Class attendance can improve a grade, or it can lower a GPA. Professors are making attendance a part of a class’s final grade. The number of professors taking attendance has been on the rise, especially in the first two weeks of classes. This increase in taking attendance is not just for the benefit of the professors, but also for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

This semester the Registrar’s office required teachers to take attendance for the first two weeks of class. This request ensures that UW-Platteville remains compliant with state system requirements.

“New this semester was a request from my office asking faculty to confirm if their students had started attending by the end of the first week,” David Kieckhafer, UW-Platteville Registrar said.  “The main reason for the collection of this information is for financial aid compliance.”

Each professor has his or her own idea regarding taking attendance, and some feel that attendance should be taken during all classes. Attendance is being taken in a more interactive method.

“I have an upper division course and take attendance using either entry tickets or exit tickets that are question prompts connected to the current or previous lecture,” associate professor in the Health and Human Performance department, Colleen McCabe, said.

It is up to the individual professor to determine if he or she will continue taking attendance after the first two weeks. Some professors do not find it necessary, as they feel that students are adults, and it is a student’s choice whether to attend class or not.

“I take attendance for the first two weeks, but then it is my philosophy to treat my students like adults, but occasionally I will take attendance so that I can learn names,” associate professor in the History department, Melissa Gormley, said.

Regardless of whether or not a professor takes attendance on a regular basis, regular attendance can positively impact a student’s grade.

“Students that attend class on a regular basis are more likely to do better in classes,” Gormley said.

“I see students gain a better understanding of concepts and content due to a continual stream of discussion captured electronically or in written format with daily writing,” McCabe said. “Sometimes the prompt requires them to simply share their level of readiness or self-efficacy on the material covered.”