I never understood why attendance in college is mandatory. We pay for our own classes so why should we be penalized for it? Attendance and course performance are NOT correlated. Some people only need the basics given by professors and can learn on their own afterwards. Is it fair to give a student a D for missing classes even though he/she got A's and A+'s on all assignments? We are all adults here and we should be in charge of our own education. Does our absence affect the way a professor is being paid? No. You never know when an emergency will come up. You never know when something more important comes along the way. There are a lot of reasons as to why a student will miss class and they should NOT be punished for something they are paying for anyway. So why should attendance matter? I believe in regulation but the strict attendance policy is irrelevant to me.

I am starting this petition because of my own personal experience. I have asked friends and other students about this whole situation and a lot feel the same way. I do well in school, I always get good grades, but yes I do have those days where I just do not feel the need to be in school, or have something more important to do, or didn't get enough sleep the night before so I miss a class or two or three. Just because I am absent does not make me a bad student. I do all my assignments and turn them in on time. It is not fair to be penalized for something that I am paying for. I should be in charge of my own education - WE ALL SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF OUR OWN EDUCATION. 

This petition will make a difference. I believe it will make for better students. Students come to class only for attendance nowadays. A lot do not even listen to what the professor has to say or teach. This needs to change. If students are granted more freedom and graded based on their course performance rather than attendance, students will be more motivated. I am not saying that students should stop going to class altogether, but there are better ways to make class more engaging. Attendance is not the key. The professor and his/her strategies is the key. Instead of attendance, why not create a system that will MAKE students want to come to class? For example, offer incentives like participation points while you are in class. Participation points to help boost a grade if you are not doing so well with the assignments given. Create assignments that require group work where students can help each other grow and learn. It is not that hard.

Students would be more happy and would look forward to class if they know they are there NOT because they are forced to be, but because they CHOSE to be.