I decided to skip class today. The syllabus for this class says that attendance is mandatory, and that if we miss more than 2 classes then we risk getting a grade reduction. This would be the 2nd time I skipped class (without an excuse). Later I got an email from the professor saying that he won’t be here tomorrow but he will be here next week and to see him then.
What I’m wondering is: 1. Could I actually be in trouble? and 2. If so, what excuse should I prepare?
If the syllabus says that MORE than two classes is a risk (and missing exactly two is okay) then you likely aren’t in trouble. “Trouble” in college isn’t a detention or call home, likely grade deduction if anything. Some professors care about their students’ wellbeing - maybe he wants to make sure you’re okay, to make sure that you won’t be skipping more, etc.
Don’t make excuses - he’ll see through it and it’s disrespectful. Be honest, have a frank conversation. You’re (probably) paying a lot of money for each class, and skipping is practically throwing money away…be able to sincerely promise to him to turn it around or accept the consequences.
Yep, it says “grade reduction will occur if more than 2 classes are missed” so I think I’m good on that. I’m just concerned that we might have done something important where the whole class was needed because I faintly remember him saying something along those lines.
What did you miss during class? Quiz? HW? test? notes? Did you get the notes from someone?
@bopper I know we didn’t have a quiz or test, and the homeworks are submitted online. I’m not too worried about the notes either since that is easy to get. I’ve just never had a professor email me to see them, and this one did after I skipped a class.
So go see them! It also may be that professors notice that kids who start attending less class end up not doing well so they want to head that off at the pass.
You will likely get a warning or a scolding. Be contrite.
You’re trying to optimize your performance among the several classes you are taking. All college students do. He did. You consciously elected to use your second allowed missed class for your professor’s class to catch up in a class you were falling behind in (I assume that this was true, if it isn’t don’t say it is). You understand that you have no more penalty-free absences left. You appreciate his understanding.
Your response is an apology, the above explanation, and your assurance that you don’t intend for it to happen again.
No biggie.
@ClassicRockerDad That actually is kinda true. The night before I was up late finishing some work, and for my morning classes which I had to attend because of what we were doing. His class is in the afternoon, so I decided to take a nap after my 2nd morning class. I woke up a few minutes before class and I was still tired so I decided to sleep instead of going to class. Should I say that, which would be the truth?
Regardless of the reasoning behind it, “I took a nap instead of attending your class” isn’t going to make you look very good.
LOL! I don’t know, maybe that’s too much honesty, but really, it is the truth. I guess you could argue that given that you had the second allowable absence, that you thought it was more polite than sleeping IN his class.
I guess you have to gauge the situation and see if the professor is supportive or confrontational. If it’s the former, I wouldn’t hesitate to be totally honest. If it’s the later I think I would just apologize and keep your reasons to yourself. People are funny.
It could be that he is concerned about you, or more likely, wants to warn you that you have now used up your two unexcused absences. It could also be that you missed a particularly important class session and he wants to give you information about a project or something.
Whatever you do, don’t go in and ask “Did I miss anything important?” It might be a good idea to have already gotten the notes from a classmate before you go in to see him so that you appear responsible.
What happened?