A common misconception in high school is once you get to college, attendance won’t matter.
That is not as true as it might have been in the past, depending on factors and the attendance policy per department.
Each college and department has the ability to assign their own attendance policy.
In certain English courses that are three days a week, it is acceptable to have nine absences. While classes that are two days a week usually only accept five absences.
“It depends on the department some are more lenient than others,” says Carrie Wilson of the FACS department.
The Family and Consumer Science department consists of consumer studies, interior design, merchandising, nutrition and foods, and seems to be one of the stricter departments.
“If you come to class and you do your work then OK, but if you miss class and make bad grades it’s your own fault,” proclaims Hayley King, an interior design major.
The department’s attendance policy for interior design courses reads, “The material for every class builds on all previous classes. For that reason, regular attendance is mandatory in this course. Note that regular attendance means being present for the entire class meeting. Leaving before class is dismissed is considered an absence. Three tardies constitutes one absence.”
If a class meets three times per week, any absence beyond three days is a penalty. For a class that meets two times per week, a student cannot miss more than two classes, a weekly and summer course only allow one nonappearance as acceptable.
Certainly many of the majors at ETSU have classes that are meant to be taken in order so to gain the full benefits.
“I am part of the communications department for both of my majors. I was previously part of the College of Business. The communication department doesn’t have a strict policy but it just says that if you are not attending class you will miss a lot of assignments because a lot of them are in-class assignments,” said senior Tyler Phillips.
There are other factors that should be taken into consideration here – scholarship requirements, Honors College criteria, etc.
“I can understand having to go to class everyday if you have the lottery scholarship so to keep it,” said Amber Mayfield.
Some students may believe that as a paying college student it should be our choice to attend class, yet others think that the policies are necessary.
“I think that the attendance in the art department is extremely necessary, because every day of class a new technique is discussed, or the teacher does a demonstration,” said Stephanie Streeter, a junior in the art department. “In other classes, I don’t think an attendance policy is so important, because you’re either going to do your reading and know the material, or you’re not, regardless of whether you are present every day.”
Regardless of your experience with each department, attending classes is important.
There are two possible instances – we are spending the money, therefore wouldn’t the full experience be the goal? On the other hand, if the students are paying for this education than shouldn’t they be able to attend when they please without consequences?

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