes).
            – WoJ
            17 hours ago




            @ChrisH: this is exactly why I mentioned that some people think that teleportation works between meetings/courses and plan the timings around this ridiculous idea (those people are idiots and should be treated as such when there is an opportunity). One should either put pressure so that courses take this into account, or be the reasonable/kind person who will be starting the class a bit later (clearly announcing it, and that after the initial 5 minutes the class is closed). This also means not starting on tile as one cannot penalized the ones who are on time (within the 5 minutes).
            – WoJ
            17 hours ago












            College students who've paid for the class shouldn't be locked out of it even if you're going to mark them as absent. Your syllabus probably wasn't readily available when they paid for the class, after all. This could potentially open the college up to a lawsuit. Second, unless the name of the class is, "how to be a douche by example" this type of behavior is really uncalled for. You aren't there to teach them this sort of life lesson. If you want to mark them down as not attending that is one thing but to bar access to the class or otherwise demean or sabotage the student is just being cruel.
            – krowe2
            11 hours ago




            College students who've paid for the class shouldn't be locked out of it even if you're going to mark them as absent. Your syllabus probably wasn't readily available when they paid for the class, after all. This could potentially open the college up to a lawsuit. Second, unless the name of the class is, "how to be a douche by example" this type of behavior is really uncalled for. You aren't there to teach them this sort of life lesson. If you want to mark them down as not attending that is one thing but to bar access to the class or otherwise demean or sabotage the student is just being cruel.
            – krowe2
            11 hours ago












            @krowe2: a plane you paid for will not be waiting for you. They are not douchebags - it is just life. If this is "behaviour uncalled for" then you live in a happy place where your money means that you are entitled to everything, by the mere fact of paying. I am not sabotaging students - they do this themselves by choosing to be late (in most of the cases, except the ones I noted in my answer). Next time they will be more careful and plan better - which is a valuable lesson learned. (and to your first point: where I live education is free as it should be everywhere - answer stays the same)
            – WoJ
            18 mins ago






            @krowe2: a plane you paid for will not be waiting for you. They are not douchebags - it is just life. If this is "behaviour uncalled for" then you live in a happy place where your money means that you are entitled to everything, by the mere fact of paying. I am not sabotaging students - they do this themselves by choosing to be late (in most of the cases, except the ones I noted in my answer). Next time they will be more careful and plan better - which is a valuable lesson learned. (and to your first point: where I live education is free as it should be everywhere - answer stays the same)
            – WoJ
            18 mins ago












            up vote
            3
            down vote













            While my preferred method is to just leave attendance up to the student entirely, recognizing that "things happen" and "people can learn differently", for the situation in which you must take attendance, you want a method that is painless and flexible.



            One way is to require that students give you an index card with their name and date for each class. You can do this for the latecomers only, or actually for everyone. When they come in, they hand you a card. This assumes, of course, a suitable scale. I wouldn't require a card for everyone for 100 students, but for 30 it is fine.



            If you want/need to make judgements about excuses, then latecomers can write their reason for lateness on the card.



            In this way you don't need to interrupt the class, just collect the cards for later processing. You can also make notations on the cards as the class proceeds if you want to record in-process events of any kind.



            My students typically would have cards as a matter of course for note-taking and other in-class activities, but you can provide the cards yourself.



            For an especially small class, say a dozen or so, I would just carry one card for each student while I was teaching. I could easily sort the cards into those present and those not and annotate absences on the card after the class ends.



            Of course, you may need to worry about people turning in cards for others, but a count will tell you if that has happened. And, of course, you must deal with "early leavers" with a different method, but if you know the name-face correspondences it isn't too hard to handle.






            share|improve this answer

























              up vote
              3
              down vote













              While my preferred method is to just leave attendance up to the student entirely, recognizing that "things happen" and "people can learn differently", for the situation in which you must take attendance, you want a method that is painless and flexible.



              One way is to require that students give you an index card with their name and date for each class. You can do this for the latecomers only, or actually for everyone. When they come in, they hand you a card. This assumes, of course, a suitable scale. I wouldn't require a card for everyone for 100 students, but for 30 it is fine.



              If you want/need to make judgements about excuses, then latecomers can write their reason for lateness on the card.



              In this way you don't need to interrupt the class, just collect the cards for later processing. You can also make notations on the cards as the class proceeds if you want to record in-process events of any kind.



              My students typically would have cards as a matter of course for note-taking and other in-class activities, but you can provide the cards yourself.



              For an especially small class, say a dozen or so, I would just carry one card for each student while I was teaching. I could easily sort the cards into those present and those not and annotate absences on the card after the class ends.



              Of course, you may need to worry about people turning in cards for others, but a count will tell you if that has happened. And, of course, you must deal with "early leavers" with a different method, but if you know the name-face correspondences it isn't too hard to handle.






              share|improve this answer























                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                While my preferred method is to just leave attendance up to the student entirely, recognizing that "things happen" and "people can learn differently", for the situation in which you must take attendance, you want a method that is painless and flexible.



                One way is to require that students give you an index card with their name and date for each class. You can do this for the latecomers only, or actually for everyone. When they come in, they hand you a card. This assumes, of course, a suitable scale. I wouldn't require a card for everyone for 100 students, but for 30 it is fine.



                If you want/need to make judgements about excuses, then latecomers can write their reason for lateness on the card.



                In this way you don't need to interrupt the class, just collect the cards for later processing. You can also make notations on the cards as the class proceeds if you want to record in-process events of any kind.



