Attendance policy passes in senate

By Jina Tedmori
Daily Forty-Niner

A controversial attendance policy, which will regulate student absences, was passed Thursday at the Academic Senate meeting.

The policy will now be sent to Cal State Long Beach President Robert Maxson. If he agrees, it will become an official university policy.

"I like the policy." Maxson said. "I think the Academic Senate did a good job developing it. This legitimizes what the faculty has already been doing."

The policy and a letter will be sent to Maxson, it usually takes between a week and 10 days for his response.

"A bulk of the meeting was devoted to discussion of the policy," said Mary McGraa assistant to the chairman of Academic Affairs.

Associated Students Inc. was in attendance with many amendments to the policy. Many were voted on and passed, and others did not. Some were accepted as friendly amendments, which means they were just agreed upon, not voted on, McGraa said.

The official attendance policy differs from what has been the standard policy printed in the catalog, with addition that university-sanctioned or approved activities will now be excused if notice is given to the professor one week prior to the absence.

Excused absences include: illness or injury to the student; death, injury or serious illness of an immediate family member; religious reasons; government obligation, such as jury duty; and university approved activities, such as artistic performances, forensics presentations, participation in research conferences, intercollegiate athletic activities, student government and required class field trips.

Faculty members are not obligated to consider other absences as excused.

"I believe the policy will be viewed as highly controversial by many students," said Doug Robinson, vice president of student services. "However, it is unique and I am proud of the interaction I witnessed occurring between the student leadership and faculty in reaching a compromise."

Although the policy is being widely accepted by faculty, students not involved with the athletic program feel it is unfair to give preferential treatment.

"I pay to go here it should be my choice to come to class," said Erin Hayes a senior communication major. "Also, documentation cannot always be provided for personal reasons, like family emergencies."

Other students are neutral toward the policy and its effects.

"I can see both sides of the issue and I don't have a problem with athletes missing class as long as it does not affect the class as a whole, because they are still responsible for the work," said senior communications major Bill Cloobe

This policy does not make it mandatory for professors to take role.