Hi Hope,
Retention is a constant battle! Instructors must be the best sales people in the building because each day they have to sell their students on coming back the next day. The instructor must engage the student.
Patricia
I won't even accept a death in the family as an excuse. I had a student once whose grandmother died three times. >:P
Hi Isaac, I agree with you 100%. Here is what I include in my course syllabi:
Under no circumstances do I accept papers or projects late! If you do not have your assignment turned in at the beginning of class on the due date, you will receive a zero. No exceptions! If you are not present in class, you are responsible for making sure that your project is in my hands by the deadline. Either give your project to a trusted classmate to turn in for you, or E-mail it to me at leastman@iadtchicago.edu.
I am very strict about my “no late projects” policy. When you are in the working world, you will be expected to meet deadlines, and employers are not very understanding when the work you are paid to do is not turned in on time.
When working for a for-profit school the emphasis on retention is often the bottom line. In those settings it is important to have a sliding scale of points, opportunities to meet with students throughout the course to keep them engaged and/or informed about their progress, and a belief that students work hard for their grades-- grades are not "awards"... What are your thoughts?
Hi Dianne,
At my institution we do not sacrifice standards to save a student. We give the student the grade he or she earns. A 69.4 is an "F."
Patricia
I agree with the no assignment no points--often, however there is the tension between retention ( ie don't fail the student) and realistic education expectation. What do you think?
Hi Isaac,
I totally agree! I don't like being a hard-nose instructor either. You said it nicely, we are not helping any. Actually, we are doing more harm than good. In the workplace, deadlines must be adhered to.
Patricia