                My students typically would have cards as a matter of course for note-taking and other in-class activities, but you can provide the cards yourself.



                For an especially small class, say a dozen or so, I would just carry one card for each student while I was teaching. I could easily sort the cards into those present and those not and annotate absences on the card after the class ends.



                Of course, you may need to worry about people turning in cards for others, but a count will tell you if that has happened. And, of course, you must deal with "early leavers" with a different method, but if you know the name-face correspondences it isn't too hard to handle.






                share|improve this answer












                While my preferred method is to just leave attendance up to the student entirely, recognizing that "things happen" and "people can learn differently", for the situation in which you must take attendance, you want a method that is painless and flexible.



                One way is to require that students give you an index card with their name and date for each class. You can do this for the latecomers only, or actually for everyone. When they come in, they hand you a card. This assumes, of course, a suitable scale. I wouldn't require a card for everyone for 100 students, but for 30 it is fine.



                If you want/need to make judgements about excuses, then latecomers can write their reason for lateness on the card.



                In this way you don't need to interrupt the class, just collect the cards for later processing. You can also make notations on the cards as the class proceeds if you want to record in-process events of any kind.



                My students typically would have cards as a matter of course for note-taking and other in-class activities, but you can provide the cards yourself.



                For an especially small class, say a dozen or so, I would just carry one card for each student while I was teaching. I could easily sort the cards into those present and those not and annotate absences on the card after the class ends.



                Of course, you may need to worry about people turning in cards for others, but a count will tell you if that has happened. And, of course, you must deal with "early leavers" with a different method, but if you know the name-face correspondences it isn't too hard to handle.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 2 days ago









                Buffy

                29.6k694158




                29.6k694158






















                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote













                    Mandatory attendance institutions are quite common in some parts of the world. I used to study in one.



                    We used to have a roll call. If you are present while your number is called out, your attendance is marked. If you are not, then it is not. Exceptions were made for some known problems like heavy rain or bus/train strikes, and people were always welcome to sit through a lecture without their attendance being marked if they wanted to. This system is prone to a lot of problems though. For example, politically well connected students were able to bully some professors into marking their attendance (yes, this happens).



                    The most effective system I heard implemented (not in my institution) was to take it out of the hands of the professors. One institution had some helps (or 'peons", as they are called locally) that they employed. Say a lecture starts at 1:00 pm. The helps used to run around their sections of classes at around 1:10 pm and collect all the attendance sheets. They had later started to up their tech and had fingerprint readers to mark attendance which were powered off remotely 10 minutes into every lecture.



                    There's (hopefully) no way to make a change after that. This system is less prone to manipulation. Few, if any, had the political clout to challenge a higher up to whom these sheets were submitted. More importantly, it keeps the relationship between the professors and their students healthy.



                    I will admit that most students never liked the mandatory attendance policy. But there certainly are good reasons for its existence in some countries. Those reasons are outside the scope of this answer.






                    share|improve this answer

























                      up vote
                      3
                      down vote













                      Mandatory attendance institutions are quite common in some parts of the world. I used to study in one.



                      We used to have a roll call. If you are present while your number is called out, your attendance is marked. If you are not, then it is not. Exceptions were made for some known problems like heavy rain or bus/train strikes, and people were always welcome to sit through a lecture without their attendance being marked if they wanted to. This system is prone to a lot of problems though. For example, politically well connected students were able to bully some professors into marking their attendance (yes, this happens).



                      The most effective system I heard implemented (not in my institution) was to take it out of the hands of the professors. One institution had some helps (or 'peons", as they are called locally) that they employed. Say a lecture starts at 1:00 pm. The helps used to run around their sections of classes at around 1:10 pm and collect all the attendance sheets. They had later started to up their tech and had fingerprint readers to mark attendance which were powered off remotely 10 minutes into every lecture.



                      There's (hopefully) no way to make a change after that. This system is less prone to manipulation. Few, if any, had the political clout to challenge a higher up to whom these sheets were submitted. More importantly, it keeps the relationship between the professors and their students healthy.



                      I will admit that most students never liked the mandatory attendance policy. But there certainly are good reasons for its existence in some countries. Those reasons are outside the scope of this answer.






                      share|improve this answer























                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote









                        Mandatory attendance institutions are quite common in some parts of the world. I used to study in one.



                        We used to have a roll call. If you are present while your number is called out, your attendance is marked. If you are not, then it is not. Exceptions were made for some known problems like heavy rain or bus/train strikes, and people were always welcome to sit through a lecture without their attendance being marked if they wanted to. This system is prone to a lot of problems though. For example, politically well connected students were able to bully some professors into marking their attendance (yes, this happens).



                        The most effective system I heard implemented (not in my institution) was to take it out of the hands of the professors. One institution had some helps (or 'peons", as they are called locally) that they employed. Say a lecture starts at 1:00 pm. The helps used to run around their sections of classes at around 1:10 pm and collect all the attendance sheets. They had later started to up their tech and had fingerprint readers to mark attendance which were powered off remotely 10 minutes into every lecture.



                        There's (hopefully) no way to make a change after that. This system is less prone to manipulation. Few, if any, had the political clout to challenge a higher up to whom these sheets were submitted. More importantly, it keeps the relationship between the professors and their students healthy.



                        I will admit that most students never liked the mandatory attendance policy. But there certainly are good reasons for its existence in some countries. Those reasons are outside the scope of this answer.






