Professors can soon take note in their grade books which students were in class, as the LSU Faculty Senate voted Wednesday to pass a resolution that would allow teachers to grade students on their attendance.
Mass communication professor Louis Day, who co-sponsored the resolution with political science professor James Stoner and psychology professor Claire Advokat, presented the potential new policy to the senate.
Day said the resolution will give University professors “one more tool” in the classroom.
“It announces to those who look at University policies and read the catalog that we care about what students do,” he said. “This policy lets everyone know we do care about class attendance.”
While teachers are currently not allowed to grade students based on attendance, many avoid breaking the rule by grading students on participation.
Day said the line between participation and attendance has been blurred and if teachers grade students on participation, they should require the students to do something in class to earn the grade, not just be present.
The resolution passed with a vote of 27-6, and the vote was preceded by much debate and discussion.
Some senators said they were worried the new policy would stop students from actually having to participate in class.
Student Government Director of Academics Thomas Rodgers said the rule change could be a slippery slope.
“Wouldn’t we just be allowing professors to pass around a sign-in list instead of engaging them with participation activities?” he asked the senate.
Lane Pace, vice chair of academics for SG, said SG has received numerous complaints from students who are worried about the bill.
“We’ve heard from students saying they don’t want people coming to class for an attendance grade and just playing around on their laptops,” he said. “It’s a distraction to the students who actually care about going to class.”
Pace and Rodgers said they attended the meeting to represent the voice of the student body.
“We’re going to fight this,” Pace said. “We’re going to stand behind the students.”
Kevin Cope, English professor and Faculty Senate president, said he expects the policy to be speedily approved by the administration and implemented as early as the fall.
“The administration is looking for ways to improve retention rates,” he said. “I believe they will accept this as a way to do that.”
 
____ Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]