Case 5: Side Effect of Medicines
Class Absence Excuse Discussion, ECE400, Spring 2012
A student with bi-polar disorder has not been coming to class for 6 lectures in a row. He shows up during office hours and asks for his absences to be excused because he has recently started new medication which make him extremely sleepy in the morning. His doctors are emphasizing the importance of continuing to take the new medication for at least two months until his body adjusts to it. He wants to do the right thing and continue the medication, but he does not want to fail the class.
- Shicheng Guo, Response.
- I would not accept this. Why not just go to bed way earlier? Maybe one or two lectures, but not six. Plus, what is this guy going to do for all of his other classes that count attendance?
- Artyom Melanich, Response.
- Shouldn't be acceptable. Suggest him not to take a class and think in advance. Make him drop a class until it is too late and take it next semester. If the class is required for the completion of the degree I would try to accomodate somehow and figure out a solution.
- Cody Cusic, Response
- I would not accept this response. The student should take the medicine earlier in order to make-up for the sleep problem. This is a participation class, so if you do not participate, then you should not pass the class. The class is also at 12:30, so if you are not able to wake up at 12:30 then how are you getting anything done. The student should be put on stimulants in order to compensate for the sleep problem. If you aren't going to school for most of the semester, you should not have enrolled that semester in the first place.
- Seth Strege, Reponse
- I would accept this as a valid excuse to miss class. To prove that the student is actually taking the medication I would require that a doctor's prescription be presented with an original signature. In order to make up for the missed classes I would also offer some type of make-up assignment.
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