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[stitch]

I have some internet courses and I get corrupted files a lot.  I recently found out there is a site where students can pay for corrupted files to get a little extra time.  http://www.corrupted-files.com/Home.html

I accept papers electronically, but I tell my students that it is their responsibility to ensure that the file attachments are correct, are not corrupt and are free of viruses...otherwise it doesn't count as "in time."  It requires me checking attachments in a timely manner, but they don't get away with this crap.

Do you see at the bottom where they named their 'company' Corruption, Inc?  And at the top, it says "Keep this site a secret!"  Yeah, because no college professor is smart enough to figure this gem out.  Gah!

[cdomhist]

My first semester TAing I was still learning what sort of excuses I'd require documentation for and what ones I'd consider excused or unexcused.  There were three students in my class who seemed to take all their classes together since they were always referring to "Snowflake 2, 3, and myself" whenever communicating with me.  One sent me an email on behalf of the trio that they'd missed class because another professor had decided to schedule his test to overlap with my class.  Now, I've known professors who do that sort of thing, and they've often been the kind you don't want to bug for signed notes or whatnot.  I told them that I'd "consider" excusing their absence.  I spent most of the semester thinking about how I'd deal with a similar situation in the future.  Then, towards the end of the semester, they inform me that the same class that they've already used in their excuse would be starting "early" and they'd need to leave class early in order to make it to their test on time.  When I told them that if they chose to leave early, they'd need a signed note from the professor explaining why the class that'd been before my class at the beginning of the semester was now after.  I also told them that if they didn't produce such a note, their first absence relating to the other class would be deemed unexcused.  They opted to stay for the whole period and let the earlier become an unexcused absence.


I also had two who were chronically late, either with the "it takes me too long to get here, I know I should leave earlier, I'm sorry" or the "I work and I'll be fired if I skip more work" excuses, but both acknowledged that the policy was what it was and produced enough good work to pass, even with the attendence penalties, which they accepted.

[justaprofessor2]

Is a dog that has a pinched nerve or one that is dying a good excuse to get an extension for the second time on a midterm exam?

[kedves]

Is a dog that has a pinched nerve or one that is dying a good excuse to get an extension for the second time on a midterm exam?

It's up to you to decide what's an acceptable excuse.  It's your class. 

You asked this on a different thread recently, so I assume that you want to hear a different answer.  But unless your department has a policy, then you need to be in charge of determining your own rules and communicating those to your students.

[parispundit]

The best excuse I ever had was from a student who had missed his midterm. He came up to me the next class and explained that he had been behind in his rent payments, so his landlord had demanded that he pay up in cash or be evicted. He had the rent money in an envelope ready to go midterm morning when his dog went and chewed up all the bills. So instead of coming to my class, he had spent the AM at the bank with all his torn-to-pieces banknotes getting new ones to replace them.

Naturally I asked him for a letter on bank stationary documenting this unusual event.

Next class, he produced one. Not only that, it was from the campus credit union, signed by a clerk I knew.

I let him make it up.

[yemaya]

Is a dog that has a pinched nerve or one that is dying a good excuse to get an extension for the second time on a midterm exam?

It's up to you to decide what's an acceptable excuse.  It's your class. 

You asked this on a different thread recently, so I assume that you want to hear a different answer.  But unless your department has a policy, then you need to be in charge of determining your own rules and communicating those to your students.

Agreed.  Personally, it wouldn't fly in one of my classes, but unless your department or institution has rules governing such things, it's your class and your call.

Do you see at the bottom where they named their 'company' Corruption, Inc?  And at the top, it says "Keep this site a secret!"  Yeah, because no college professor is smart enough to figure this gem out.  Gah!

Considering that both the people who run sites like this and those who use them tend to be morons, it wouldn't surprise me if students who use this think they're pulling a fast one.  It is truly astounding what some students think they're going to get away with.

[galactic_hedgehog]

But the site is honest.  Sort of.

Q: Is this cheating?

A: It's a fine line… It's basically just a good excuse vs. outright cheating but even though you are handing in your own work, you are getting an unfair advantage so by that definition, yes you are cheating. Please ask your professors for an extension before you use a corrupted file. This is meant to be used as a last resort, a one time thing, not a crutch! Everyone is entitled to a second chance, but not a third.

Except, of course, when it isn't.

Q: Is making excuses ok?

A: Of course not! Just be honest with people, we all drop the ball sometimes. It’s not the end of the world to use an excuse once, but twice… well, then you need to get your sh*t together or you’re gonna be pumping my gas!

They also have a custom option, but

I will NOT help you unless you have a very good reason why you have to use a corrupted file. Being lazy is NO EXCUSE!

Is "I'll pay you $9.95" a good reason?

[yemaya]

The problem is that an intent to deceive faculty or a college official is indeed a violation of the honor code at a number of institutions.  Proving intent might be difficult, but it's academic dishonesty nonetheless.  And why would a student use this site unless they were lazy?

[amanjay]

My first year teaching, my 20 year old brother was unfortunately paralyzed in a diving accident. So, I had disabilities on my mind that first quarter back. My favorite excuse EVER:

"You told me it would be ok to just hand in whatever for my paper" [with "whatever" being notes that were just stolen off of the internet, in her case.] After clarifying that, no, plagiarism is never ok, student replied, "In that case, I need your address. You're not respecting my disability."  At this point I started feeling badly because, like I said, I had disabilities and accomodations on the brain that quarter. I asked why she wanted my address and she replied, "My dad will be suing you for not being sensitive to my disability. I got breast implants this summer and the disability office said you'd work with me."

In fact, the disability services office had never heard of the student, the only address I gave her was the chair's email address, and she failed the class anyway.

[galactic_hedgehog]

What a boob.

Or two, rather.

[polly_mer]

"My dad will be suing you for not being sensitive to my disability. I got breast implants this summer and the disability office said you'd work with me."

I'm confused about what accommodations are necessary for breast implants.  Unless you refused to give her a bigger lab coat or similar protective garment, I fail to see how you were not sensitive to her disability. 

Of course, I'm assuming she went up to a still reasonable size.  If she did something freakshowish so that she can no longer do anything with her arms in front of her body, then she might have a case.  Under those circumstances, I think pictures would be in order to document the problem.

[mickeymantle]

I am teaching a summer class.  One student (who chats away before class about how she received acceptance into a local college) claimed she needed to take the first exam as a make-up.  I therefore gave her the examination, but as a series of essays, instead of the matching-and-essay format I gave to the other students.

Surprise!  Surprise!  She failed the examination. 

She also asked if she could leave class early the same day she took the make-up.

I am hoping that she will come to her senses and drop the class, particularly after she gets back the first exam.  But who knows?

[geoteo]

First she will complain to your Chair that you are unfair and sexist and you obviously wanted her to fail because you gave her a different exam.

[galactic_hedgehog]

She also asked if she could leave class early the same day she took the make-up.

Well, she needed to leave early to get to her breast-augmentation surgery, didn't she?

[polly_mer]

She also asked if she could leave class early the same day she took the make-up.

Well, she needed to leave early to get to her breast-augmentation surgery, didn't she?

I imagine that getting one of those appointment scheduled for a convenient time is difficult.  You take what you get and you don't pitch a fit.