Life University Student Concerns Over New Attendance Policy 

Hi everyone,

Here is the follow up from my original meeting with Dr. Jaime Davis:

Thank you for meeting with me today. As we discussed, there are several things that the University is considering as investment into student success as part of our ongoing commitment to helping students discover and embrace their purpose and potential.

I wanted to follow up with a summary of our conversation and the information I shared with you as we continue dialogue as co-contributors to mutually beneficial outcomes.


1.
Class lectures are not mandatory; however, they are encouraged. As we discussed, many of the current recorded lectures are not sufficient to support students due to audio issues, background noise/commentary, etc. We are working on a proposal to encourage faculty to implement summary recordings, to be completed in a private setting rather than the live class session. If implemented, those recordings would be made available after a class is held.
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The priority will be the more challenging/rigorous classes first.
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This is a proposal that would move forward at/after Fall Quarter.

2.
Clinic hours and scheduling challenges are being addressed through hiring additional faculty clinicians and looking at training to allow DC faculty to assume some clinic oversight opportunities. We anticipate opportunities to extend clinic hours soon.
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Weekend hours are not likely at this time, but can be revisited once consistent staffing is in place. At this time, we'd like to first expand the weekday hours and evaluate impact.

3.
Attendance requirements and expectations have been clarified with students and with faculty. While the policy will go into effect for Summer Quarter in alignment with federal financial aid and other regulatory guidelines, we also recognize the concern is less about the policy itself and more about the consequences. In conjunction with the Deans, the following guidance was clarified with Faculty today:
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All attendance is required to be taken through Qwickly.
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Attendance must remain open for a minimum of ten (10) minutes every time attendance is taken.
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A signed doctor's note to excuse an absence may include a note from a licensed healthcare provider, including a chiropractor.


Faculty are encouraged to err on the side of the student at every point possible. Academic Administration will do the same. Please extend grace, human to human, when students communicate in advance regarding schedule concerns, life challenges, and family obligations. Our goal is to support student success. We acknowledge that attendance is part of success, but we also recognize that negative reinforcement rarely produces lasting change.



If the Faculty are unsure about whether to affirm a student's request for an excused absence, please refer the student to the respective Assistant or Associate Dean. Students are also encouraged to appeal to the respective Assistant or Associate Dean as needed.


1.
We recognize that low attendance may indicate an opportunity to observe the class session and provide evaluation feedback to faculty. As we discussed, this can easily venture into the territory of an HR process, so there isn't much I can say (and certainly not anything I can comment on with specific faculty members by name), but please know that we are revisiting our faculty observation and evaluation processes to ensure there are more opportunities to observe and coach faculty.

2.
Shared governance is important to Life University. Student Council participates in the shared governance process. Student council is the voice of the student body connecting students and administration. You mentioned that you were considering joining, and I encourage you to do so! As we discussed, revisions to the policy (particularly the consequences) should be submitted through Student Council to Faculty Senate. That is the best route for ongoing dialogue, especially in preparation for the VPAA transition.

If you would like the links to the "research" behind these decisions, you will have to email me at justin.leslie@student.life.edu , as the links cannot be sent in this comment.

Have an amazing quarter, and please reach out to me if you have issues with the attendance policy and I will reach out to Dr. Davis directly on all of your behalf.

Best regards,
Justin Leslie