anongrad

As someone with Crohn's, and now an ileostomy, I'm curious to know why you thing a colostomy would prevent someone from sitting through an entire class.

I'm not trying to be argumentative at all; I'm legitimately curious what the average person thinks and whether or not this is a common misconception. After all, one of the key reasons I had the surgery was so that I could sit through classes and meetings like a "normal" person. After many years of struggling with Crohn's, my ileostomy cuts down on my restroom trips immensely.

lmkh70

I would come to class, sit for as long as I could, and then quietly leave. I would come back in in a short bit if the class were long enough. I would not just stand in the back.

I have been in this situation before. I am actually in this situation now, but am no longer in college (I am a parent and graduated years ago). I did something to my tailbone.

To be honest, I hated hated hated sitting in class as a college student. I actually had depression and sitting through class was too much for me. I still was able to keep up with the classwork so I think the professors should have worked with me, which, they did. Attendance was never required in my classes. But even more so, I wish someone had reached out to me and helped me back then.

Later, in grad school, I was pregnant at some point and it was horrible to try to sit in the seat for an entire class at the end of the pregnancy. And now...I think I cracked my tailbone. I had a baby recently and my tailbone has really been hurting. It hurts even to sit here and type.

classicalmama

My feeling is that, with all of the many options available for higher education, students should choose the learning environment that will work best for them, rather than asking or expecting that--for example--a teacher of a discussion-based class accommodate them. There are on-line classes and some lecture-oriented classes where a self-disciplined student could succeed without needing to be in class.

For example, I teach freshman composition, and anyone regularly missing class will fail. The class is workshop-based--partly because it's a good way in general to teach writing and partly because it's what works best for the majority of my students. I have had students who have needed to stand in the back of class, rather than sit, and that has been fine--the class atmosphere is informal enough to accommodate that. Frankly, though, if a student couldn't be in class for 50 minutes, I'd suggest that he/she take the course on-line.

Ultimately, this is about choosing the educational experience that fits best rather than trying to force oneself into a mold.

limabeans

I'm fascinated to read all this, as I too am a teacher. But I teach elementary-age students, so it's different too.

I think it's very important to have a conversation with this student to get a sense of what has worked in the past. Does this student have back pains? Maybe a special cushion can help. Does this student have a constant fear of bathroom issues? Maybe this student should just get the "leave whenever you need to" or allow timers so going to the bathroom is regulated. Does this student get wiggly due to ADHD? Then let them have a squishy ball to play with or let him occasionally walk to perimeter of the room.

My students have had issues like these and this was their accommodations. Of course, we also have huge bouncy balls they could sit on instead of regular chairs and some classrooms have stolls for their students with raised desks.

You get the point. The student's needs vary depending on the condition. It's not a privacy issue, but "how can we work together to make going to class doable?" It may also be helpful to ask if the student has shared this with the Office of Disability Services. They may have ideas too. But skipping class? No way. You might want to try to reschedule those discussions to accommodate the student's needs, but that's part of your class and grade. You should not have to change everything just to accommodate this one student. That was not the purpose of IDEA.

marcdvl

I've been through similar with a medical condition I've had for twelve years. In high school, there were times when I would literally lie or sit in the floor because of extreme dizzyness. College is different, but I still haven't missed more than three classes in my last three years.

tsdad

You must refer the student to your office of disability services in order for them to determine if he is entitled to academic adjustments (generally known as accommodations).

lookingforward

OP already referred the student to a dean.
I think the offer to let him stand was a fair first reaction. Just an offer that OP wouldn't expect him to reman seated, if he's uncomfortable.

stradmom

The thing is, I'm at a point in life where comfort is key - I don't even own any shoes with heels larger than about an inch at this point. But even I would hesitate to stand up in class, even in the back, if I were a student who couldn't sit through class. My older veteran occasionally looks clearly uncomfortable in the chair, and he immediately, well not springs, but gets, to his feet the second I announce group work, but he chooses not to stand in the middle of lecture, either. So I can see how it would be difficult for a younger person to do so.

DeskPotato

There are some conditions that make it difficult (or impossible) to remain either sitting OR standing for long periods. Sometimes people are feeling better and can manage to get through class and sometimes they're feeling worse and they can't. I don't really understand the "you could do it before, why can't you do it now?" argument.

2PathsMom

If a student has such a problem it is not only in your class. Every college and university has an office that works with and documents student disabilities. You should contact that office and see if the student has contacted them regarding his problem and how they plan to resolve the problem. If the student has not, I would inform him of the office's location and tell him that I would honor whatever documentation that is presented through official channels from that office. After that the onus is on the student to resolve the problem.

2collegewego

classicalmama, not all schools have online classes.

limabeans, unlike teachers in elementary/ middle and high schools, college professors do not necessarily have the right to know the problem so a conversation is not in order. These are adults and it is a privacy issue. And yes, the disabilities office *can* require a professor to allow a student to miss class. (At the same time, a professor doesn't have to "change everything" for one student although, actually, in elementary school, a teacher may have to change a whole lot for just one kid-- not just accommodations but modifications.)

reddoor

It has been very interesting to read the college professors' point of view on this topic. You might find it interesting that there were several attorneys who begged to advocate for my child and wanted to file a complaint with Department of Justice. It is very easy to do. My child declined.

It is coming. You may not be as insulated as you think.

NJSue

Reddoor, I'm sorry for the struggles your children have had, but I don't understand the dig at professors. There are already procedures in place to help students with medical issues. It's not a professor's or a dean's decision. Students are evaluated by service office professionals, and we in turn are told what accommodations to provide. We are not legally allowed to provide accommodations for students who have not gone through the process, because that opens us up to charges of unfairness in evaluation. I hope that your children did go through Disability Services and did take advantage of the accommodations to which they were entitled by the law. I wish them all the best.

limabeans01

OP, I think you're response was spot on! If a student tells you they can't sit for long ,then allowing them to stand seems like a solution. Problem solved.

If the student does indeed have a medical issue that makes standing an issue as well, then the student would have said something more like," I have a problem with being in class for x amount of time." these are college students who need to communicate and get to the point.

If the student has one of the many debilitating conditions mentioned by others, then they would be well aware of the legal channels they need to go through to ensure that they are being treated fairly.

I don't know why everyone is jumping on the band wagon of disease xyz here. Let him stand. He is an adult and will tell you if this is not reasonable. And you're right....this is for the dean to worry about but you did nothing wrong.

younghoss

I like post 55 the best. See if any accommodations are in place, if not, advise student to seek Disabilities office to document his condition and find solutions. Tell student you'll respect those accommodations as soon as you receive instructions from Disable. office.
Maybe I'm too skeptical, some young people make up excuses. (Sometimes not just young people) Many of us want extensions or accommodations for things, and if we can blame something or someone else for the problem, then we may feel justified. I'm not convinced this student has such a condition. But, if I were prof, I wouldn't have to be convinced; send him to disability office, let them handle it, and I'd make no accommodation until I heard from them.