absenteeism

[cabrown@utarlg.uta.edu]

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my initial request for 
information.   Here's what I have decided based on your 
input.   I used to have this same problem in the classes I teach until I 
started asking the students to determine their own attendance policies 
which included a participation grade.  Perhaps I can adapt this same 
strategy to Writing Center tutors.  At the staff meeting at the beginning 
of the semester, I will ask them to negotiate a policy concerning 
absenteeism (and I will give them several of your responses as a place to 
begin).  Moreover, I know it will be easier for me to enforce a policy 
that is constructed by them.  And I trust them to figure out how not to 
put me in the position of having to decided whether or not someone is 
telling the truth.  I don't know why I thought I had to solve this one 
all by myself--funny how one can work with and be surrounded by a 
community of helpful people and still forget to ask for help.

Cheryl Brown