                        share|improve this answer












                        Mandatory attendance institutions are quite common in some parts of the world. I used to study in one.



                        We used to have a roll call. If you are present while your number is called out, your attendance is marked. If you are not, then it is not. Exceptions were made for some known problems like heavy rain or bus/train strikes, and people were always welcome to sit through a lecture without their attendance being marked if they wanted to. This system is prone to a lot of problems though. For example, politically well connected students were able to bully some professors into marking their attendance (yes, this happens).



                        The most effective system I heard implemented (not in my institution) was to take it out of the hands of the professors. One institution had some helps (or 'peons", as they are called locally) that they employed. Say a lecture starts at 1:00 pm. The helps used to run around their sections of classes at around 1:10 pm and collect all the attendance sheets. They had later started to up their tech and had fingerprint readers to mark attendance which were powered off remotely 10 minutes into every lecture.



                        There's (hopefully) no way to make a change after that. This system is less prone to manipulation. Few, if any, had the political clout to challenge a higher up to whom these sheets were submitted. More importantly, it keeps the relationship between the professors and their students healthy.



                        I will admit that most students never liked the mandatory attendance policy. But there certainly are good reasons for its existence in some countries. Those reasons are outside the scope of this answer.







                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered yesterday









                        TheJack

                        1311




                        1311






















                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote













                            When you are a TA, you have to follow the local rules and will have little power to change them (although you have every right to discuss them with colleagues). The way to do so, and the choice to do so in a more general situation, is an important matter.



                            Many colleagues, and many answer above dismiss the need to bother with attendance and lateness ("as long as it does not disturb the class"), on the ground that students are adults. I very much disagree with this argument. Since this is not a popular opinion, I feel the need to give some context and justification.



                            First, recall that there are many many situations where rules are made for people own good, even adults - mandatory belts in cars, for example (as in France, I do not know the law in other countries). When first enforced, this kind of rule tend to be rejected as treating people as children; after a time, they often get adopted and become obvious. Did people get more adult in the meantime? No, but our behavior, and what we consider proper behavior, is shaped by what others do and what rules (explicit or implicit, legal or traditional) are in force.



                            Second, recall that this applies to us academics, however grown up we are. Do you think that the attitude of staff when you turn your paperwork for your next conference late past the deadline has no bearing on your behavior next time? If administrative staff simply treats this as if it where normal, don't you think you would probably miss the deadline quite often? On the contrary, if they (respectfully) mention how much more difficult it makes their job, wouldn't you be more careful? Do you think it is necessarily treating faculty as children to have rules and deadlines for paperwork? Or can you see it is (in good cases) about all of us to interact smoothly and work efficiently? We all act according to a large set of rules, and good rules are those that have a good incentive/heaviness ratio. The most permissive rules are not necessarily optimal.



                            Similarly, students attitude toward "going into class" will be shaped by what they see other student do, and how teachers react to what they do. Simply ignoring late students, or student that only show up every other class, will send a very clear message: that it is okay to do so. In most cases, this message is actually detrimental to their study.



                            Teachers should not ignore that the way they react sends a message, and they should thus choose how to react in a way that sends a message they believe is accurate and supports our goal: to have student learn. Since I believe the correct message is that showing up in class on time is an important part of studying, I try to adopt rules consistent with this message (one can feel differently about importance of showing up in class on time, but beware that a small proportion of student that can dispense from it should not hide a vast majority that cannot afford this).



                            The precise rule I adopt has changed over time. Lately, I have settled for the following: whenever a student shows up more than (literally) 1-2 minutes late, I ask her or him to wait outside; I finish what I was saying and let a little something to think about to the class; I go see the late student, and ask why he or she is late; I always let her or him get in, but make sure to mention being late is not a good thing; then I carry on with the course. This has I think a good balance, even in amphitheaters (first lectures I usually get a dozen late student at a time, then they mostly show up on time - or not at all).






                            share|improve this answer

























                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote













                              When you are a TA, you have to follow the local rules and will have little power to change them (although you have every right to discuss them with colleagues). The way to do so, and the choice to do so in a more general situation, is an important matter.



                              Many colleagues, and many answer above dismiss the need to bother with attendance and lateness ("as long as it does not disturb the class"), on the ground that students are adults. I very much disagree with this argument. Since this is not a popular opinion, I feel the need to give some context and justification.



                              First, recall that there are many many situations where rules are made for people own good, even adults - mandatory belts in cars, for example (as in France, I do not know the law in other countries). When first enforced, this kind of rule tend to be rejected as treating people as children; after a time, they often get adopted and become obvious. Did people get more adult in the meantime? No, but our behavior, and what we consider proper behavior, is shaped by what others do and what rules (explicit or implicit, legal or traditional) are in force.



                              Second, recall that this applies to us academics, however grown up we are. Do you think that the attitude of staff when you turn your paperwork for your next conference late past the deadline has no bearing on your behavior next time? If administrative staff simply treats this as if it where normal, don't you think you would probably miss the deadline quite often? On the contrary, if they (respectfully) mention how much more difficult it makes their job, wouldn't you be more careful? Do you think it is necessarily treating faculty as children to have rules and deadlines for paperwork? Or can you see it is (in good cases) about all of us to interact smoothly and work efficiently? We all act according to a large set of rules, and good rules are those that have a good incentive/heaviness ratio. The most permissive rules are not necessarily optimal.



