adsii1970

Life on the university campus:
(End of the Spring 2020 Semester edition - Part I)

This semester was a challenge for all of us - students, staff, administrators, and instructors. First, just like other community colleges and universities around the nation (and world), we faced the complications of the Corona-Wuhan (COVID-19) virus. Then, as if we needed anything extra, our area was hit by an EF-2 tornado. Any one of these issues can make a semester difficult on their own. But the two together - in one semester - made the spring semester a challenge to manage.

I've been teaching at the community college and university level since 2004. I've changed how I teach my courses a lot since those early days. But one thing has remained the same - I ask students to stay in communications with me as their circumstances change. For many students, they were able to complete the courses I teach just fine - they remained in nearly constant contact with me through email, text messaging, and in some cases, phone calls and Skype/Facebook video conferencing.

But for a handful of students, this would not be their strongest display of personal responsibility.

Staying in contact with your professors isn't optional.

I believe I speak for most college/university-level instructors when I say the most efficient use of your time is to remain in contact with your professor when things happen. If you miss a class, take the time to send your instructor an email. It doesn't have to be anything fancy; it does need to be truthful. A student who takes the time to send me an email, "I overslept this morning. I'm sorry." always gets the benefit of the doubt. And at the end of the semester, I'm more inclined to overlook it when it comes to grading. Why? Because you took the opportunity to let me know why you weren't in lecture. You took responsibility. You acted in a manner that I perceive you as being a serious adult concerned about their future.

We're human. We, also, have feelings. This semester, I had a young lady who has been the caretaker for her older aunt for the past ten years. Now, at the age of 32, she is finishing her degree and certification for her RN. In early April, she notified me she was having difficulties with getting her assignments completed for my course. Although she still had a week before the project paper was due, she explained in an email why it would probably be late -- her aunt had suffered a heart attack and then, less than three hours later, a stroke. Emotionally, she could not handle the stress of the project paper.

I share her story so I can share this -- because she was truthful with me up-front about her situation at home, it allowed me to do what I do best. It allowed me to act with compassion. Not only did I excuse her from the course's project paper, I also excused her from the third exam in the course. Her grade would be based off the work she had completed before her aunt's health declined. Had she waited until after the final grades were posted or had not told me at all, her grade would have been an "F" and there would have been nothing I could do for her.

So, today's message is to remain in contact with your instructors. When things at home shift in a way that will impact your ability to academically perform, inform them. If you miss a lecture, tell them why. Be honest in your communications, offer "proof" (doctor's notes, obituaries, etc) where needed. Don't expect anything from your instructor in return because you've been proactive and professional in your efforts to communicate with them. But do not be surprised to find your "C" somehow make its way to a "B" by the end of the semester.