We see the same thing every quarter: on the first day of classes, a handful of our fellow students are missing. Well, to be honest, they usually aren’t missing much more than a syllabus and an outline of what we will be doing for the next 10 weeks and why, so no harm done, right? Wrong.Departments have recently been prompted to evaluate and rework (if necessary) current attendance policies to reflect the importance of this day. Although it is not, in most cases, known as a big learning day, first day attendance is important for other reasons.
Showing up for that first day of class conveys to our instructors that we are committed to our goals as students, making good impressions for each of us.
Another reason is that first day attendance is usually used for projections as to how full the class will be, and if there will be room for more students, since many classes here at RWC are already filled while waiting lists grow ever longer.
Some attendance policies require that students be withdrawn after missing a set number of classes (which varies depending on the department). Others insist that students will be withdrawn after missing the first day on assumption that they are not intending to take the class.
Either way, as many instructors will tell you (and I have personally witnessed), there is a direct correlation between being present in class and the grades you receive.
Finally, if you are going to miss the first day, it would be prudent, no, wise to contact your instructor ASAP. Although classes that withdraw students after the first day are in the minority, it is safer not to take the chance that you are enrolled in one.