Should I Stick to the Syllabus?
My syllabus says I will not accept late work. I teach a once-a-week class (that is required for all NEW students), and several of my students weren't fully in the "swing" of things until the third week of class. Several turned in assignments that were due during week 2. Should I stick to my syllabus and not accept these late assignments? How do I gently tell these students that I won't accept their late work due to the syllabus guidelines? Thank you!
Hi Kathleen,
This is the approach I use as well. The percentage students lose each day the assignment is late is 20%. The reason is that in five days the assignment has no value. When I didn't use this approach students would drag assignments in all course long because I had only listed one percentage of grade drop for being late. My thinking was they would turn in the assignment the next class. Did this happen--no. As you teach you get more wise in how to work with students and develop your polices. This approach solved the problem.
When I have a student with a severe situation they talk with me individually and then make a decision about how the situation will be handled. Example-death in the family or major illness with a child.
Gary
You can't go back in time once you've handed out the syllabus, but this is actually why I have a late work policy included! No matter how rigid I think I need to be about assignments, chances are I will have a student with a legitimate excuse on why their work is late. Therefore, in the interests of fairness and being up front with the rules, I establish a lateness policy (certain % off the assignment for every day late) and stick to it regardless of the situation. This way people do have some leeway and know the rules up front.
Hi Joann,
This is so true! As instructors we know the consequences of letting the students walk over you or not being consistent with all students. If we are not then we will lose control quickly.
Gary
Teachers had to stick to their guns sometimes or students will walk all over them. We can't say one thing in the syllabus and do another in the class, then more people may be late or say well you did it for john doe why not me!
I also agree with Gary. The exact thing just happened in my class. My syllabus also did not allow late assignments and my students didn't get it until the 3rd week also. I had to be flexible to let them know that I will make the one exception. I asked them all to pull out their syllabi again and we went over everything listed in the syllabus to be sure that they understood all of the other expectations. I also let them know that if they had any further questions about the requirements and expectations that this was the time because they would not be excused again for not knowing or understanding.
Hi Mia,
You make a good point about some parts of the syllabus needing to be a constant. Assignment due dates being one of those. There are situations where you can change the date due to weather or some other factor but that is understood by the students. You can extend the deadline and set the new date and they will not be upset by this. Otherwise you stay with your syllabus so the students know you take it seriously.
Gary
I agree that it is important to have some flexibility when it comes to your syllabus. But I also make it sure that I indicate to the entire class that students will lose 2 points for each day late an assignment is past the due date. I always provide enought time to complete the work as well two or more ways to submit the work, turn in paper format, submit via e-mial, or Portal etc.
I agree with several of the other replies that suggest you accept the late work. But, without letting students walk over you. I think that today's students have a lot of outside requirements as well and sometimes they need a little help. But, at the same time a reminder to the importance of getting work in on time. Kevin
Stacey:
I think it is important to have some flexibility when it comes to your syllabus. I state that students will lose 2 points for each day late an assignment is past the due date. However, we recently had a big snowstorm and two of my adult students could not get to class because of long drives in that weather. I gave them some leeway on the assignments that were due that day because of it.
The important thing is to create clear rules at the outset to avoid students from walking all over you. Think of the syllabus as the law, and you are a judge presiding over a case. Judges have great latitude to ensure that the spirit of the law is upheld, if not necessarily the letter.
Jared
I think I agree with giving consequences for late work and not refusing to have them turned in.
I agree with Gary on this one, a little bit of slack goes a long way. My policy is you lose 10% for being late, and I will not accept it after the next assignment is due. This seems to be working well in my first term teachging again after a 10 year absence from the adult education area.
Craig
Hi Stacey,
I would give them some slack on this since the students were still getting into the swing of the class. The syllabus is the document that guides the course but you do have some variance when you enforce it. Instructors need to be firm and consistent in their policy enforcement but I have always given a bit of slack in getting the class stared off. I would let the students turn in the assignments and reinforce your deadline dates in the further. When I do this I have found that the students learn their lesson and from then on I don't have any problems.
Gary