                              Similarly, students attitude toward "going into class" will be shaped by what they see other student do, and how teachers react to what they do. Simply ignoring late students, or student that only show up every other class, will send a very clear message: that it is okay to do so. In most cases, this message is actually detrimental to their study.



                              Teachers should not ignore that the way they react sends a message, and they should thus choose how to react in a way that sends a message they believe is accurate and supports our goal: to have student learn. Since I believe the correct message is that showing up in class on time is an important part of studying, I try to adopt rules consistent with this message (one can feel differently about importance of showing up in class on time, but beware that a small proportion of student that can dispense from it should not hide a vast majority that cannot afford this).



                              The precise rule I adopt has changed over time. Lately, I have settled for the following: whenever a student shows up more than (literally) 1-2 minutes late, I ask her or him to wait outside; I finish what I was saying and let a little something to think about to the class; I go see the late student, and ask why he or she is late; I always let her or him get in, but make sure to mention being late is not a good thing; then I carry on with the course. This has I think a good balance, even in amphitheaters (first lectures I usually get a dozen late student at a time, then they mostly show up on time - or not at all).






                              share|improve this answer























                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote










                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote









                                When you are a TA, you have to follow the local rules and will have little power to change them (although you have every right to discuss them with colleagues). The way to do so, and the choice to do so in a more general situation, is an important matter.



                                Many colleagues, and many answer above dismiss the need to bother with attendance and lateness ("as long as it does not disturb the class"), on the ground that students are adults. I very much disagree with this argument. Since this is not a popular opinion, I feel the need to give some context and justification.



                                First, recall that there are many many situations where rules are made for people own good, even adults - mandatory belts in cars, for example (as in France, I do not know the law in other countries). When first enforced, this kind of rule tend to be rejected as treating people as children; after a time, they often get adopted and become obvious. Did people get more adult in the meantime? No, but our behavior, and what we consider proper behavior, is shaped by what others do and what rules (explicit or implicit, legal or traditional) are in force.



                                Second, recall that this applies to us academics, however grown up we are. Do you think that the attitude of staff when you turn your paperwork for your next conference late past the deadline has no bearing on your behavior next time? If administrative staff simply treats this as if it where normal, don't you think you would probably miss the deadline quite often? On the contrary, if they (respectfully) mention how much more difficult it makes their job, wouldn't you be more careful? Do you think it is necessarily treating faculty as children to have rules and deadlines for paperwork? Or can you see it is (in good cases) about all of us to interact smoothly and work efficiently? We all act according to a large set of rules, and good rules are those that have a good incentive/heaviness ratio. The most permissive rules are not necessarily optimal.



                                Similarly, students attitude toward "going into class" will be shaped by what they see other student do, and how teachers react to what they do. Simply ignoring late students, or student that only show up every other class, will send a very clear message: that it is okay to do so. In most cases, this message is actually detrimental to their study.



                                Teachers should not ignore that the way they react sends a message, and they should thus choose how to react in a way that sends a message they believe is accurate and supports our goal: to have student learn. Since I believe the correct message is that showing up in class on time is an important part of studying, I try to adopt rules consistent with this message (one can feel differently about importance of showing up in class on time, but beware that a small proportion of student that can dispense from it should not hide a vast majority that cannot afford this).



                                The precise rule I adopt has changed over time. Lately, I have settled for the following: whenever a student shows up more than (literally) 1-2 minutes late, I ask her or him to wait outside; I finish what I was saying and let a little something to think about to the class; I go see the late student, and ask why he or she is late; I always let her or him get in, but make sure to mention being late is not a good thing; then I carry on with the course. This has I think a good balance, even in amphitheaters (first lectures I usually get a dozen late student at a time, then they mostly show up on time - or not at all).






                                share|improve this answer












                                When you are a TA, you have to follow the local rules and will have little power to change them (although you have every right to discuss them with colleagues). The way to do so, and the choice to do so in a more general situation, is an important matter.



                                Many colleagues, and many answer above dismiss the need to bother with attendance and lateness ("as long as it does not disturb the class"), on the ground that students are adults. I very much disagree with this argument. Since this is not a popular opinion, I feel the need to give some context and justification.



                                First, recall that there are many many situations where rules are made for people own good, even adults - mandatory belts in cars, for example (as in France, I do not know the law in other countries). When first enforced, this kind of rule tend to be rejected as treating people as children; after a time, they often get adopted and become obvious. Did people get more adult in the meantime? No, but our behavior, and what we consider proper behavior, is shaped by what others do and what rules (explicit or implicit, legal or traditional) are in force.



                                Second, recall that this applies to us academics, however grown up we are. Do you think that the attitude of staff when you turn your paperwork for your next conference late past the deadline has no bearing on your behavior next time? If administrative staff simply treats this as if it where normal, don't you think you would probably miss the deadline quite often? On the contrary, if they (respectfully) mention how much more difficult it makes their job, wouldn't you be more careful? Do you think it is necessarily treating faculty as children to have rules and deadlines for paperwork? Or can you see it is (in good cases) about all of us to interact smoothly and work efficiently? We all act according to a large set of rules, and good rules are those that have a good incentive/heaviness ratio. The most permissive rules are not necessarily optimal.



                                Similarly, students attitude toward "going into class" will be shaped by what they see other student do, and how teachers react to what they do. Simply ignoring late students, or student that only show up every other class, will send a very clear message: that it is okay to do so. In most cases, this message is actually detrimental to their study.



