Class Attendance in College

Answer

Class Attendance in College

Mandatory class attendance by college students has been one of the highly debated topics among educationists and even the students. Whereas many of the students want the freedom to choose as to the classes that they attend, the college authorities have insisted that students must attend each of the classes so that they can attain an essential degree of discipline and responsibility (Lukkarinen et al. 341). Some of the colleges do not even let their students sit for their final examinations unless they meet a specific threshold of attendance. However, the main issue is whether it is necessary for colleges to force students to attend their class and maintain a minimum degree of participation (Silver par.4). Although attendance ensures the presence of students in the learning classes, it has a minimum bearing on student learning. As such, professors should not make it mandatory for students to attend classes for them to be eligible to sit for examinations (Green and Gul 347). The performance of students is based on an avalanche of factors and not solely class attendance and making it mandatory for students to attend puts them under pressure which affects their academic performance. This paper researches on the aspect of class attendance in college and whether it should be mandatory, used as part of the final grade, and its effect on student performance.

The policies put in place by colleges requiring mandatory attendance by students are inappropriate because college students; as adults, ought to learn to manage their time and it should not be the university’s job to force them to attend. Notably, according to Shah, in high schools, mandatory class attendance is reasonable because there might be a lack of motivation from the high school students who are still young and unable to fully make informed decisions as to the importance of education in their lives (par.2). As such, some of the students might lack motivation, and thus high schools find it essential to have attendance policies. However, in colleges, students can make choices about their paths and the classes which they find interesting. As such, according to Haas, it should be the responsibility of the students to re-evaluate their goals and decide whether the classes are right and vital to them (par.5). As adults, the classes should not be forced on them as can determine what is right for them.

Professors should not require class attendance because it is not one of the responsibilities that they have under their defined job role. In specific, professors are tasked with the role of ensuring that they impart knowledge on the college students and help them gain skills that they can use to advance their academic and career progression (Green and Gul 347). As such, a majority of time should be spent on providing knowledge to the students as opposed to ensuring that they attend the classes. When students are forced to be present in classes by the college attendance policies, the ultimate effect is that they have resulted in in-class disruptions classroom (Marshall par.7). For instance, some of them would always be shuffling papers while others would be snoring loudly which changes the ambience and the learning environment in the classroom (Marshall par.8). As such, professors should work with the students who are willing to attend the classes as opposed to have a large number of students who do not want to be in the classroom.

It is ridiculous and extraneous for colleges to make class attendance a part of the grade. In specific, in many class attendance policies, the colleges deduct some percentage points from the final grade of students who have failed to reach a specific class attendance threshold (Joyce et al. 64).  However, there cannot be a viable justification for such actions because students will always know the detrimental effects of missing their classes on their academic success beforehand. Some of the colleges would require students who have failed to meet the attendance percentage to provide reasons for the same. As such, even if the students have to fake the evidence for the missing classes, then they would be exempted from the penalties which arise from non-attendance (Shah par.6). However, at no time should professors’ factor in attendance as a part of the grade because the aim of a college education is not to instil discipline but rather impart knowledge on the students.

Although class attendance has a positive correlation with student success, there is no evidence to suggest that it is the sole reason for academic and future career success. Notably, Silver states that student performance is strongly related to the academic achievement of college students (par.2). In specific, students who have regularly attended their classes have typically been found to earn higher grades compared to those who do not. However, according to Lukkarinen, there is a very little effect on the grades when the students are required to; as a matter of policy, attend the classes (342). In specific, the mandatory attendance systems adopted by colleges have been found to have little positive effects on the average grades of the students. As such, it is only better to stress the vitality of the classes to the students and not mandating them to attend them. When students attach a value to class attendance because they believe it is important, they are likely to perform better compared to when they are forced to attend the classes.

A majority of students do not have superb performances under pressure because of their personalities. In specific, according to Joyce et al. college students have the necessary capabilities to decide on what they should obey and what they should not follow (65). In high school, it has been established that when the students are under pressure, they tend to concentrate, take things seriously, and hence have better performances. However, in colleges, students tend to give up when they are placed under too much pressure. Requiring students to attend classes as a matter of policy and to earn better grades will put an undue strain on them which will adversely affect their performance at the end of the semester (Shah par.5). As such, it is vital for colleges to provide a conducive environment where students can make choices as to the classes that they want to attend.

In conclusion, although many colleges have adopted mandatory class attendance policies, college students are adults who can make informed choices about the classes that they want to attend, and thus such systems are extraneous and unnecessary. Attendance policies only place undue pressure on the students which negatively affects their academic performance. Professors should not require class attendance as their responsibility is not on participation but on imparting knowledge on willing students. Additionally, class attendance should not be graded as doing so makes students know the detrimental effects of their missed classes on their final grade beforehand. Although students who regularly attend classes perform better than those who do not, the ultimate student success is based on a multitude of other factors. As such, mandatory class attendance should be removed from colleges.