Navigating Student Hardship: Expert Advice on Communication and Attendance

Mounting pressures facing students today are reflected in concerning mental health statistics. Studies indicate over 60% of college students report feeling overwhelming anxiety in the past year, while 42% feel too depressed to function. [1] This takes a toll on attendance and academic success. As a Higher Education Reform Expert, I want to provide realistic guidance to students on communicating hardships to faculty and administrations.

How Mental Health Impacts Academics

Mental distress for students is often a cumulative response to various factors:

• Work/Life Balance Challenges: Many students work full or part-time jobs in addition to course loads, leading to burnout. Over 70% of students work while enrolled. [2]

• Financial Pressures: Tuition and student loan debt continues rising, with over 70% of graduates in debt. Average owed is $30,000. [3]

• External Stressors: Family issues, illnesses, food/housing insecurity, relationship struggles and other challenges can negatively impact focus and wellbeing.

It‘s unsurprising that with these compounded issues, students struggle with attendance and assignment completion at times. While prioritizing mental health should not excuse irresponsible behavior, colleges must reassess how accessible resources are to overwhelmed students. Compassion and understanding from faculty is also vital.

Recommendations for Struggling Students

If feeling unable to cope, first utilize free campus resources like medical clinics, counseling or crisis support. Don‘t delay getting needed assistance.

If struggles persist, communicate transparently with your instructor:

• Email them noting the class you’re enrolled in, an overview of the circumstances affecting performance, and what efforts you’re making to get back on track.

• Request a meeting to discuss ongoing challenges transparently. Having empathetic conversations builds trust and allows instructors to work with you on solutions or alternative arrangements.

• Get documentation from healthcare providers if challenges are health-related. Letters from counselors or doctors explaining treatment plans carry more weight if formal policy accommodations become needed down the line.

The key is early, genuine outreach before grades suffer irreparably. Instructors can only work with the information you provide – so be proactive in informing them of relevant barriers to your attendance and work output.

Understanding University Attendance Policies

While most colleges expect consistent attendance, some instructors implement rigid, punishing systems allowing only 1-2 absences before penalties, or forcing withdrawals after missing weeks.

However, legal rulings have reinforced that public universities cannot dismiss or punish students with documented disabilities or serious circumstances without attempting reasonable accommodations. Strict no-tolerance policies around attendance often violate:

• Section 504 in the Rehabilitation Act barring discrimination against otherwise qualified students with disabilities. [4]

• Americans with Disabilities Act Article 3 requiring accommodations for disabilities that do not fundamentally alter academic standards. [5]

So students facing chronic health conditions, injuries, pregnancies etc. with proper documentation cannot face outright dismissal or fails based solely on strict attendance metrics.

If an instructor will not work collaboratively toward fair solutions, students should enlist disability/accessibility services, student legal services, ombuds offices, or other administrators to advocate for accommodations protecting their continued enrollment and support.

Additional Resources for Student Success

Beyond instructors and campus health services, many supports exist for struggling students:

With greater awareness of mental health impacts on student functioning, combined with evolution of equitable access laws, higher education institutions must continue reforming support practices. Bolstering communication around attendance policies and available resources will enable struggling students to take ownership of their wellbeing while still respecting classroom obligations. Reform starts with open conversations around removing barriers.