Hi, my name is Samantha Lobasso. I'm a senior music education major at Westminster Choir College, and this is my petition regarding the attendance policies at Westminster. I'm currently being kicked out of a class for having the flu and hitting 4 absences. The night before this, the professor went in and gave 0s on all the assignments I would have handed in, had it been I didn't get sick. Please sign this petition in an attempt to amend the rigidity of the attendance policies! There surely must be some exceptions for health and/or tragedy. A more detailed description of the matter follows below including numerous other student testimony...

Westminster Choir College is a prestigious music conservatory located in the heart of downtown Princeton, across the street from Princeton University. For years this institution has produced world renowned educators, opera singers, composers, church leaders, and overall well rounded performers/musicians.

Unfortunately, there are decisions regarding attendance policies that are greatly upsetting the students. These decisions, I personally feel, demonstrate a lack of compassion and care for the well being of the students. There are many faculty members who do show compassion and care for their students and who do not penalize when students must miss to due illness or tragedy. And the faculty members who have made these upsetting decisions are not horrible professors either. But still, students are unsatisfied with the policies instated, as they are rigid and do not always allow for flexibility. There are multiple departments that students have expressed disdain towards regarding the absence policy. (As you will see later in student testimony). For my situation, I am specifically spotlighting the Music Education Department. Countless students have been experienced quite severe negative effects as a result of occurrences outside their control. Even with doctor's notes, students are being penalized. Negative consequences include, but are not limited to, being forced to drop classes, severely impaired GPAs, disruption/suffering of mental health, inability to rest and heal properly out of fear of failure, and even delayed graduations. Not to mention that delayed graduations would result in additional thousands of dollars having to be spent. Why is this the way it must be?

It is understandable that a university would want to produce professional, class attending educators. It is understandable that there are rigid expectations. However,  this just seems inhumane to penalize students for having the flu. The current policy, instated by the music education department as of Spring 2020, is such:

"Because in-class learning is central to this course sequence, students whose absences exceed 25% of on-campus course meeting hours will not be permitted to begin the practicum experience and will be required to retake the course... students whose absences exceed 25% of course meeting hours for any reason must retake the course."

Upon reading it first glance, it sounds reasonable. And in most cases, it is. Breaking it down, however, it does not give much leeway at all for falling ill. In the Art of Teaching Music IV course, which is the syllabus from which the aforementioned excerpt has been pulled, there have been 16 planned class periods before field work begins (practicum), one of which was cancelled by the professor, resulting in 15 class periods. 25% of 15 is 3.75, meaning if a student reaches 4 absences before mid-terms, they are in-eligible to partake in fieldwork. This means, if a student gets the flu, or pneumonia, or mono, they are out of luck.

"We are required by state educational code to prepare you for the profession, and in recommending you for certification, we assure the state that you are capable of meeting professional standards."

This was part of the response that the professor running the class gave to me, right before missing my 4th absence due to the flu, which was backed by two doctors notes. I wholeheartedly agree with their statement. But I'd like to pose a question, how is it fair that a student's immune system is going to be the determining factor in deeming whether the school can assure the state that we are capable of meeting professional standards? As a student with a 3.7 GPA, countless references, impressive resume filled with professional development, and outstanding fieldwork commentary, I feel as though it does an exemplary job of deeming my capabilities.

In short, at the current moment the policy gives no leniency for absences once a student has hit their 25%. I understand that if a student misses 50% of the class meeting times, it makes sense they would not be eligible or prepared for practicum. But 4 absences is not reasonable given illness. Things happen in life. Death, car accidents, physical illness, mental illness, etc. If as a teacher, our employed schools, do not implement such strict policies, why is our university implementing them? The music education department here preaches accommodations and meeting students where they are. They preach empathy and compassion. They preach the concept that there is always more than one way to learn and to be taught. And now when it comes down to it, I'm being forced out of a class I have worked tirelessly to be in. I do not believe they are intending to be malicious, but that is why I am petitioning. Because I do believe they mean well.

We, the students, are not asking to avoid the work. We are not asking to be accepted under sub-par standards. We are asking that reasonable circumstances be given excused absences. We are asking that we do not have to suffer for being human. We get sick, cars break down, people die... these are not indicators of our professionalism, but our luck in this world. PLEASE give us some compassion and allow us to complete our degrees without penalty for incidents such as the flu.

The following is a list of student input. Some wished to remain anonymous and/or did not yet give permission to use their name.

