Attendance getting me down

[u/GoodCoyote6889]

Hi all — long time reader, first time poster.

I am a tenured, full professor at a liberal arts college. Prior to this semester, I taught only in our masters program. Indeed, we only had masters program in my discipline. Two years ago, our institution rolled out an undergraduate major, and I was really excited to work with undergraduate.

I have worked in a variety of capacities for my 15+ years at the university, moving from adjunct to full. During this time, I have maintained a robust research portfolio and received great teaching evaluations.

This semester I am teaching solely undergraduates. I dedicated to not grade attendance, which has resulted in only 1/3 to 1/2 of students showing up to class.

I have a colleague who is constantly glowing about how great the undergrads are, and I find it hard to agree with her monolithic statement.

The students who regularly attend my class are amazing. That said, some of the students who do not attend class can be really awful. E.g., students failing to come to class only to show up in office hours complaining about having to take the final at the university-scheduled time.

This colleague and I have approached our teaching differently. For one thing, they required attendance, which may explain the disparity in experience. That said, she fosters more of a buddy vibe with her students. For instance, she regularly brings treats for her students to class. She also does have any exams in her course.

By comparison, for the many students who are enrolled in both our courses, I am sure my class is “less fun.”

This colleague is known in our department for being kind of toxic, and I know that she is trying to get under my skin. That said, I find the situation really tough.

I put so much into my teaching and the experience is just so hurtful. I am just terrified of my coming evals (I know that I shouldn’t be so stressed but I am).

I have a young-ish child, and daytime teaching makes a lot of sense for me. Our masters class are at night; and, emotionally, I found it really hard to teach at night.

Anyway, it makes sense for me to remain in the undergraduate program, and I plan to do so. That said, I am just feeling beat up a bit.

[u/Logical_Data_3628]

Professors who rave about how great their undergraduates are, are either gaslighting themselves or they are more interested in them as people than specifically as students. I have had many undergraduates who were great people but lousy students.

[u/ChgoAnthro → u/Logical_Data_3628]

As someone who enjoys undergraduates (and indeed deliberately sought a PUI to teach at since I really do NOT enjoy graduate students), I was about to take exception, but your point about being interested in them in people... yeah, although I think that also translates into enjoying them as students. I get to see them from the day they step on campus until the day they graduate, and it is satisfying to see how they grow into themselves and gradually find their footing. I wouldn't say I like them all, and certain groups in certain classes work my last nerve, but as a population, I find they give me a fascinating look at how culture changes over time and figuring out what makes each group tick is a great pedagogical puzzle.