Two professors and a student are discussing mandatory attendance policies for lectures. Dr. Barnes (Professor) I've reviewed the latest attendance correlation data, and the trend is clear: students who attend lectures regularly tend to perform significantly better on assessments. That's why I support mandatory attendance if we're serious about academic outcomes, we need to hold students accountable for showing up. Dr. Hill (Professor) I understand your position, but I lean more towards student autonomy. University should be about learning how to manage your own time. Some students learn better independently, and penalising them for not being physically present may not reflect their true engagement or effort. Ellie (Student) From a student's perspective, I'd argue for recorded lectures. Sometimes life just gets in the way health issues, part-time jobs, or even commuting delays. Having recordings ensures we can still access the content even if we miss a session. Attendance shouldn't be the only measure of commitment. Dr. Barnes (Professor) That's a fair point, Ellie, but when attendance is optional, I've seen lecture halls go half empty. It affects the atmosphere, interaction, and even how we pace our delivery. Not to mention, students who stop attending often fall behind despite the availability of recordings. Dr. Hill (Professor) But we also have student feedback indicating that rigid attendance policies add stress. Maybe there's a middle ground. What if we maintained high-quality lecture recordings and piloted flexible attendance options this term no penalties, but strong encouragement to attend in person? Ellie (Student) I'd really welcome that. You'd still get students attending who thrive in that environment, and those of us juggling multiple responsibilities could catch up without fear of losing marks. It would also give students a chance to prove they can be responsible without coercion. Dr. Barnes (Professor) It's worth testing, I suppose. We could track participation through engagement metrics logins, forum posts, assignment completion and compare outcomes with past semesters that had stricter attendance policies. If grades hold steady, it may support a shift in approach. Dr. Hill (Professor) Agreed. Let's make it a formal pilot: optional attendance supported by recordings, with no penalties for absences. We'll collect data and student feedback throughout the semester and assess academic performance at the end. Ellie (Student) That sounds reasonable. I can help spread the word about the new approach and encourage peers to stay engaged regardless of how they access the material. I think giving students trust and tools is a smart move and we’ll see if the results back it up.