Student Handbook

Class Absence Due to Personal Emergency or Illness

Students are responsible for knowing the following:

Students are responsible for notifying their professors and the Dean of Students Office of their absence due to a personal emergency or illness prior to the missed class.

Students who allegedly abuse this policy by falsely claiming to be ill or have an emergency will be documented and will participate in the student conduct process.

Missed Classes and Assignments

Instructors will address class absences on a case-by-case basis. Professors have final approval on excusing an absence or allowing students to make up missed work within a given time frame. Students who miss class for any reason will be responsible for contacting the instructor and confirming arrangements to make up missed assignments, if granted by the instructor.

Illnesses Treated at the Emmons Health Center

The Emmons Health Center does not provide medical notes to excuse students for missed classes due to illness. The Health Center strongly encourages students to maintain contact with their professors throughout the semester and communicate with them directly when ill or at the onset of illness.

All medical and mental health services provided at the Health Center are private and confidential.  The Health Center cannot legally provide medical or mental health information to anyone (parents or professors) without the student's written consent.

Extended Absences

Students who miss a substantial number of class meetings may wish to consider dropping or withdrawing from the course. They should discuss their options with their professor, and they are encouraged to consult with their medical provider on how the added stress of making up assignments will impact their recovery.

Severe Illness

The Dean of Students Office will inform the professors of the student's absence only in the case of severe illness. An example of this status is a health condition that results in hospitalization. The Dean of Students Office strongly encourages students to get a note from the medical provider with recommendations about time away from class in order for the office to make the appropriate academic arrangements for the student. The correspondence from the Dean's Office to the professor(s) will verify that the student was absent for personal reasons and suggest that they be flexible with the student's missed assignments. Decisions with respect to allowing flexibility for missed or incomplete student coursework are made at the discretion of the professor.

Personal Emergency

The Dean of Students Office highly encourages students to contact the Office in the event of a personal emergency. Dean of Students administrators can help students receive the appropriate support from on- and/or off-campus professionals. Should a student need to miss class for a personal emergency, he or she must immediately inform the Dean of Students Office of the circumstance. The Dean of Students Office may require the student to provide evidence of the situation. For instance, students may be required to provide a copy of an obituary or jury duty statement. The Dean of Students Office determines whether or not to advocate on a student's behalf on a case-by-case basis. Instances when the Office may refuse to advocate for a student include situations where the student does not provide adequate documentation or the request is not timely.

 

Last updated January 11, 2013

  • Phone: (323) 259-2969