"I agree wholeheartedly. I think the quality of Westminster is faltering, not because of the students, but because of the faculty." -Anonymous, Jr. Education Major

"A VERY similar thing happened to me as well while I was there. It left me feeling so helpless and very frustrated. Is there something we can do?" -Kate Miksits, Alumni Class of '18

"The changing requirements are completely inflexible and it's hurting us and I hate it." -Rose Gurak, Transfer Education Major

"Literally why I left halfway through a semester getting no credit, all because of declining health. I’m honestly shocked more people have gone through this and... fell victim to the insensitivity of the institution" -Danielle Frucchione, previous Education Major (has since transferred out)

"A very similar thing happened to me. Fortunately it will not affect me graduating on time, but I am left feeling hurt, invalidated, and that the faculty are more interested in churning out “professional” educator machines instead of well-rounded, compassionate human beings." -Anonymous, Jr. Education Major

"This nearly happened to me last semester. I was incredibly sick and missed a few extra days of symphonic and other classes, and I nearly failed symphonic just for missing a couple extra days over the limit. If I had missed one more day I would have failed symphonic and would have had to stay another semester, all because I was sick for a week. This school’s attendance policy and some faculty members are unrelenting and it’s unacceptable..." -Anonymous WCC Sophomore

"This almost happened to me too this semester, thank you so much for saying it out loud, people should be aware of what goes on here and how the students feel." -Anonymous, Jr Education Major

"It’s such an unfair way to handle things. I was admitted into Princeton House fall semester of my junior year and missed essentially half of the symphonic classes AND was put on the Messiah runout, yet I was allowed to pass the class and get an A? yet things like this happen to everyone else???? it’s so unregulated." -Wendy Darr, Senior Sacred Music Major

"This is unacceptable behavior on the administration’s/department’s side. The “professional standards” required of a teacher are leaving sub plans and bringing in a doctor’s note if necessary." -Gregory Stout, 2nd Year Graduate Student

"Let me just say this: my student teaching semester there was a whole new ed faculty. I got screwed over. The end." -Anonymous Alumni

"I’ve had to force myself to come to class during an anxiety attack and it SUCKS. i shouldn’t have to sacrifice my mental health for the threat of failing." -Casey Halloran, Senior Theory/Composition Major

"...I am worried about being affected this semester because I’ve already hit my absence limit for multiple classes from the flu." -Shannon Lally, Jr. Performance Major

"I actually had a specific issue in [*insert professors name here*]'s class last year where where I had an IBS flareup and was literally too sick to get out of bed. This is a documented illness that disability services is aware of. Due to my absence, I missed a pop quiz which affected my grade and was not allowed to retake it even though I missed due to my chronic illness." -Shannon Lally, Jr. Performance Major

"Over the limited amount of time I have gotten to know people at Westminster because of [*insert current student name here*], I have noticed that you guys are consistently the hardest working students that I have ever observed. Your unique curriculum and courseload grinds you guys to the bone. I notice how stressed everyone is when I am visiting on campus and it is not healthy for so many individuals to be subjected to that. These policies only intensify this stress and have ironically caused more problems than benefits. Standards need to be maintained but not at the cost of humanity." -Steven Powers, friend of WCC student

Updated since original posting:

"I have so much to say on this topic... The way the administration is handling this situation is absolutely asinine. We live in a time where mental & physical health are finally being recognized as a priority for people of all ages. As educators, we should be aware of this fact. It is absolutely outrageous that our school would prefer us to be a number in a classroom rather than care for our most basic needs as humans; that a lot of the times are not in our control. I have personally gone to class during anxiety attacks, crying fits, and even when I was sick just because I was “out of skips” or fear that my grade would drop. Even though my anxiety is documented with the school, my anxiety related absences are not excused. The way we are addressing mental and physical health at this school is not being taken care of properly-or even humanely even though our school DEMANDS 100% from each student every single day-which we all know is not feasible when we are sick! Do better WCC!" -Anonymous Sophomore

"I felt so alone in mine. A similar situation happened to me but different. I suffer from bipolar disorder and medication management and having this disability it made my attendance an issue. I had doctors notes and did all the assignments and my grades were not an issue I was an A / B student. Because of this policy they were failing me. The school provided no assistance I was willing to do anything to do extra assignments or stay late. They said the same thing to me. I ended up having an episode towards the last few weeks because of the stress and the devastation the school caused me. I ended up taking medical leave. I worked so freaking hard to get there and not mention the school is expensive. It is honestly cruel what they are doing to these students. It is so important to say something and this is just not okay!" -Anonymous WCC student (has since left)

"They teach us about the humanity and vulnerability required to be great musicians, and then penalize us for having it." -Anonymous Alumni