The 10 Minute (10-Minute) Rule

I was sitting in ISYS355 waiting to see if the teacher showed up --- Several of my classmates and I began discussing the infamous 10-minute rule. There was disagreement over whether it was in fact a 10-minute rule or 15-minute rule. I had always heard 10-minute. Regardless, our teacher showed up, and the portion of us who didn’t split after 10 were forced to endure another night of lecture. I’m a little too guilt stricken to walk out on a class when I still think there is a chance of the professor showing up. With little else to do, I decided to investigate the 10-minute rule phenomenon. To my surprise, there was nothing available online documenting this seemingly universal rule… I hereby take the initiative:

The 10 Minute (10-Minute) Rule – According to C0rk
If the instructor/professor/teacher for a given class has not arrived at the class location/room/venue within 10 minutes of the scheduled class start-time, all students are thereby waived from their obligation to remain in the classroom. Furthermore, students who choose to depart are not to be penalized academically or otherwise. As proof of presence, departing students can add their signature to a sheet to be left behind, should the professor arrive at a later time.

I suppose I have done some kind of public service in this, so I’m going to go pat myself on the back for my insight into the staggering complexity of human behavior.

Comments

This rule has many versions. The version I always use is an adjunct receives 10 minutes. A professor with a Doctorate receives 15.

[Emily]

I've always observed the 15 minute rule myself...but it's much more effective if you can convince the entire class to leave at once, well maybe the word isn't quite "leave"...i've always thought of it as something more akin to skulking, but you get the point...