                                Teachers should not ignore that the way they react sends a message, and they should thus choose how to react in a way that sends a message they believe is accurate and supports our goal: to have student learn. Since I believe the correct message is that showing up in class on time is an important part of studying, I try to adopt rules consistent with this message (one can feel differently about importance of showing up in class on time, but beware that a small proportion of student that can dispense from it should not hide a vast majority that cannot afford this).



                                The precise rule I adopt has changed over time. Lately, I have settled for the following: whenever a student shows up more than (literally) 1-2 minutes late, I ask her or him to wait outside; I finish what I was saying and let a little something to think about to the class; I go see the late student, and ask why he or she is late; I always let her or him get in, but make sure to mention being late is not a good thing; then I carry on with the course. This has I think a good balance, even in amphitheaters (first lectures I usually get a dozen late student at a time, then they mostly show up on time - or not at all).







                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered yesterday









                                Benoît Kloeckner

                                13.3k3069




                                13.3k3069






















                                    up vote
                                    2
                                    down vote













                                    I taught at the university level for years and disagree with most of the above. Yes, students are "adults" but the ones traipsing in 5 or 10 mins late rarely are acting like them. They disrupt the class, and more importantly miss important notes or announcements, requiring YOU to consistently do extra work. If they are adults, they can decide whether to come to class or skip it, but if they come, they shouldn't be arriving after the door closes (give a couple minutes' grace period) and they shouldn't be asking YOU to handhold them the entire semester while they figure out to set their alarm clock.



                                    And since taking attendance is a requirement as noted by the OP's edit, his or her implementing of this will be evaluated and possibly become a part of the decision to rehire. So being lax about this or deciding to secretly not do it seems unwise.



                                    Anyone who's fine letting kids come in late doesn't understand how distracting to the REAL adults (instructor and kids who got there on time!!!) that policy is. And while you can certainly make an exception for the good student who has a flat tire that one day, being the prof who everyone knows will let you arrive any time will be a Pandora's Box that once opened, will be hard to close.



                                    Whatever policy you choose, make sure it's clearly in the syllabus and that you stick to it. But think about the students who CARE about your class, getting there on time, eager to learn, who have to put up with you admitting and addressing a stream of stragglers who arrive whenever they feel like it each time.






                                    share|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




                                    user1149499 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                                      up vote
                                      2
                                      down vote













                                      I taught at the university level for years and disagree with most of the above. Yes, students are "adults" but the ones traipsing in 5 or 10 mins late rarely are acting like them. They disrupt the class, and more importantly miss important notes or announcements, requiring YOU to consistently do extra work. If they are adults, they can decide whether to come to class or skip it, but if they come, they shouldn't be arriving after the door closes (give a couple minutes' grace period) and they shouldn't be asking YOU to handhold them the entire semester while they figure out to set their alarm clock.



                                      And since taking attendance is a requirement as noted by the OP's edit, his or her implementing of this will be evaluated and possibly become a part of the decision to rehire. So being lax about this or deciding to secretly not do it seems unwise.



                                      Anyone who's fine letting kids come in late doesn't understand how distracting to the REAL adults (instructor and kids who got there on time!!!) that policy is. And while you can certainly make an exception for the good student who has a flat tire that one day, being the prof who everyone knows will let you arrive any time will be a Pandora's Box that once opened, will be hard to close.



                                      Whatever policy you choose, make sure it's clearly in the syllabus and that you stick to it. But think about the students who CARE about your class, getting there on time, eager to learn, who have to put up with you admitting and addressing a stream of stragglers who arrive whenever they feel like it each time.






                                      share|improve this answer








                                      New contributor




                                      user1149499 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                                        up vote
                                        2
                                        down vote










                                        up vote
                                        2
                                        down vote









                                        I taught at the university level for years and disagree with most of the above. Yes, students are "adults" but the ones traipsing in 5 or 10 mins late rarely are acting like them. They disrupt the class, and more importantly miss important notes or announcements, requiring YOU to consistently do extra work. If they are adults, they can decide whether to come to class or skip it, but if they come, they shouldn't be arriving after the door closes (give a couple minutes' grace period) and they shouldn't be asking YOU to handhold them the entire semester while they figure out to set their alarm clock.



                                        And since taking attendance is a requirement as noted by the OP's edit, his or her implementing of this will be evaluated and possibly become a part of the decision to rehire. So being lax about this or deciding to secretly not do it seems unwise.



                                        Anyone who's fine letting kids come in late doesn't understand how distracting to the REAL adults (instructor and kids who got there on time!!!) that policy is. And while you can certainly make an exception for the good student who has a flat tire that one day, being the prof who everyone knows will let you arrive any time will be a Pandora's Box that once opened, will be hard to close.



                                        Whatever policy you choose, make sure it's clearly in the syllabus and that you stick to it. But think about the students who CARE about your class, getting there on time, eager to learn, who have to put up with you admitting and addressing a stream of stragglers who arrive whenever they feel like it each time.






                                        share|improve this answer








                                        New contributor




                                        user1149499 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                        I taught at the university level for years and disagree with most of the above. Yes, students are "adults" but the ones traipsing in 5 or 10 mins late rarely are acting like them. They disrupt the class, and more importantly miss important notes or announcements, requiring YOU to consistently do extra work. If they are adults, they can decide whether to come to class or skip it, but if they come, they shouldn't be arriving after the door closes (give a couple minutes' grace period) and they shouldn't be asking YOU to handhold them the entire semester while they figure out to set their alarm clock.



