University Senate passed a change Thursday to put more pressure on professors to allow their students to make up work if they missed class while representing the university.
Before, the Faculty and Professional Handbook said faculty were encouraged to allow students to make up work, but the senate changed it from "encouraged" to "expected."
Though the wording is stronger, it still doesn't require professors to allow students to make up work.
"It may not change anything because faculty will still do what they want to do," Marilyn Buck, University Senate chairwoman, said.
The change was made because of problems that student athletes face.
Pam Riegle, coordinator for Academic Support Services for Student Athletes, said about 100 athletes a semester have a professor unwilling to work with their schedules.
"It's not fair to ask a student athlete to come to Ball State, ... miss class and end up penalized for representing Ball State," Riegle said.
Riegle said some professors put in their syllabi that they won't deal with athletes' schedules, and some tell the student to drop the class.
After some senators expressed concern about laboratories and graded-lectures, which can't be made up, senators amended the bill. Senators said professors shouldn't be expected to make up work that can't be, such as labs.
"The concept was when practical to do it," Buck said.
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