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Students are expected to attend class regularly, as regular attendance is one of the most important contributors to student success. However, students may occasionally need to miss class due to illness, emergency, or a campus-sponsored activity. In such cases, students are responsible for notifying faculty of their absences and arranging to make up missed work. The University of Massachusetts Lowell does not have a common attendance policy for students (with the exception of a Senate-approved policy for student athletes); such policies are left to the discretion of individual faculty members. Any attendance policy should be clearly articulated on the class syllabus. (See below some sample suggested language to adapt - if applicable - to your own classes). This guidance does not supersede any designated appropriate accommodations as authorized by Student Disability Services.

Verification of Appointment

• Health Services does not provide “excuse notes” for routine illnesses, injuries, or mental health problems that may lead to missed classes or assignments. This policy is consistent with the recommendations of the American College Health Association. In certain circumstances (for example, if a student has a communicable disease, or is hospitalized), a nurse practitioner may recommend a student not attend classes for a specified period of time and faculty will be notified, with permission of the student.

• Upon a student’s request, Health Services will provide a “verification of appointment” email to faculty stating that a student was seen in their office on a specific date and time. This is not an excuse note. Please keep in mind that many common illnesses do not require a trip to a medical provider or to Health Services and, in many cases, self-care and rest is the best way for students to return to good health.

In these situations, Health Services or the student’s off-campus provider will recommend that students stay home, practice self-care measures, and not make an appointment for the sole purpose of obtaining a “verification of appointment” letter.

Student Privacy and Medical Documentation

• Due to federal privacy laws (FERPA and HIPPA), faculty may not ask students specific questions about their health or require medical information from students.

• If students are registered with Disability Services, faculty will be notified of any necessary accommodations that need to be made. Long-term illnesses or Emergencies • In some cases, students have longer-term illnesses and emergencies that require them to miss several classes. Often in these cases, students will be able to provide documentation and guidance from a medical professional (such as the appropriate protocol for a concussion), but they are not obligated to provide specific medical information.

• Faculty are encouraged to make reasonable adjustments to encourage student completion in such cases, but occasionally it may be necessary for a student to withdraw from a class if circumstances prevent them from completing the work (such as is the case with labs or experiential learning courses). This is a determination that students should make in consultation with their faculty members and advisors. Please note that the decision to withdraw from one or more courses may impact a student’s financial aid. Please advise students to consult with the Solution Center in order to make an informed decision.

Suggested Attendance Guidelines

• In order to allow students with routine illnesses or other issues some flexibility, faculty may wish to develop policies that do not require onerous documentation efforts.

• In the case of a student missing a major exam, presentation, or other significant graded activity, it is reasonable for faculty to require evidence of emergency, keeping in mind the federal privacy laws noted above. If you have questions about how to proceed in a specific situation, please reach out to your dean’s office or the Vice Provost for Student Success. The university Testing Centers are available to assist you in proctoring make-up exams, should you decide to allow a student that option. Examples of absence policy language for faculty syllabi (please note that this is not mandatory language for faculty – these are suggestions that faculty can use as a template only if they find them helpful.)

• “Students may miss up to two [or three, or whatever you decide] classes for personal or medical reason. Additional absences will result in a penalty of ________________________.

In the rare case of a prolonged medical or personal absence, please contact me as soon as possible so we can discuss whether it is advisable for you to remain in class, and if so, to come up with a plan for you to make up missed work.”

• “Students may not make up missed quizzes. However, to accommodate illness or absence, I will drop students’ two [or whatever] lowest quiz grades. Please do not ask to make up a quiz because you were sick. This ‘drop-2’ policy exists to allow you to miss a quiz due to illness without damage to your grade.”

• “Students may make-up two [or one or three or whatever] missed quizzes to accommodate illness or absence.”

• “Students may not miss a scheduled exam [or presentation, etc.] without prior permission from the professor, or sudden emergency. If you must miss an exam, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options.”

• “Documentation of a health condition that requires absence from class should note the date(s) of care, date(s) of necessary missed attendance and date of clearance to return to course work and be signed by the health care provider. Diagnoses and descriptions of illness should not be included.”

Office of the Provost February 14, 2019