                                        And since taking attendance is a requirement as noted by the OP's edit, his or her implementing of this will be evaluated and possibly become a part of the decision to rehire. So being lax about this or deciding to secretly not do it seems unwise.



                                        Anyone who's fine letting kids come in late doesn't understand how distracting to the REAL adults (instructor and kids who got there on time!!!) that policy is. And while you can certainly make an exception for the good student who has a flat tire that one day, being the prof who everyone knows will let you arrive any time will be a Pandora's Box that once opened, will be hard to close.



                                        Whatever policy you choose, make sure it's clearly in the syllabus and that you stick to it. But think about the students who CARE about your class, getting there on time, eager to learn, who have to put up with you admitting and addressing a stream of stragglers who arrive whenever they feel like it each time.







                                        share|improve this answer








                                        New contributor




                                        user1149499 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer






                                        New contributor




                                        user1149499 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                        answered 20 hours ago









                                        user1149499

                                        211




                                        211




                                        New contributor




                                        user1149499 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                        New contributor





                                        user1149499 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                        user1149499 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote













                                            Students are adults. It is their life and their choice. In some countries they pay thousands of dollars to be there which means they do care about being there. Maybe they are late because of a doctors appointment, they have to take care of their own children, they have to take care of their parents, they can't afford to live in the same city as the university and have to commute and got stuck in traffic. It is none of your business what their reason might be. Your job is to just teach and not to be their parents and not to teach them about responsibility. If they miss too much of class they will face the consequences on the exams.
                                            I will mention to those who commented that the faculty don't have the option to show up late, that the faculty GET PAID and IT IS THEIR JOB to show up and lecture. Being a student is not a job it is a means for getting a better job in the future. This means many of your students are probably working to put themselves through school and you better bet that they show up on time for that.






                                            share|improve this answer

















                                            • 1




                                              Sorry, but some students see class as an occupational hazard and turn up late, then expect to disrupt class to get information about what they missed to the cost of those who turn up on time - all down to respect...
                                              – Solar Mike
                                              2 days ago






                                            • 2




                                              If that is their expectation, then you need to clamp down on them disrupting the class. Disrupting class is not acceptable. But whether a student comes late or not at all or is asleep as long as they don't snore, why would you care?
                                              – gnasher729
                                              yesterday










                                            • I agree in that disrupting class is not acceptable, however you should really find out if they are late because of another reason. Not all students are as lazy and disrespectful as you think they are. Most students are in school because they value education or else why bother with it especially if it is expensive. Even if they view it as "occupational hazard" then they are still paying to attend lectures, be it late anyways, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it unless other student's directly complain.
                                              – jamis
                                              yesterday

















                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote













                                            Students are adults. It is their life and their choice. In some countries they pay thousands of dollars to be there which means they do care about being there. Maybe they are late because of a doctors appointment, they have to take care of their own children, they have to take care of their parents, they can't afford to live in the same city as the university and have to commute and got stuck in traffic. It is none of your business what their reason might be. Your job is to just teach and not to be their parents and not to teach them about responsibility. If they miss too much of class they will face the consequences on the exams.
                                            I will mention to those who commented that the faculty don't have the option to show up late, that the faculty GET PAID and IT IS THEIR JOB to show up and lecture. Being a student is not a job it is a means for getting a better job in the future. This means many of your students are probably working to put themselves through school and you better bet that they show up on time for that.






                                            share|improve this answer

















                                            • 1




                                              Sorry, but some students see class as an occupational hazard and turn up late, then expect to disrupt class to get information about what they missed to the cost of those who turn up on time - all down to respect...
                                              – Solar Mike
                                              2 days ago






                                            • 2




                                              If that is their expectation, then you need to clamp down on them disrupting the class. Disrupting class is not acceptable. But whether a student comes late or not at all or is asleep as long as they don't snore, why would you care?
                                              – gnasher729
                                              yesterday










                                            • I agree in that disrupting class is not acceptable, however you should really find out if they are late because of another reason. Not all students are as lazy and disrespectful as you think they are. Most students are in school because they value education or else why bother with it especially if it is expensive. Even if they view it as "occupational hazard" then they are still paying to attend lectures, be it late anyways, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it unless other student's directly complain.
                                              – jamis
                                              yesterday















                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote










                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote









                                            Students are adults. It is their life and their choice. In some countries they pay thousands of dollars to be there which means they do care about being there. Maybe they are late because of a doctors appointment, they have to take care of their own children, they have to take care of their parents, they can't afford to live in the same city as the university and have to commute and got stuck in traffic. It is none of your business what their reason might be. Your job is to just teach and not to be their parents and not to teach them about responsibility. If they miss too much of class they will face the consequences on the exams.
                                            I will mention to those who commented that the faculty don't have the option to show up late, that the faculty GET PAID and IT IS THEIR JOB to show up and lecture. Being a student is not a job it is a means for getting a better job in the future. This means many of your students are probably working to put themselves through school and you better bet that they show up on time for that.






                                            share|improve this answer












                                            Students are adults. It is their life and their choice. In some countries they pay thousands of dollars to be there which means they do care about being there. Maybe they are late because of a doctors appointment, they have to take care of their own children, they have to take care of their parents, they can't afford to live in the same city as the university and have to commute and got stuck in traffic. It is none of your business what their reason might be. Your job is to just teach and not to be their parents and not to teach them about responsibility. If they miss too much of class they will face the consequences on the exams.
                                            I will mention to those who commented that the faculty don't have the option to show up late, that the faculty GET PAID and IT IS THEIR JOB to show up and lecture. Being a student is not a job it is a means for getting a better job in the future. This means many of your students are probably working to put themselves through school and you better bet that they show up on time for that.







