Excused Absences

Policy Statement

Attending class is critical, supports engagement and learning and is a general expectation of SUNY Oneonta students. Attendance in classes is expected and required of all students at all times classes are in session. Some classes may require attendance and factor attendance and/or participation into final grades. Instructors are responsible for specifying the following on class syllabi distributed by the second-class meeting: requirements for attendance and/or participation; policies on making up exams and other missed work and assessments; the impact of absences on participation or final grades; and expectations for student communication in the case of planned and unplanned absences.

In keeping with the intent of federal laws that protect the privacy of individual health information, students will not be required to provide documentation of short-term illness (three consecutive days or less), including visits to a doctor’s office, the campus health center, or other medical facilities.

Students are responsible for completing all assigned course work. Absences, even absences recognized as “excused” absences (see “Policy Elaboration”), do not alter this fundamental responsibility. Students who miss class are also responsible for finding out what material was covered, what assignments were given, and what announcements were made in class during the period of absence. While the instructor has an obligation to help students who have missed class, such assistance shall not require extraordinary effort from the instructor. Students should not expect a change in course modality or a professor to provide one-on-one instruction. It is important that students understand both the university Excused Absences Policy and the corresponding statement on attendance provided in class syllabi by the instructor.

Policy Elaboration

Excused Absences

The following statements outline absences that the University will regard as excused, so long as any required documentation is met. Instructors have the autonomy to consider and make a determination regarding any and all absences, based first in accordance with the information below and second on their own published course attendance guidelines.

Field Trips, Class Observations, Field Experiences. Extended field trips may remove students from classes of other faculty members. Instructors should not interfere with the student’s right or responsibility to go on any University approved extended field trip, class observation, or field experience. See "Field Trip Policies and Procedures" in the General Information, Policies and Procedures chapter for additional details.

Religious Reasons. State Education law (Section 224-a) states that any student who is unable, because of their religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall be excused from any examinations, study or work requirements. SUNY Oneonta is obligated to provide an equivalent opportunity for students to make up any examination, study or work requirement that they may have missed because of such absence (complete text of the law can be found here: NYS Ed Law 224a).

Military Leave. Students called to military duty should contact instructors immediately and discuss the anticipated length of absence, if known. The Military Leave should also be discussed jointly with the instructor and the Office of Student Affairs to help determine if a more formal leave of absence would be appropriate.

Jury Duty. The student is required to show proof to instructors.

Intercollegiate Athletics. Students on University athletic teams should not be required to attend class at times that conflict with official intercollegiate athletic events or be denied the same opportunity to make up the work or demonstrate competence that would be given any other students with a legitimate reason for absence, such as illness or a co-curricular field trip. Athletic absences should be treated the same as other excused absences.

Trips with University Performing Organizations or Other University Representation. Students absent due to University performances or other events where the student is officially representing the University should not be required to attend classes at times that conflict with these event schedules nor should they be denied the same opportunity to make up the work or demonstrate competence that would be given any other student with a legitimate reason for absence, such as illness or a co-curricular field trip.

Death of a Close Relative. Students should contact instructors individually or may contact the Office of Student Affairs who will then notify instructors of anticipated duration of absence.

Inclement Weather and/or Natural Calamities. At the request of the University Senate, the following statement is part of SUNY Oneonta’s policy on inclement weather: "Commuting students who miss classes due to inclement weather will be permitted to make up academic work without penalty." Additionally, if the student can show evidence of a natural calamity, beyond their control, that affected their ability to attend class the instructor may excuse the absence at their discretion.

Mental or Physical Health Issues. The student is responsible for communicating with instructors if they miss classes due to short term illness or injury. Every effort should be made by the student to notify their instructor(s) prior to class.

If a student’s illness or injury will require a prolonged period of absence (beyond three consecutive days), students have the responsibility of informing their instructors and should refer to the Extended Absences policy below. A student's illness or injury does not obligate the faculty member in any way to repeat the course content. It continues to be the responsibility of the student to complete any missed coursework.

Extended Absences

If informed of an extended absence (more than three consecutive days), the Office of Student Affairs will notify a student’s faculty of the absence only when the student is unable to make contact themselves due to extenuating circumstances. This notification is merely an attempt to facilitate communication, particularly in emergency or urgent situations. This does not relieve the student from their obligation to complete assignments. Student Affairs will provide notification to faculty in the following circumstances:

• when a student is hospitalized and will be away from campus for several days;
• when a student leaves campus quickly and unexpectedly due to reasons beyond their control and will not return for several days; or
• when a student unexpectedly cannot return to campus due to reasons beyond their control.

Should students require an extended absence, advisement on alternative ways of completing coursework and assistance attending to factors contributing to their absence are available from the Dean of Students in the Division of Student Affairs.

Related Documents / Policies

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