Problem Statement
UNLV engineers routinely balance 30-hour resort or casino graveyard shifts, contribute directly to household rent, or care for family members. Traditional course policies treat a student covering a last-minute work shift or managing a family emergency as "lazy" or "uncommitted," mistaking incredible real-world resilience for academic indifference.
Measurable Goals
Provide a predictable operational framework grounded in "rigorous empathy"—where working students can successfully balance 30-hour graveyard shifts and family duties without sacrificing mastery, missing deadlines, or needing to beg for excuses.
Course Solutions & Policies
- 7-Day Rolling Grace Period: Knewton Alta automatically allows late homework completion for 100% full credit up to 7 days past the target due date—provided the student starts on time by logging a non-zero score before the original deadline.
- Canvas 4-Hour Time Form: A simple 0-point Canvas form for students who log 4+ active hours on a homework set to receive a manual TA override for 100% credit.
- Canvas Automatic Drops: System automatically drops the 2 lowest homework scores at the end of the semester, absorbing acute life emergencies without requiring employer or medical documentation.
Related Network Nodes
- Parent Concept: Rigorous Empathy Framework
- Connected Policies: Institutional Boundaries, Non-Traditional Alignment, Transit Commuter Isolation, Family Caregiver Demographics