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Show Wednesday, January 19, 2011 NEWS Students, professors differ on attendance importance Of course, there are times by AMANDA JACOBS new semester begins at Dixie State College, students tire break and are back after that is until the to learn, ready starts weather warming up and last place they want cjass is the ble for school-relate- d activities, such as traveling for a sports team or being involved As the to with student government. Most teachers won't count these against you if all the proper measures are taken, which include getting an official excuse letter and letting a professor know in advance, according to the official DSC policy for school related absences. But, for example, Dr. Theda Wrede, assistant professor of English, believes missing 30 percent of classes or more, whether the absences are excused or not, is excessive and will lead to a penalty on the student's grade. Kristina Langston, a freshman general education major from Hurricane, said her experience with attendance in college hasn't always been a positive one. She decided to enroll in ballet class, and she said almost all of the grade was based on attendance. After a minor injury she wasn't sure what her next step to take was, so she just stopped going to class without contacting her professor or letting her know her situation. She now has an F on her transcript because of this. "I don't think attendance should be the highest part of your grade" in any class," Langston said. "You never know what is going on in a students' life that could prevent them from attending class. It's not always that they just don't want to go, they might have a really good rea- be. Everyone might get a little of spring fever around this Uine of year, but attendance is a hot topic lately, especially since case professors require being m class, and missing those classes could affect grades. Some professors want to make attendance a priority. For some many professors, including Stephen Armstrong, assistant professor of English, use policies to encourage high student attendance. In the syllabus for each of Armstrong's classes it states that if a student misses a certain number of classes (depending on how many times the class meets dining the semester) the student can fail the course. Coming late to class is a factor as well: Two tardies equals an absence. Armstrong said the reason he example, holds cause this philosophy is be- he believes college is a comprehensive experience, not just about textbooks, tests and papers. "When a student misses these experiences, they have no of getting that back," Armstrong said. "There is an unscripted quality to each class, and each time is unique. There is no telling where it will go, and missing class won't provide students with a place to learn new and different ideas to share and test themselves with their peers and teachers." class chance continued from page sophomore radiology major from Centerville, thinks some attendance policies are unfair. "I had a roommate who didn't ever attend one of her lab classes that was required," Feller said. "And she ended up failing the class for it. There were two sides to it that I saw. One was that she did this to herself because she missed the class all the time. But the other part of me thought it was kind of harsh to fail someone just for missing the class." Feller also said that since this is upper-levschooling and we are adults, we should realize we have to look out for ourselves. "Being absent too much has never affected my grades or anything because I make sure to be responsible, Feller said. But it is your own money and your own choices. This isn't high school anymore." 40 .! M f J . ( f - 1 14 , Ml, , ,1 1 1 a i T ( f ( I i. a " I iiih.iM ! r. v 4 ,1 ,1 I s . ,41' ! !' - t year. Students are welcome to come pick up a voucher at the Wellness Center anytime between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also call the office at (435) 6 if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment. They also accept walk-in- tion grows the more these s. i r V yt DSC officials are hopeful that a doctor will be avaliable to see students. Students will be able to be treated for various ailments even if they dont have insurance. i . 41 4 -- f 4 4- : , , M . if hi) lt 8 , i ? M f 1 4 i . 4 , ut i - -- M r J , I A A w 1 1 ! I : ' i . j f i - I 4 - 4 Nr . 1 1, " I ' t a W - ') M . M : it lUiliif i ) N 4 1 ( i M j. 1 f t t 8 1 i j i i i i 'M t Off ' ' lt- - t- -f i t I L, i C 1 , 1 $ f jt jM! ) J ifs f t t 1 - ti S k p II Vu 3 t ' , 1 . OI t 4 - ( k , f v r k I M O t i ? UI 1 1 I . 3 ' - I I Ux 4?(- i ' 652-775- ' i .r M' i e i . ( J ! . i i a 1 f , J f 4 , ; rM " i 4 8 i i f 4 Johnson said the Wellness Center offers free H INI (swine flu) kits anytime that include basic items to ease pain and provide protection for surrounding students. They will be giving H1N1 shots in January, and they also offer HIV testing once a I x t said. el ' 3- ON i 0 1. -- fees are needed, Beatty and Johnson said. "This semester 75 cents was taken from each student's fees they paid at the beginning of the semester, and I'm hoping they will double next semester, but we are hoping we will receive federal funding from the government," Beatty X-ra- Community Center, Intennoun-tai- n Health Care, Dixie State College Student Association and Del Beatty. Once they join forces and figure out who is paying what and what the main focus of the Health and Wellness Center will be, then they will reach a final verdict of whether or not the service will be offered. A service that is currently offered at the Health and Wellness Center is a voucher system. If a student comes in and needs medical attention Johnson said they can come in and get a voucher that will pay for the doctors visit. If students dont have insurance well send them to and will pick up the cost from the doctor," Johnson said. It is the students' responsibility to pick up the voucher from the Health and Wellness Center !1 iji: 1 The players involved in the decision are the nurse practitioners and doctor, Southwest are doing and do well on tests, that's all that should matter. "You can sit in a classroom and read all day, and for some people that kind of learning is the best," she said. "But if you already understand the subject matter and have studied, why waste your time?" Other students seem to agree with Langston's point of view about attending their classes regularly. Kaylin Feller, a son." ire before they go to the Intermountain Health Care Instacare on 577 South River Road. This is required if the student wants the doctors visit covered. If tire student requires labs or they are responsible for that cost. Another service the Wellness Center offers that was implemented at tire beginning of October last year is four therapists who are there every day, two males and two females, and are available for students. "All therapists are from different backgrounds, they are diverse and tins gives the Wellness Center the opportunity to match students with a " therapist, Beatty said. Johnson said these therapists are able to talk to students who are suffering from depression and need advice. Full-tim- e students can get up to eight free sessions with a therapist, and students can have up part-tim- e to four free sessions. In order to provide these services DSC must increase student fees, and as the student popula- WELLNESS Langston said she now realizes that keeping in contact with professors is a vital part of keeping grades high. She said if students do have to miss class, they should let their professors know about any personal problems. Langston also said as long as students know what they when students have to miss, and absences can be excusa- Staff Writer DIXIE SUN lidc C, - |