Members of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee last week attempted to reach agreement on an updated version of a policy that affects both faculty members and students: the Class Absence Policy.

The policy draft, put together by the Faculty Senate Grading Committee, outlines 10 provisions-from faculty clearly stating attendance requirements in the syllabus, to what justifies an excusable absence. In particular, the policy draft preface states that "students may be absent from class due to participation in university-sponsored or endorsed activities, illness or other emergency, religious observances and a variety of other circumstances."

"Our general concern is that faculty should be clear and specific about their policies," said William H. Baumer, professor of philosophy and chair of the Grading Committee, at the March 21 meeting. "I find it a little bit problematic when students come to me and tell me that they're in a course in which they cannot miss an exam. That seems to me to be inexcusable behavior on the part of the faculty members."

Judith Adams-Volpe, director of Lockwood Memorial Library, said while she appreciated that the committee was offering a policy "so precise and well-organized," students shouldn't be penalized for a spur-of-the-moment absence, such as a last-minute invitation to attend UB Day in Albany, or the recent case of four UB wrestlers who advanced to the NCAA finals.

"When they're signing up for a class, they can't possibly be expected to know that," she said, citing the stipulation in the policy that notification be made "at least one week in advance."

Volpe-Adams also suggested some of the language be removed from provision No. 2, which leaves room for the possibility that no alternative or make-up exam may be effected for an excused absence. "The policy should tell faculty that they should really make an effort to make an alternative," she said. "If (the language is) there, it makes every faculty member feel that they can just say that there's no feasible make-up."

Dennis Malone, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, countered that faculty members can't make up something that's "absolutely required" for their course. They can, however, alert the student to that at the beginning of the semester.

Charles Fourtner, professor of biological sciences, took issue with a statement at the end of the policy that points students to a recourse of appeals through university grievance procedures.

"I don't think it has to be stated here," Fourtner said, since it already appears in the UB handbook. "I think students know that if they've got a problem with a faculty member, they can go to their (department) chair."

Volpe-Adams countered that perhaps the remedy is not that simple, citing as an example a case relayed to her of a student for whom Passover conflicts with an exam. “And it’s not being resolved that easily,” she said.

Regardless, Fourtner said, the student has recourse—as stated in a resolution he said was passed by the Faculty Senate years ago—with the chair, the dean “and the faculty absolutely has to deal with that.”

Fourtner said he tells his students at the start of the semester the dates and times of exams so that other arrangements can be made to accommodate planned absences, something with which Baumer took issue.

“What do you do with the student who is on his way to class and is involved in an automobile accident?” he questioned. “Or doesn’t even get involved in it, just gets trapped in traffic because it’s jammed up for blocks? Now what does the instructor say to that student? ‘You failed the course?’”

Baumer suggested the policy clearly state that faculty “will provide alternatives.”

“I don’t personally have any problem with that,” he said, but added, “I think there may be some problems enforcing it.” As well, Baumer suggested rephrasing the second provision to read to the effect that if a student has “a required activity for which there is no alternative, and a student misses it for a justified reason, those being university activities, or an emergency, (there is) no penalty.”

“If the faculty cannot provide an alternative or a makeup, then the fact that the student has missed that has no bearing on the student’s grade,” Baumer continued. “And that really puts the burden on the faculty.”

The issue will be discussed at the next Faculty Senate meeting on April 10.

In other business, Kerry Grant, who assumed the position of vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School March 1, briefed faculty members on how his office is progressing, and what they can expect from it.

“If there was a timely moment for this, we had it,” he said of the newly formed office, which combines the duties of vice provost for undergraduate education and dean of the Graduate School. The office is working to link the undergraduate and graduate enterprises, as well as capitalize on potential partnerships between the College of Arts and Sciences and UB’s professional schools, Grant said.

With regard to policy coming from the graduate school, Grant said he would like to replace “the appearance of regulations with the practice of regulations.” In general, however, he said he will be leaving in place many of the decision-making structures established and policies executed by his predecessor.

Grant also announced a change in the method of communication, with both faculty and students. “We’re seeking to effectuate a change in the kinds of things the faculty expressed some irritation about—the nature of communication they receive and in some cases, the receipt of similar communications by students,” he said. He added that changes are imminent at the undergraduate level as well, notably in “the tone and temper” of correspondence related to academic progress.