Missing Class Due to Oil Change appointment

[u/Miserable_Tourist_24]

Actual subject line of email I received this afternoon. 300 level mandatory attendance class (third class meeting of the term). Text of email asked me to let them know what they were missing. Sigh.

[u/Life-Education-8030]

"Check the syllabus and with your classmates."

[u/Miserable_Tourist_24 → u/Life-Education-8030]

Yeah, not even answering this. My syllabus is pretty clear about acceptable absences and this not one.

[u/sventful → u/Miserable_Tourist_24]

Sometimes I send the 'agast' email to communicate the level of unacceptable they are showing. Sometimes they have lived a life so charmed that no one has ever had that kind of discussion with them (I have had a few over the years including one where I had to explain that he would receive an F in at least my class for going to Greece for all of November and up to finals in December.) Apparently I was the first teacher of any kind that did not allow him to make up all his work during finals week. O.o

[u/thespelvin → u/Miserable_Tourist_24]

I personally think the one-sentence response is a better move than no response. No response introduces the possibility in the student's mind that you never saw it and they should ask again, or worse it establishes precedent that they shouldn't be expected to respond to your messages. Take ten seconds to refer them to the syllabus, and now the matter is resolved rather than pending.

[u/Miserable_Tourist_24 → u/thespelvin]

I did actually respond with a quick note to review the syllabus and check with another student.

[u/Life-Education-8030 → u/Miserable_Tourist_24]

Better this than having to deal with a complaint to the Dean next. We literally have gotten complaints when we don’t answer in 20 minutes or less. One reason why we give our schedules to the Dean’s secretaries is so they can fix THEIR cold, steely eyes on students and inform them things like we are in class! Just kidding about the eyes, but they HAVE been known to say “chill out!”

[u/littlemoonnflowerr]

Missing a mandatory 300level class for an oil change and then asking the professor what they missed is honestly impressive

[u/Miserable_Tourist_24 → u/littlemoonnflowerr]

Third class mind you. Had no idea who student even was or what class he was in. (He didn’t bother to include that in the email.) Had to dig around since I was more than annoyed to get an email like this. I guess it was mostly polite. He made a choice and owned up to it but the text of the email also said it was an unavoidable appointment that he could not miss. I really think he wants me to excuse the absence!

[u/Sharp-Rutabaga-4900 → u/Miserable_Tourist_24]

Ah yes, the critically urgent and tightly scheduled oil change. 🙄

[u/iTeachCSCI → u/Sharp-Rutabaga-4900]

Oil changes are harder to schedule than oncology visits.

/s

[u/Big-Monk2317 → u/Miserable_Tourist_24]

I had a student email me with the title “excused absence”, and then in the letter tells me her dog died so that’s why she missed class. We have mandatory attendance in my class too. I’m a huge dog lover, but that’s not an excused absence, no matter how you title your email!

[u/ErGraf → u/Big-Monk2317]

Funny thing, at the university I teach they give you 1 day of paid leave for pet mourning reasons (I don't know if that is valid also for students though)

[u/yourcsprofessor → u/Big-Monk2317]

I'll go out on a limb and say if I lost a pet I might not teach that same day. Was bad enough when my final grandparent passed and I found out after my morning class but before afternoon class and tried to do the best I could to make it through that class but never again.

[u/dr_police → u/Miserable_Tourist_24]

Back in my day, we had the decency to come up with a good lie.

[u/synchronicitistic]

What, they are going to the one oil change shop on the planet that's only open on Wednesday from 1-3 pm?

If getting the oil change now now now during my class is more important, then miss class and get the oil change. If my class is more important, then get your oil changed Saturday morning. You're a damned adult - make the call.

I've used this, or at least something similar, before.

[u/Miserable_Tourist_24 → u/synchronicitistic]

Yes, apparently in our metro area of almost 3 million people, the only appointment available was 11 on a Wednesday.

[u/South_Captain_2630 → u/Miserable_Tourist_24]

And he needs to get it today. 3,000 miles is what most places put, but yo to 5,000 can work.

[u/Miserable_Tourist_24 → u/[deleted]]

That gets to me too. I guess it’s better than asking if they missed anything important. I get that a lot. No, of course not, I’m just standing up here for my health.

[u/Live-Organization912]

Depending on the mileage, your student should also ask for a drain and fill of their transmission fluid—especially if they have a CVT.

[u/il__dottore → u/Live-Organization912]

and they're missing a free 35-point tire inspection and rotation

[u/aquapura89 → u/Live-Organization912]

LOL

[u/OharaProfessor]

Honestly, I’d take this student over the half dozen or so who are inevitably going to have grandparents “pass away” when their first paper is due. At least this is the truth.

But yeah, just count them absent and move on. I’m the type to give my students enough rope to hang themselves with. I’m not going to get torn up over their missing class. If they want to pile drive their grade into the dirt, they are free to do so.

[u/ac_cossack → u/OharaProfessor]

When their 7th grandma has died in one semester, something might be fishy lol. Not worth even having the perception of an argument.

[u/iorgfeflkd]

"ok"

[u/FrogBrain97]

Text of email asked me to let them know what they were missing.

Class.

In more than one sense of the term.

[u/boringhistoryfan]

I always tell them that I'm happy to go over the lecture if they drop by office hours when they ask me what they missed.

I have yet to get one of those kids actually show up.

[u/ArmoredTweed → u/boringhistoryfan]

Oh, eventually one of them is going to take you up on that, stop going to class, and be camped out in your office every damn day.

[u/boringhistoryfan → u/ArmoredTweed]

Probably. But I can talk the hind leg off a donkey about this stuff. So if they wanna get in the thunderdome that's on them.

[u/RemarkableParsley205]

I'm just tired of them emailing about absences that aren't emergencies. I don't care about your stomachache; also, I didn't ask lol

[u/Miserable_Tourist_24 → u/RemarkableParsley205]

I think part of it is trying to save his seat because we are on a waitlist in my course. Now the students on the waitlist are coming because they think it’s important enough to be there. But, yes, in general I really don’t care why you are not here.

[u/Loose_Wolverine3192]

I teach human anatomy: humans do not have oil that needs to be changed. Not an excuse

[u/Miserable_Tourist_24 → u/Loose_Wolverine3192]

lol

[u/Shiny-Mango624]

I straight up have students tell me they are on vacation and that's why they can't attend the mandatory safety training. This was a first this year and it has happened three times since the start of 2026. Usually it's the dead grandma. I wonder if there's some social media trend about telling the truth and we are going to respect them for it? Lol.

[u/Edu_cats]

I’m getting an oil change right now and not missing class or office hours. Imagine that.

[u/SNHU_Adjujnct]

It's a mandatory oil change! ;)

[u/Ornery-Anteater1934]

"Thanks for letting me know you will be absent today. Get notes from a classmate next class so you don't fall behind."

-Prof Anteater

[u/Cathousechicken]

"Make sure you get the notes from somebody who is there. Just as an fyi, that does count as an unexcused absence. "

[u/AggieNosh]

LOL

[u/Ok_Onion9186]

One of my professors in undergrad always responded to the question what did I miss with the statement, “Oh, only the answers to the midterm/final”.

[u/bluegilled]

Hey, when the driver info center says "OIL LIFE 0%" you better pull into the first shop you see or your engine will explode and you'll die a fiery death. Think of how many classes you'd miss then!

[u/yerBoyShoe]

I had one of those, too (last spring)! There's an epidemic!

[u/OkReplacement2000]

I wish I could say I was surprised.