                                            share|improve this answer












                                            share|improve this answer



                                            share|improve this answer










                                            answered 2 days ago









                                            jamis

                                            374




                                            374








                                            • 1




                                              Sorry, but some students see class as an occupational hazard and turn up late, then expect to disrupt class to get information about what they missed to the cost of those who turn up on time - all down to respect...
                                              – Solar Mike
                                              2 days ago






                                            • 2




                                              If that is their expectation, then you need to clamp down on them disrupting the class. Disrupting class is not acceptable. But whether a student comes late or not at all or is asleep as long as they don't snore, why would you care?
                                              – gnasher729
                                              yesterday










                                            • I agree in that disrupting class is not acceptable, however you should really find out if they are late because of another reason. Not all students are as lazy and disrespectful as you think they are. Most students are in school because they value education or else why bother with it especially if it is expensive. Even if they view it as "occupational hazard" then they are still paying to attend lectures, be it late anyways, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it unless other student's directly complain.
                                              – jamis
                                              yesterday
















                                            • 1




                                              Sorry, but some students see class as an occupational hazard and turn up late, then expect to disrupt class to get information about what they missed to the cost of those who turn up on time - all down to respect...
                                              – Solar Mike
                                              2 days ago






                                            • 2




                                              If that is their expectation, then you need to clamp down on them disrupting the class. Disrupting class is not acceptable. But whether a student comes late or not at all or is asleep as long as they don't snore, why would you care?
                                              – gnasher729
                                              yesterday










                                            • I agree in that disrupting class is not acceptable, however you should really find out if they are late because of another reason. Not all students are as lazy and disrespectful as you think they are. Most students are in school because they value education or else why bother with it especially if it is expensive. Even if they view it as "occupational hazard" then they are still paying to attend lectures, be it late anyways, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it unless other student's directly complain.
                                              – jamis
                                              yesterday










                                            1




                                            1




                                            Sorry, but some students see class as an occupational hazard and turn up late, then expect to disrupt class to get information about what they missed to the cost of those who turn up on time - all down to respect...
                                            – Solar Mike
                                            2 days ago




                                            Sorry, but some students see class as an occupational hazard and turn up late, then expect to disrupt class to get information about what they missed to the cost of those who turn up on time - all down to respect...
                                            – Solar Mike
                                            2 days ago




                                            2




                                            2




                                            If that is their expectation, then you need to clamp down on them disrupting the class. Disrupting class is not acceptable. But whether a student comes late or not at all or is asleep as long as they don't snore, why would you care?
                                            – gnasher729
                                            yesterday




                                            If that is their expectation, then you need to clamp down on them disrupting the class. Disrupting class is not acceptable. But whether a student comes late or not at all or is asleep as long as they don't snore, why would you care?
                                            – gnasher729
                                            yesterday












                                            I agree in that disrupting class is not acceptable, however you should really find out if they are late because of another reason. Not all students are as lazy and disrespectful as you think they are. Most students are in school because they value education or else why bother with it especially if it is expensive. Even if they view it as "occupational hazard" then they are still paying to attend lectures, be it late anyways, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it unless other student's directly complain.
                                            – jamis
                                            yesterday






                                            I agree in that disrupting class is not acceptable, however you should really find out if they are late because of another reason. Not all students are as lazy and disrespectful as you think they are. Most students are in school because they value education or else why bother with it especially if it is expensive. Even if they view it as "occupational hazard" then they are still paying to attend lectures, be it late anyways, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it unless other student's directly complain.
                                            – jamis
                                            yesterday












                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote














                                            But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.




                                            So is this a hypothetical question? As in, you're not actually a TA yet?




                                            Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above
                                            75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a
                                            percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a
                                            medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not
                                            allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.




                                            In my experience as a student in the US, TAs were Teaching Assistants--they were responsible for running science labs, discussion groups, and tutoring sessions for a specific professor. The quote above makes it sound like you'd be in a similar situation. So ask your supervising professor how they want you to handle it, or ask your fellow TAs what that professor prefers.



                                            If it's up to you, find a method for taking attendance that works for you. Assigned seats, roll call, exit tickets, retinal scanners, whatever. The last university I taught at actually implemented a custom Bluetooth-based attendance app that we were all supposed to use. Any student more than 15 meters away or not logged in at the same time as the instructors was counted absent and actually lost points. I've also seen QR codes posted by the doors that linked to Google forms.



                                            If you're responsible for making the quizzes and exams, warn your students that a certain percentage of the questions (like 10%, nothing too high) will come purely from lecture and won't explicitly be in the textbook/posted notes. Or give some sort of incentive for perfect attendance. One school I've taught at had a limit on how many A's and B's I could award--I often awarded the higher grade to the student with the better attendance because they put forth more of an effort.



                                            How do you feel about your fellow students when they arrive late? How do you feel about the current policies you've experienced? What seems least disruptive/most fair to you? When you start TA-ing, your feelings may change. As an instructor, my annoyance reflects the disruption the latecomer causes. I really don't care most of the time. But if I have to wait for them to catch up, or if they ask questions/interrupt me to discuss something we covered before they arrived, then I get annoyed.






                                            share|improve this answer



























                                              up vote
                                              1
                                              down vote














                                              But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.




