Absenteeism Running Rampant

When students are handed their syllabi during the first week of class, they expect that every syllabus will inform them of the course's Attendance Policy. Many of them ask what will happen if they miss a day. What if they should miss an exam -- "can I make it up"? These questions often plague instructors throughtout the semester.

When a staff member is not available to come into the office, that day is treated as either a "sick day" (with appropriate excuses) or "personal day." Personal days are paid for with accrued annual leave and generally must be cleared with supervisors first. If you're out of annual leave, you're unable to take a personal day off.

A similar thing happens when a faculty member misses a day. Either the instructor locates a suitable substitute, or the students are supposed to be given enough outside work to take the place of that day's material. Otherwise, not only will the course "fall behind," but also if enough hours are missed, the class will not meet the requirement for the number of credits in the class.

What happens when a president is the one who is frequently absent? Until recently, e-mails would be sent out informing the college community who will substitute for him that day. Does this mean that every such absence is "excusable"? Where should a president's primary responsiblity be: attending meetings and conventions outside of the area or being available to students, faculty, staff, and his fellow administrators?

This web site... http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0LSH/is_8_8/ai_n14891828/pg_1 discusses a few creative things that college presidents around the country are doing in order to stay connected with their students. Are these things enough? Wouldn't the college be better off when its president begs out of meetings in order to manage the affairs of the college? And couldn't another administrator be designated to handle such meetings?

Theoretically, the president is being pulled in all different directions, but I am writing about a matter of priorities. I am asking what colleges hire a president for. Does a president primarily represent the college to businesses in the state, or does a president primarily serve as the leader for the students, faculty, and staff of the college who hired him? Finally, how can job responsibilities be changed so that people understand that the leadership of the institution must be primary? I would really like to know.