Absences, Exam Schedules and Conflicts

Absence Verification for Classes or Exams 

All students, including student athletes, are responsible for notifying their instructors regarding expected absences and for making up missed work and/or exams. Work with your instructors to agree upon an appropriate schedule..  

Submit the Self-Reporting Absence Application if you know you will have an unavoidable absence.

If you are unable to attend exams, classes or complete assignments due to an emergency or unavoidable conflict (illness, personal or family emergency, court order, or participation in recognized curricular or extracurricular activities, etc.), reach out to the instructor directly.  If the instructor desires a verification of the absence, you can obtain an Absence Verification Letter from the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will not provide a verification letter for absences due to personal obligations such as weddings, birthday celebrations, or other planned personal or family commitments. For these absences, students  need to  explain the situation to the instructor, who makes the final decision on whether or not to verify the absence(s). 

It is University policy (#10.2.7) to excuse without penalty students who are absent because of religious observances; or participation in University-sponsored intercollegiate athletics obligations (with written verification provided by the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics); and to allow the make-up of exercises or examinations missed because of such absence. Absences due to religious observances do not require a letter from the Dean of Students Office  Students must provide timely notification to instructors about necessary absences for religious observances and are responsible for making up the work or exams according to an agreed-upon schedule. 

Students will need to meet with a dean if the absence is repeated, chronic, lengthy or makes it impossible to make up the missed work in a timely manner. Find your dean and make an appointment to discuss your options for withdrawing from one or more classes to discuss options of withdrawing from one or more classes.

Consider the following for absences longer than two weeks or for chronic health issues: 

1. Put your health first. Take a leave of absence from school to attend to physical or mental health issues. 

2. Register chronic issues with the Office of Disability Services to receive the proper accommodations, which may include longer test times and alternate testing locations. 

Common Hour Exam Policies

Find Out More 

Final Exam and Conflict Handling Policies

Find Out More