N. Student Excused Absence Policy

Successful completion of the dental program depends directly upon student participation in and completion of all required courses. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classroom, laboratory and clinic sessions. However, it is understood that on occasion students may be required to be absent from a scheduled class, laboratory or a clinic session for excusable reasons. An excused absence excuses only a student's attendance at a scheduled class session. In all cases, any missed work must be made up.

1. The Associate Dean for Students, Admissions and Alumni has the authority and may grant an immediate excused absence for a student in the following circumstances.

a. Personal illness or illness of a close family member when the attention of the student is required.

b. Death of an immediate family member.

c. Personal appointments for acute or preventive health care. (A student missing a scheduled examination must document a visit to Student Health or a private physician in order to qualify for a make up examination. Whenever possible, students should schedule preventive appointments at times which are minimally disruptive to their class schedule).

d. Accident or other unforeseen circumstances making it impossible for a student to attend a scheduled class.

2. Students are expected to report their reason for requesting an excused absence to the Associate Dean for Students on the day of the absence or as soon as possible. If the request for an excused absence is approved, the Associate Dean for Students will notify the course directors and advise the student to arrange to make up any missed work as soon as possible. The Associate Dean for Students will have the responsibility to determine the validity of the reason for the request. Students are not required to notify each course director or to divulge the reason for the absence to anyone other that the Associate Dean for Students. Student confidentiality must be respected and preserved unless required by subpoena or other legal process. A record of excused absences will be maintained in the office of the Associate Dean for Students until the Student Academic Review Committee reviews grades at the end of the semester.

3. The following may also constitute reasons for an excused absence but these are not emergencies and they should be planned well in advance. The student has the responsibility to notify the course director and the Associate Dean for Students and arrange in advance to make up any work to be missed.

a. Serving off campus as a representative of the institution or an institutionally sponsored organization.

b. Seniors interviewing for a graduate program or practice opportunity.

c. Scheduled participation in an off site rotation or elective.

d. Religious holiday.

e. Other circumstance as may be approved by the course director.

4. Faculty has the responsibility to monitor class attendance. When attendance is part of the course grade, attendance must be taken for all students at every class session. Students that are suspected of abusing the Excused Absence Policy should be reported to the Associate Dean for Students, Admissions and Alumni for investigation and action as prescribed by the School of Dentistry Code of Conduct.

5. A student who misses a scheduled class session without an excused absence is not entitled to any special consideration to make up missed projects, work or examinations. These students should be treated in accordance with the class attendance policy published in the course syllabus.

6. A student grievance arising due to an excused absence action should be handled as specified in section K of the Academic Progress Policies

 

>> next