Excuses to ditch limited 

By Michelle L. Young
Daily Forty-Niner

The Academic Senate will possibly vote on a proposed student attendance policy Thursday.

The policy will excuse absences due to an illness or injury that is personal or inflicted upon a family member, if approved.

The university currently discourages any absence, according to the university catalog. But under the new policy certain absences need a one-week notice in order to be excused.

A one-week notice will be required in cases where a valid absence occurs because of religious reasons and government obligations, according to the policy proposed by the Planning and Education Policies Committee.

University-approved activities will also require one-week notice, including artistic performances, forensics presentations, intercollegiate athletic events and student government activities. Exceptions to the one-week notice rule would be made in cases where a student is engaged in a university-approved event, such as a performance or playoff that cannot be anticipated.

If a student fails to give a one-week notice prior to an absence, the instructor will not be required to adjust the class schedule or allow for make up activities or exams, according to the attendance policy.

Instructors are also not obligated to excuse absences not mentioned in the policy.

Although the policy could have a positive impact on many Cal State Long Beach students, some have expressed opposing opinions.

"I'm here everyday, so I don't see how it will affect me," Jerimiah Tatro, senior computer science major, said. "I see it like this -- if you are paying to go to school, then it should be up to the teacher to decide whether or not attendance is necessary for the class. If you get a bad grade because of your attendance, then you are wasting your money.

Alyssa Sebastian, a senior sociology major, disagrees.

"I don't think there's a problem with [absences], if someone is willing to make an extra effort to make up the work," she said. "Physically being in class is not that important."