No official absence excusal on January 4th
December 16th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
Haha, it's not like missing a single class is going to kill anyone.
December 16th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
December 16th, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^
Luckily there's usually no lab during the first week of a semester.
December 16th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
Require attendence on the first day, or else you will be dropped from the roster. This is not true for large lectures, but a lot of smaller classes/discussions/labs require it.
December 16th, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
Oddly enough, the first class is the most important and least important. Least important because it's syllabus day and you can show up hungover (recommended). And most important because if there is a waiting list and you miss it, expect the students on the waiting list to give you a hearty Yost "SEEYA."
December 16th, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^
December 16th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
I bet Ohio would implement the same policy.
December 16th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
in Ohio, you just miss out on the free tattoo's, given out the first day of classes....
December 16th, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
They've never granted one of these for any of the bowls we've been in to the best my knowledge.
Also never tell a prof you're cutting class to binge drink and watch football in New Orleans. Your best bet is to tell the prof you have to travel overseas (your dad is stationed on a military base in Japan or something and want to seem him for the holidays) and can't get a flight until the third.
You can also send a panicked sounding email at the start of class claiming you're trapped in some airport due to a weather delay or the like (check the weather and decide where you are "stuck").
Not that I ever lied to profs to attend bowl games...
December 16th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
Since the whole football team, band and cheerleaders are all going to be inelligible for not having any classes winter term.
December 16th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
This is what enrages me the most. How many football players will be excused from the first day of class? All of them.
What about that "level playing field," NCAA? Sounds like extra benefits to me.
December 16th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
Or they just acted like adults and contacted their teachers to let them know they were still in the class and were just getting back to town late.
December 16th, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
The MMB gets issued letters to give to professors signed by the Director of Bands, similar to what athletes get, describing the travel schedule and to please excuse the student from class for that day. Remember, the MMB is a class (ENS 348), for which grades are given.
I haven't heard exactly what the MMB itinerary is, but it wouldn't surprise me (based on how these things have gone in the past) if the flight back is in the middle of the night or very early in order to get students back in time for classes. Since it's a charter flight, there's a little more flexibility in that regard.
December 19th, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
late on the 4th, but this can be old info.
December 16th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
December 16th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
It's University policy that if you don't make it to the first class (and a kid on the waitlist does), they can drop you and add the kid. If you want the desk, you have to show up.
December 16th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
December 16th, 2011 at 11:58 AM ^
That's interesting, but I guess its understandable. I've always treated the first few days of classes as vacation.
December 17th, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
and my gentleman's C agree
December 16th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
And that's why I am leaving New Orleans as soon as the game is over and driving all night to get back for class the next day.
I'm still going to miss my first class, but I've had the professor before and I believe he's recording his lectures these days, so I'm not too worried about him as long as I let him know. My MDE later that afternoon, however, is a whole different story. I should make it back in time, but driving that far you never know what can delay you along the way.
December 16th, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^
Be safe... It's going to be January and you're going to be driving through the ice belt in the middle of the night. Nevermind the insanely high % of drunk drivers you'll encounter just trying to get out of Nawlins.
December 16th, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
But I can't risk not being able to take my MDE over a football game. I really want to graduate on time, and considering this is suppose to be my last semester, that would be impossible without my MDE.
I'm not too worried about it. There should be 4 of us to rotate and stay fresh. Barring a blizzard of some kind we should make it, and if that SHOULD happen I am sure the professor would understand so long as I made a legitimate effort.
December 16th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
Good thing Ross doesn't start classes until the 9th
December 16th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
Oh man, what's going to happen to the football players, band members, marching band, team mamnagers, hangers-on, etc? They are supposed to be STUDENTS first right?
December 16th, 2011 at 1:54 PM ^
And those are the classes you need to be worried about being dropped from. Lectures are the only classes you will miss. Since it's even Syllabus day, you wont miss much
December 16th, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^
Oh man OP
This is weird because I'm a student working in the physics department, too.
But yeah, this is mostly a big deal for classes with waitlists. Unless the prof is a big football fan or something.
December 16th, 2011 at 2:37 PM ^
I already have contacted both I have on that wednesday. One flat out canceled class and will pry be at the bowl (see. Prof Bacon, John U.) and the other said that while he doesnt like it, he understands, appreciates the email, and wont drop me.
If a teacher wont let you miss for the sugar bowl, he/she is a dick and trust me, you dont want to take a class from them. Remember, we are paying them to teach us. I dont pay for people to treat me like shit.
December 16th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^
Do you eat at Blimpy?
December 16th, 2011 at 7:24 PM ^
December 16th, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
as long as you ask nicely and make it clear that you are really excited about taking the class, it should be fine.
Most of us just want to get students off of our waitlists as soon as we can, because we hate turning people away. If we know that you want to take the class, we know we don't have that spot for someone else. I have students in similar positions for one reason or another just about every semester, and it's never a big deal.
But, as someone said on a prior thread: ask, don't expect. Most faculty don't react well to the entitled-student routine.
December 16th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
Their entitled-faculty routine.
December 16th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
It more reflects the "I don't want to deal with the inevitable grade complaint I'm going to get from this guy" routine.
December 16th, 2011 at 7:46 PM ^
We're just in charge. ;-)
December 16th, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^
December 16th, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^
I thought it was you can't miss the first 2?
December 16th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
Did U-M consider that professors could be going to NOLA? What if they miss class on January 4?
December 17th, 2011 at 12:55 AM ^
Have the TAs hand out the syllabi and introduce themselves, I suppose.