Syllabus Planning and Late Assignments
In my syllabus, I believe I should include a policy on late assignments. For my class, I believe all homework assignments and projects should be turned in at the start of class. However, what is the best approach to maintaining my policy when students are late for class and turn in assignments after I collected other students’ assignments.
Any suggestions?
Hi Marie,
I always make assignments due at the beginning of class. Otherwise, you have students who spend most of the class time finishing their papers in another location and then coming to class at the end to turn in their papers "on time." Clearly stating that assignments are due at the beginning of class avoids that behavior and gets students where they should be anyway: in class! :-)
Hi Marshall,
Only way to go. Be clear, be up front, be consistent and be fair. This way you will save yourself a host of problems later on when the course is winding to completion and students start to panic about their grades. With the policies outlined and shared the students know what the expectations are and when they have to meet them.
Gary
What you want the students to follow (when assignments are due, etc.) needs to be clearly defined in writing. Once in writing, if your policy is clear, enforce what you have established. If you can anticipate problems with potential late assignments, include your policy of point deductions for late submissions. You will always have students that will challenge your policies and deadlines. I like to define everything clearly and accurately.
I think it is very important to have a clear policy of what is late and what is the penalty for being late. I specify that I do not accept late assignments period. I give a specific due date for all assignments in the syllabus. I then specify certain life situations may be an exception, but you must notify me and let me know in advance of missing the assignment for the life situation to be considered. Those are some of my thoughts.
gw
Hi Marie,
You have two ways to approach this situation. You can collect the assignments at the beginning of class and if students are late then their assignments are late as well. This means they get less points for the assignments. This should help with tardy students if they value getting the full point values for their work. You will have to be firm on this or exceptions will start to occur and you will have some class management issues.
The other choice is to collect the assignments at the end of the class and then the tardy students will be there to hand in their work. It just depends on what you value as an instructor. Being on time and assignments in or assignments in and students being late.
If you hold the line on late students and thus late assignments it won't be long before the word is out that she really means it when she says the assignments are due at the beginning of the class.
There will be complaints but you can deal with them by being consistent in your stand.
Gary
