University attendance: can new policy improve student performance?

This academic year Kingston University has introduced a new attendance policy which it hopes will improve student performance.

Students are expected to attend all timetabled activities and register their attendance via the SEAtS app on their phones or by tapping their KU ID cards on the reader located in every classroom.

Amara Ahadi, a psychology student at Kingston believes the new policy is a good thing: “It’ll motivate or force students to attend their lectures, but either way they will attend.

“The freedom at university compared to high school is what allows students to slack in their studies, but this new policy will push them to strive.”

The policy change is designed to improve student engagement as researchers have found that there is a positive correlation between engagement and academic performance.

Raman Baker, a writing and film student, said he hopes the new policy will help him address the decline in his attendance during his second year: “My attendance last year wasn’t the best so with this new attendance policy, I am aiming to improve this year.”

Timetabled activites are designed to enable learning through action, in-person interaction with tutors and other students and to make the most of campus-based facilities.

Baker pointed out the wider benefits of campus life: “I am looking forward to joining new societies and taking advantage of all that is offered at Kingston University since I didn’t get the chance last year due to my poor attendance.”

If students find that they are unable to attend their timetabled sessions, they must report their absence and provide an explanation via the SEAtS app.

The Student Engagement Team will remind students of the policy if there is a concerning amount of unexplained absence and no engagement on Canvas but students can also contact the team to discuss the availability of advice and support.

Lara Mohammed, a law student, praised the change: “I think this new policy is great because if a student is going through a hard time, this policy allows the university to recognise any issues and sort it out accordingly.

“This can also help with mental health if a student is going through a difficult time, for example, a period of depression.”

You can contact the Student Engagement Team via email at: engagement@kingston.ac.uk