Student retention
How to you keep a student from always reporting to class late?
From a legal perspective, I would follow the institution's policy on absences and tardiness. Using this as a guidline prevents any problems with the instituion's upper management. I understand the importance of saving the student but, my experience has shown that instructors will be held to the fire (given corrective action against the instructor)when not following procedure. Now for the student, I have followed your suggestions in the past and found for some the results were positive. And again, there will always be those who have authority problems - not following the rules, have the additude that they are paying a high price to attend your instituition and that total freedom to come and go is their choice. Your suggestion on meeting with the student is essential to learn why the student is late and what assistance the instructor can offer. I believe that an instructor must be aware of the affects of class disruption. Students who are on time should not have to tolerate this inconsiderate behavior and neither should the instructor. The instructor must address this issue immediately when this action takes place to stop others from interpreting this action as acceptable. This should also be applied to students who leave the class early on a consistent basis.
Hi Melvin,
I first check with the college to make sure I am following their tardy policy. Then I talk individually with the student about his/her being late. I try to see why he/she is late and if I can be of help to the student to make sure he/she arrives in class on time. In many cases this personal approach solves the problem. If it doesn't I tell the student that they have to arrive on time because with their tardiness they are holding the learning of the other students hostage and I cannot have that. If he/she can't be on time then I suggest they drop the course and take it when they can be in class on time. This is a tough approach but it sends a real message that I value the class and I will not let anything disrupt that. I have even dropped students that made being tardy a habit.
Gary.
