I will be writing about this topic* in my memoir about teaching at Hunter College, City University of New York where I am a tenured assistant journalism professor. But Prof Wyld's article has me itching to share.

Students who won't read class syllabi are not there to learn. They enrolled because the classes fit into their time schedules. And they have learned, especially regarding liberal arts classes, that there are lots of way to finagle passing grades without trying, let alone studying, and even getting a B. So, they don’t worry that they don’t know what’s going on in class nor about the so-called contract with the instructor. The average undergraduate economics and account majors, for example, want to know what’s going on in class because they are career oriented. They read the syllabus. Science majors too.

There are other reasons, but for my understanding, students who take classes they believe will help them get good jobs or good career-starts want to learn and want to know what’s going on in class. I based this on years of teaching as well as serving on Hunter’s Faculty Student Disciplinary Committee and the Hunter College College Association and interviewing directly and indirectly scores and scores of students. Right now my motto, figuratively speaking: You don’t what’s going on in class because you won’t read the syllabus? Get ready for the F. And I give them plenty of

*I speak from experience which includes serving on my College's Faculty Student Disciplinary Board and its College Association (oversees student fees and clubs) and scores of scores of interviews.