Use ‘Stuff Happens’ Cards to
Handle Student Excuses
June-July, 2007
Students and excuses seem to go hand in hand. Sometimes
the excuses result from real events and personal problems that
legitimately prevent a student from being in class, completing an
assignment on time, or doing what some other policy or procedure may
stipulate. Not having the wisdom of Solomon, most faculty struggle to
fairly adjudicate between the real and unreal reasons offered for
noncompliance.
Professor Daniela A. Feenstra, who teaches a variety of business classes
at Central Pennsylvania College, has developed an interesting way
through this dilemma. On the first day of class she gives each student a
“Stuff Happens” card. It’s about the size of a business card and also
includes the semester date and a place for the student’s name. In the
syllabus (and in class) she explains that this is a student’s “one time
only” forgiveness card. If a student is late for class or might need a
one-day extension on a paper, the student may trade the “Stuff Happens”
card for this exception. Students don’t have to get her approval or
permission to use the card. Use of it is entirely at their discretion.
However, each student gets only one card, which is not transferable and
won’t be replaced if lost.
If no “stuff happens” during a given a semester and a student follows
all classroom policies and procedures, the “Stuff Happens” card may be
traded in the last week of class for 20 bonus points.
Sometimes more than one “stuff happens” event may occur during the
semester. When it does and the student presents the excuse or excuses,
the teacher once again faces the problems described at the beginning of
the article. However, Professor Feenstra notes that the “Stuff Happens”
card takes care of most emergency situations. It covers the
conscientious student who may occasionally have a problem. Other
students are probably going to need more instructor feedback anyway.
Copyright © 2007 Magna Publications. Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is prohibited.
