Five Ways Attendance Is Vital to Your Higher Education

Introduction

Please click on each tab to learn about the 5 Ways and how the 5 Ways are instrumental to student achievement and success.

Attendance is directly correlated with grades

An article published by Minnesota State University cited a study that demonstrated the relationship between class-related time commitments to the students' overall course performance. The results? The most valuable time commitment was the time actually spent in the classroom. While studying and homework are important, it's usually the class itself that ties together readings, tests, and concepts that are important to the subject. And of course grades could be the difference between finishing college and not finishing; in college, grades reflect one's success in learning the material and can help lead to scholarships.

Attendance increases your support system

Regular attendance makes it more likely that your professors will recognize you and your contributions on an individual basis, and increase their motivation to help you when you're struggling. Also, the more you attend class, the more likely you'll be to make friends in the class. When you have people with whom you can study and exchange ideas, you'll likely be more motivated to work hard (and perhaps even enjoy class time).

Attendance places value on education

If you're really interested in not only succeeding in college, but also enriching your life, attendance is key. Students can become so focused on the earning the degree and passing classes that post-secondary education becomes a kind of game. Go to class to avoid the tendency to see school as a series of hoops for jumping through. Make connections between what you're reading, what you're hearing, and what you're producing for tests. The more you make an effort to appreciate the material for its own sake, the more you're valuing the education itself.

Attendance enables networking

In addition to having a greater support network of peers and professors who know your name, attendance can also be invaluable once you graduate. Need references? Talk to your professors. They are more likely to write letters for you if they know you and what makes you a unique thinker with something to contribute. Need job leads? Ask your classmates. Even if they aren't in the position to hire you, their recommendation can go a long way if they know someone who is.

Attendance helps you get the most for your money

Let's face it, college costs are increasing each year, and ultimately, you are paying for an education. If you get the job based on the fact that you have a degree but you haven't actually learned anything, your success at that job isn't likely, and you'll be in a similar position to someone who hasn't invested money in a good education (2010).

Conclusion

No matter if students are logging into a live seminar session or making the trip to a campus-based classroom the benefits of regular attendance in either option can help students achieve their educational goals. The sense of community that is created while in seminar or in a campus-based course is also an invaluable element of a student’s college experience. Therefore, it is the instructor’s responsibility to create an engaging, educationally stimulating atmosphere for in which both online or campus-based students can not only learn the course content but enjoy themselves along the way.