Pace Paw Print

Pace University professors are typically punctual to their classes. But for the occasional tardy ones, how long should students wait until they can freely leave and not be held accountable?

Let's face it. Many students can't afford any more absences for fear of grade reduction. So there are those students who faithfully hang around. But after fifteen minutes of waiting, some restless students are getting up and ready to leave. Who's to blame?

Though there's not a specific policy written anywhere for the students to use, the classic "fifteen minutes rule" has always been an option. Many students take advantage of this "teacher-tardy rule" as a means of inoffensively getting out of class.

But on some occasions, professors have been known to "pop out of nowhere after fifteen minutes and surprise the students just as [they] were ready to leave", recounts a junior psychology student.

Some professors may argue that if there are no postings about classes being canceled, students should remain seated. This brings up the question about what happens when students do flee, with no previous e-mail warnings or postings on Blackboard from professors. Should these forsaken classes be rescheduled to a later date?

Some students don't think so.

Since Pace is a private institution, Vincent Birkenmeyer, a freshman history major, feels "we should not be held responsible for the teacher's tardiness." After all, they are the ones who are wasting the students' learning time-not vice versa.

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