What Is Missing? Rethinking Student Absences

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Notes

1 While this was generally received positively, similar calls made by other staff have occasionally been considered intrusive. Further, while there is no established university policy on the issue of lecturers contacting students regarding non-attendance, the resources to do so are readily available. However, this action may not necessarily be supported in principle or through the availability of contact details in other contexts (e.g. other universities and universities in other countries).

2 While students are encouraged to attend weekly lectures (scheduled for 100–200 students), these are recorded and made available online, consistent with the promotion of flexible or blended learning promoted in Australia's university environment. Assessment is conducted in weekly tutorial classes (maximum of 30 students per tutorial), which are not recorded, and where active participation and engagement are required as part of the assessment. In-class (tutorial) assessment has been openly discussed within the faculty as a strategy to promote attendance, engagement, and the development of both technical and non-technical skills expected by industry and employers (Moore et al., 2008).