                                              So is this a hypothetical question? As in, you're not actually a TA yet?




                                              Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above
                                              75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a
                                              percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a
                                              medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not
                                              allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.




                                              In my experience as a student in the US, TAs were Teaching Assistants--they were responsible for running science labs, discussion groups, and tutoring sessions for a specific professor. The quote above makes it sound like you'd be in a similar situation. So ask your supervising professor how they want you to handle it, or ask your fellow TAs what that professor prefers.



                                              If it's up to you, find a method for taking attendance that works for you. Assigned seats, roll call, exit tickets, retinal scanners, whatever. The last university I taught at actually implemented a custom Bluetooth-based attendance app that we were all supposed to use. Any student more than 15 meters away or not logged in at the same time as the instructors was counted absent and actually lost points. I've also seen QR codes posted by the doors that linked to Google forms.



                                              If you're responsible for making the quizzes and exams, warn your students that a certain percentage of the questions (like 10%, nothing too high) will come purely from lecture and won't explicitly be in the textbook/posted notes. Or give some sort of incentive for perfect attendance. One school I've taught at had a limit on how many A's and B's I could award--I often awarded the higher grade to the student with the better attendance because they put forth more of an effort.



                                              How do you feel about your fellow students when they arrive late? How do you feel about the current policies you've experienced? What seems least disruptive/most fair to you? When you start TA-ing, your feelings may change. As an instructor, my annoyance reflects the disruption the latecomer causes. I really don't care most of the time. But if I have to wait for them to catch up, or if they ask questions/interrupt me to discuss something we covered before they arrived, then I get annoyed.






                                              share|improve this answer

























                                                up vote
                                                1
                                                down vote










                                                up vote
                                                1
                                                down vote










                                                But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.




                                                So is this a hypothetical question? As in, you're not actually a TA yet?




                                                Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above
                                                75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a
                                                percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a
                                                medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not
                                                allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.




                                                In my experience as a student in the US, TAs were Teaching Assistants--they were responsible for running science labs, discussion groups, and tutoring sessions for a specific professor. The quote above makes it sound like you'd be in a similar situation. So ask your supervising professor how they want you to handle it, or ask your fellow TAs what that professor prefers.



                                                If it's up to you, find a method for taking attendance that works for you. Assigned seats, roll call, exit tickets, retinal scanners, whatever. The last university I taught at actually implemented a custom Bluetooth-based attendance app that we were all supposed to use. Any student more than 15 meters away or not logged in at the same time as the instructors was counted absent and actually lost points. I've also seen QR codes posted by the doors that linked to Google forms.



                                                If you're responsible for making the quizzes and exams, warn your students that a certain percentage of the questions (like 10%, nothing too high) will come purely from lecture and won't explicitly be in the textbook/posted notes. Or give some sort of incentive for perfect attendance. One school I've taught at had a limit on how many A's and B's I could award--I often awarded the higher grade to the student with the better attendance because they put forth more of an effort.



                                                How do you feel about your fellow students when they arrive late? How do you feel about the current policies you've experienced? What seems least disruptive/most fair to you? When you start TA-ing, your feelings may change. As an instructor, my annoyance reflects the disruption the latecomer causes. I really don't care most of the time. But if I have to wait for them to catch up, or if they ask questions/interrupt me to discuss something we covered before they arrived, then I get annoyed.






                                                share|improve this answer















                                                But, I need to clear this doubt for myself, when I need to start and teach a class as TA or in some other position.




                                                So is this a hypothetical question? As in, you're not actually a TA yet?




                                                Note: Attendance is a requirement for the course. A person with above
                                                75% of attendance is eligible to take final exams. A person with a
                                                percentage of attendance between 65 and 75 is required to submit a
                                                medical certificate. A person with less than 65% of attendance is not
                                                allowed to write the exam and has to do recourse.




                                                In my experience as a student in the US, TAs were Teaching Assistants--they were responsible for running science labs, discussion groups, and tutoring sessions for a specific professor. The quote above makes it sound like you'd be in a similar situation. So ask your supervising professor how they want you to handle it, or ask your fellow TAs what that professor prefers.



                                                If it's up to you, find a method for taking attendance that works for you. Assigned seats, roll call, exit tickets, retinal scanners, whatever. The last university I taught at actually implemented a custom Bluetooth-based attendance app that we were all supposed to use. Any student more than 15 meters away or not logged in at the same time as the instructors was counted absent and actually lost points. I've also seen QR codes posted by the doors that linked to Google forms.



                                                If you're responsible for making the quizzes and exams, warn your students that a certain percentage of the questions (like 10%, nothing too high) will come purely from lecture and won't explicitly be in the textbook/posted notes. Or give some sort of incentive for perfect attendance. One school I've taught at had a limit on how many A's and B's I could award--I often awarded the higher grade to the student with the better attendance because they put forth more of an effort.



                                                How do you feel about your fellow students when they arrive late? How do you feel about the current policies you've experienced? What seems least disruptive/most fair to you? When you start TA-ing, your feelings may change. As an instructor, my annoyance reflects the disruption the latecomer causes. I really don't care most of the time. But if I have to wait for them to catch up, or if they ask questions/interrupt me to discuss something we covered before they arrived, then I get annoyed.







                                                share|improve this answer














                                                share|improve this answer



                                                share|improve this answer








                                                edited 10 hours ago

























                                                answered 11 hours ago









                                                miltonaut

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