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[adjunk]

Some time ago, at the first University I ever taught at, there was a professor well past his prime who would often deliver lectures, for the entire hour, to an empty room. Sometimes he would show videos.  I won't go into the details as to why the room was chronically void of students, but it was, and he did.  I remember the first time I discovered this phenomenon. I was walking by the classroom, the door was open, and there was Dr. Wellpasthisprime talking to empty seats.  I was flabbergasted (I love it  when I get to use that word). I came to discover that this was standard operating procedure for him.  He felt contractually bound to deliver his lecture, regardless of whether anybody was there or not.  It was quite disturbing.  I would not recommend this tactic unless you want to be branded a lunatic.   

I personally would wait no more than five minutes before I left.  If there were more than five people registered for the class I would take it very personally.

Only once did this happen to me.  It was a small class of seven students, and it just so happened that one day, no one was there.  So thinking on my feet, I realized that I am paid to deliver a lecture, so that's what I did.  If students miss it, that's their problem.  I am not going to hold up the entire class by a day just because people are absent. 
As it happened, one student finally walked in about 15 minutes late, and he found me lecturing to an empty room!  Yes, he probably thought I was a lunatic, but I teach philosophy, so students expect a degree of weirdness.

[spork]

I like the idea of teaching to an empty room.  If I ever found myself in the situation described, I'd announce to the empty room that the next exam had been rescheduled for the next class, etc.  I also like the idea of giving quizzes in the first five minutes of class.

As for FERPA and filing cabinets, individuals cannot seek redress through FERPA and student work is not final grades.

[dundee]

Op, what kind of institution do you teach at?!

I've been teaching at 8am for years, and never had this problem. Quite often my entire class is in their seats 5 minutes before the start of class. I certainly don't think my students promptness is anything to do with me - it's because of the institutional culture. I have many students who don't miss a single 8am class out of the roughly 45 times we meet per semester. If I turned up and no students were there, I'd be stunned, and leave after a minute or two.

[nightowl]

Stories are that CS Lewis started every class lecture promptly even if he was not yet in the classroom.  If he found himself running late, he would start lecturing as he was on his way and would walk into the classroom already a couple of minutes into his lecture. 

He was also famous for starting on his way out of the classroom as he was still lecturing.  It was almost perfectly timed with his concluding words delivered just as he stepped out the door.

[philoctetes]

I am as amazed as Dundee. I would maybe wait a minute or two, check the room number, and then wander back to my office.

I can't imagine students not being there. As for the student who came at 20 past, I do not allow students to come in late at all, they can wait for the break.

Op, what kind of institution do you teach at?!

I've been teaching at 8am for years, and never had this problem. Quite often my entire class is in their seats 5 minutes before the start of class. I certainly don't think my students promptness is anything to do with me - it's because of the institutional culture. I have many students who don't miss a single 8am class out of the roughly 45 times we meet per semester. If I turned up and no students were there, I'd be stunned, and leave after a minute or two.

[nightowl]

I am as amazed as Dundee. I would maybe wait a minute or two, check the room number, and then wander back to my office.

I can't imagine students not being there. As for the student who came at 20 past, I do not allow students to come in late at all, they can wait for the break.

Now this I would like to see!  Can you imagine the expression on a student's face while waiting outside the door, watching you lecture to an empty classroom, waiting until you get to the break and entry is allowed.  That was good for a hearty morning chuckle.

[philoctetes]

I can't imagine students not being there. As for the student who came at 20 past, I do not allow students to come in late at all, they can wait for the break.

Now this I would like to see!  Can you imagine the expression on a student's face while waiting outside the door, watching you lecture to an empty classroom, waiting until you get to the break and entry is allowed.  That was good for a hearty morning chuckle.

You know if I am ever faced with an empty classroom I think this is what I will have to do.

[nightowl]

I can't imagine students not being there. As for the student who came at 20 past, I do not allow students to come in late at all, they can wait for the break.

Now this I would like to see!  Can you imagine the expression on a student's face while waiting outside the door, watching you lecture to an empty classroom, waiting until you get to the break and entry is allowed.  That was good for a hearty morning chuckle.

You know if I am ever faced with an empty classroom I think this is what I will have to do.

I love this.  It would be cool if it happened on April Fool's Day. 

[pink_]

Yeah, to second or third or seventeenth what people have said here, I would have waited 5-7 minutes, and then left and been seriously pissed. I would have refused to discuss the material with any of the students, and you better believe it would show up on every graded exercise for the rest of the term.

[retainthenull]

     My 8am class has utterly collapsed this term. At the beginning of the semester, there were 28 students on the roll. As of today, we are down to 9! The reason for the high attrition is attendance. The little darlings will simply not show up for an 8 am class. My chair tells me this is common on this campus (this is my second semester).
      I start class promptly on time. When I first started teaching, I would often wait a few minutes before lecturing. I found this only encourages the darlings to show up even later. On days when attendance is REALLY low, I highlight this section on the exam. Once they fail the first exam, they withdraw in droves (on the first exam this semester, a student earned an 8/100). 

[dr_crankypants]

You know, as amusing as it would be to give a lecture to an empty room, I'd rather have the free time.  I'm just not that fond of hearing my own voice.  Especially because it would take me a good hour to cool down from my rage at the slackers (and write exam questions on the material).  But I am Dr. Crankypants for a reason. 

[tintern]

Once they fail the first exam, they withdraw in droves (on the first exam this semester, a student earned an 8/100).

Not quite as bad, but I recently had a student correctly answer only 20% of the questions on a multiple choice exam.  With five answers to choose from, this is of course what the average monkey would score if we could train it to fill in the bubbles on a scantron.

[retainthenull]

sadly, the student scored an 8/100 on a multiple choice, T&F, and short answer exam. And yes, she is one of our majors!

[just_dave]

Now the real question for this thread is this:  How long do you wait AFTER all the students show up before you leave -- in frustration?  I have, BTW, a couple of times in my 25 years actually packed up my books and notes and actually walked out on a class of students.

[cc_alan]

You know, as amusing as it would be to give a lecture to an empty room, I'd rather have the free time.  I'm just not that fond of hearing my own voice.  Especially because it would take me a good hour to cool down from my rage at the slackers (and write exam questions on the material).  But I am Dr. Crankypants for a reason. 

Every quarter I have someone jokingly ask what would happen if nobody showed up. I laugh and tell the class that I love the sound of my voice. I'll lecture to an empty room if necessary.

Alan