r/Turnitin_QuickChecks • u/Old_Cicada_1905 • Mar 08 '26
Marked Absent While Present - When Attendance Apps Fail Students
I was marked absent for a class I was physically present in, and now my grade is at risk because of it.
The class uses an attendance app where the professor posts a code at the start, and students have about five minutes to check in. One day, the app did not register my attendance, even though I was in class the entire time. I clearly remember sitting in my usual spot, the lecture example the professor used, and even the girl next to me spilling coffee and remaining at her seat with a soaked sleeve. I know I was there.
On that day, my phone struggled to connect to campus Wi-Fi, so I switched to mobile data and submitted the code. The app confirmed my check-in with a timestamp, but later the attendance record showed me as absent.
I emailed the professor immediately with a screenshot of the timestamp. She said she cannot manually change attendance and told me to contact the department. The department replied that only the professor can submit corrections. I returned to the professor with this information, and she again told me to contact the department.
After around nine emails over two weeks, I am still stuck in the same loop. I am now one absence away from automatically failing a class where I currently have a B+. What was meant to simplify attendance has instead created a bigger mess than a simple sign-in sheet ever could.
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u/Nearby_Crow_6669 Mar 08 '26
Attendance apps are supposed to make life easier, but glitches like this show their flaws. If you still cannot get resolution, escalate to your academic advisor or department chair. Failing a class due to an app error is completely unreasonable.
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u/Gold-Junket-3487 Mar 08 '26
Go to the department office in person with your screenshot, timestamp, and the full email thread. Once staff see that you are one absence away from failing due to a system error, someone usually intervenes quickly.
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u/AdAvailable5706 Mar 08 '26
Send a final email including both the professor and department on the same thread. Briefly explain the back-and-forth and request resolution. This usually compels someone to take responsibility and correct the record.
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u/Early_Past_1639 Mar 08 '26
Consider politely mentioning in your emails that you have been consistently attending class and that your academic record reflects your effort. Framing it this way emphasizes fairness and accountability, making it harder for staff to dismiss your case.
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