GMAC Bowl-Students First Day Attendence Policy

AZZZZ · Post by **AZZZZ** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:01 pm

I've read several students say they would like to go to Mobile but the day after the GMAC Bowl is the first day of class, and for those with a first-day attendance policy they would be removed if they do not show up.

I suggest this:

If you really want to go, and I hope you do, email your professors now. I'm a current student and I think profs at BG are some of the best in the world. Offer to show them your ticket as proof and tell them how this game means a lot for the entire BGSU community, etc.

If you get push-back on that front, I would seriously email the AD, the Registrar, and Pres. Ribeau directly. In fact, perhaps we all need to email these folks.

If you are a student and want to travel to this game to support our Falcons, you should be able to do so without punishment. In my opinion, this IS part of the college experience much like when High Schools close when one of their teams make the playoffs.

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:05 pm

I like the idea about e-mailing your future profs and asking for an exception to the policy. I hope they will agree with you and grant the exception.

If you have problems with them, I would suggest that you contact

1. Your Undergraduate Student Government President

If you want someone else to contact, you might try the following -

2. The Dean of Students

3. The Athletic Director

4. Provost

You need to get "your voice" to speak up for you. Your voice is the USG President.

Contacting the Dean of Students and the Athletic Director also puts your voice to some administrators who will more than likely take it up with the Provost about how important it is to have a good showing at the game and can ask for reasonable accommodations to be made.

Finally, it is the Provost that will make the final decision. I'm a former Registrar and that question is no where in the realm of the responsibility of the Registrar. The Provost makes the day-to-day decisions and can issue exceptions to the policy.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:12 pm

Well students, there you have it. Take action now!

professorjackson · Post by **professorjackson** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:18 pm

I'm a BG prof as my name indicates and I don't have and have never considered a first day attendance policy. Maybe my classes aren't that popular! I really don't even see a need for them though.

froggyvk · Post by **froggyvk** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:24 pm

It's a good idea and I would be doing that, however for me where all the classes pertaining to my major and minor are full, resulting on me being on 8 wait lists and having just 6 credits set in stone for next semester, I can't do that. If I had a full schedule, I would, be at this point, it's so up in the air that I need to hope I can get in some other classes before considering doing that.

I do agree though that most profs with this policy will allow an exception to the rule if they know this far in advance why you won't be there and the reasons for it. I'd say any time within the first part of Winter break and you won't have a problem. Profs would consider it admirable planning and let you go, in the process you'll have made a good first impression, even while missing class and heading to Mobile. =)

Advice for any freshman who will be taking only BG Perspective classes: Usually in these cases they have many sections still open even during the first weeks of school. So in this scenario you can schedule a full schedule, not go to your first day classes, but pick up another section of the same class later.

JohnnySwoop '85 · Post by **JohnnySwoop '85** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:27 pm

Graduating on time is Over-rated.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:56 pm

Graduating in 4 years is like leaving the party at 10.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:59 pm

JohnnySwoop '85 wrote:Graduating on time is Over-rated.

Probably my greatest regret from my time at BG is graduating in four years. If only I had planned better.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:18 pm

My extra summer contained some of the best times of my life.

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:57 pm

side line here...but seriously i think any Professor who deducts from a students grade for not attending a class is really petty, unneeded and should not be allowed by the university. The reality is the students know and are mature enough to know if he/she need to be in a class to learn (very few do not, most do) and this will be properly reflected in the students grades. I feel just as strongly about rewarding attendance or "perfect" attendance, it all works out in the end...otherwise it should be noted that if Professors can deducted students grades for attendance that the student consumers should be able to deduct from the cost per credit hour for, lack of enthusiasm, or poor English language skills, or not teaching the student in a manner that best suits the students learning style and that this deduction would have direct reflection on the pay received to that professor. Outlandish i know but isnt turn about fair play...and imagine how these changes would positively affect learning establishments. Poor Professor would be gone the best would rise to the top, and make more money. no silly tenure slugs...if your uninteresting and not engaging your students you wont survive..but likely were not ready for a market driven educational system.

(please note i only had one Professor who was about as engaging as a dead frog and one whom i could not understand)

AZZZZ · Post by **AZZZZ** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:09 pm

transfer2BGSU wrote:
Finally, it is the Provost that will make the final decision. I'm a former Registrar and that question is no where in the realm of the responsibility of the Registrar. The Provost makes the day-to-day decisions and can issue exceptions to the policy.

Thanks for the insight Transfer.

Rollo83 · Post by **Rollo83** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:20 pm

Seven years of college down the drain!

GoFalcons118 · Post by **GoFalcons118** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:33 pm

professorjackson wrote:I'm a BG prof as my name indicates and I don't have and have never considered a first day attendance policy. Maybe my classes aren't that popular! I really don't even see a need for them though.

Don't sell yourself short Professor Jackson. Even though it was only Poly Sci 110, you were definitely in my top 5 favorite profs in my time at BGSU.

And as has been repeated time and time again on here, the students need to speak up and get the first day policy waived. Enough emails, phone calls and letters will get it done. Start at your profs and work your way up to the Provost.

mjmorefield · Post by **mjmorefield** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:39 pm

1987alum wrote:
JohnnySwoop '85 wrote:Graduating on time is Over-rated.
Probably my greatest regret from my time at BG is graduating in four years. If only I had planned better.

Don't be too upset. After six years it starts to get a bit mundane.

cbjhack · Post by **cbjhack** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:33 pm

Asking or putting it in writing is the best method. In 1992 I wrote to my boss a the Rec, then Rec Director Ron Zweirlien about missing the first week of work. I wanted to caddie in the US Amateur at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin. Most of you know it as Jack's course, or the home of the Memorial Tournament. I spent my summers caddying there from 1985-1995. I heard all about the 1987 Ryder Cup (Europe beat US for first time on US soil in, like forever) that I didn't work because of high school football, so I wasn't about to miss the Am. While my player didn't qualify for match play, he missed by two shots. I had a great time. Tiger played, Justin Leonard won it using a local caddie as his jockey around the best course in Ohio, and a list of who's who on the PGA Tour today played in that tournament. I ended up only missing the first day of class and had to reenroll in one class, the other prof's were cool about me working. They viewed it as a life experience that couldn't be taught in the classroom.

I would argue that going to Mobile could be used as a learning experience by supporting OUR school, but also if you have the chance to tour the area to the west that was effected by Hurricane Katrina. Everyone saw the headlines about NOLA, but Mississippi and parts of Alabama were effected as well.

GO FALCONS!