New lax policies concerning health-related absences at the University of Saskatchewan may give students carte blanche to miss mandatory classes, professors say.
The Saskatoon-based university is asking faculty to be more forgiving to students who miss class in light of the ongoing H1N1 epidemic. Professors who typically require doctors’ notes to verify absences are being asked to look the other way.
“We’re taking our cue from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC),” said David Hannah, head of the flu response team at the university. “Their one key message is: if you’re sick, stay home.”
The CDC is concerned that H1N1-afflicted students could spread the virus to other patients while visiting doctors to obtain excuse slips. To prevent this, their website suggests that universities “not require a doctor’s note to confirm illness or recovery.”
Professors said they at U of S are concerned the new policies may allow perfectly healthy students to skip out on mandatory coursework.
Hannah acknowledges the potential problem, but does not expect to see an exponential rise in absenteeism.
“Students are paying money to get an education,” he said. “They aren’t doing themselves any favours by skipping class.”
It is still too early to tell whether or not the new policy has affected rates of missing students.
At Carleton University, policies surrounding doctor’s note requirements have yet to be changed.
First-year Carleton student Adrianne Humen, whose course load consists of multiple attendance-mandatory classes, said a more relaxed policy on doctor’s notes would not tempt her to skip class.
“I want to pass my courses, and there are things taught in class that you can’t read about in the textbook.”