Policy Title: Excused Absence
Reviewed date: 11/2/2012
Pertains to: All students
Policy Index: www.stthomas.edu/policies

EXCUSED ABSENCE

Students have the responsibility to attend their classes and complete their coursework. If a student wishes to be excused from the equivalent of one full week of class or less per semester due to illness, a family or parenting-related emergency, or a UST-sponsored event, it is the responsibility of that student to inform his or her instructor(s) of the absence as soon as possible.

In the case of numerous and excessive absences (total absences amounting to the equivalent of more than one full week of class per semester), students must inform their instructor(s) of the situation responsible for the absences as soon as possible and comply with verification requests/requirements that the instructor(s) may have. Students should also notify the Office of the Director of Academic Counseling and Support at (651) 962-6300. The contact with the Academic Counseling and Support department is not intended to legitimize the student’s illness, but rather provides the student and instructor with a consultant about if/how the student may or may not proceed in courses. Instructors should use their own discretion to determine whether the absences warrant a grade penalty, an incomplete status, a recommendation of withdrawal from the course, or the completion of coursework missed (or an appropriate equivalent) without grade penalty for late submission.