Docking financial aid based on attendance makes for unfair policy

1. http://star.txstate.edu/node/733

2. Category of Problem/Issue: Financial Aid 

3. Level of Problem: Local/National

4. The article concerns:
-This federal policy implemented regulates financial aid disbursement based on attendance of one day, not throughout the semester. If students are recorded absent on the 12th day of classes, they are assumed to not be attending the class at all.

5. Why is this important to individuals/families OR How does it affect individuals/families?

- Many students, like myself depend on financial aid to attend Texas State. This policy threatens our ability to continue with our degree if something were to coincidentally happen on the 12th class day. There are several things that could happen. We could be legitimately ill, hurt, or backtracked by some unfortunate event on the road throughout the day. Something as meaningless as being absent on one day should not determine whether we're attending a class or not, much less threaten something as vital as our financial aid.

6. What are your views on the issue/problem?

-Although I do think that attendance links to academic success, that's not necessarily the case for every student, or every course. Every student is unique and learns at their own pace, and if a student thinks that they can succeed without coming to lecture, than so be it. We're in college, not high school and we're all adults here and understand the possible consequences. If the government wants to regulate aid disbursement, they should do it in a different way.