Marymount Manhattan College has a strict attendance policy that lowers your grade after missing only one or two classes with the only exceptions being for religious or childbirth related scenarios:

“After 2 single-session class absences which are unexcused (classes which meet
1 hour and 20 minutes) or 1 double-session absence (classes which meet 2 hours and 50 minutes), a student’s grade will go down by one level for each additional absence (i.e.: a B+ becomes a B).”

This has always been a health hazard because it requires students to attend school even when they are sick. Now with Marymount Manhattan College being back to in-person learning since the COVID-19 pandemic, the policy has not changed, making it even more dangerous if a student is obligated to attend class while possibly infected with COVID-19. The school requires vaccinations and masks to attend, but it is still a risk considering the Delta variant and anyone who is unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons. Sickness is only one of the reasons why one might need to miss class, others being for mental health, personal issues, among many others.

As adults, we should be able to make personal choices that are in our best interest and deal with the consequences of catching up on work ourselves (especially in these turbulent times). Help the students of Marymount Manhattan College feel safer and make our personal needs respected.