Absence Notification Policy

Attendance
Classroom instruction is a principal component of the educational process. Students and faculty have mutual responsibility for contributing to the academic environment of the classroom, whether in-person or virtual. Consistent class attendance and participation in classroom activities are essential. It is expected that students will attend all classes. Students should consult the course outline or syllabus to determine the relationship between attendance, including tardiness, and the goals, objectives, and grading of each course.

Absence Notifications

Policy

Upon student request, absence notifications may be issued to faculty members at the discretion of the Dean of Students or designee. Students seeking absence notifications should follow the guidelines below:

If a student is absent from a specific course for fewer than three (3) consecutive class periods, they are responsible for contacting their faculty individually to discuss missed course information and requirements including quizzes, exams, assignments, etc., see Missed Classes and Assignments below.

Students missing three (3) or more consecutive class periods in a single course are encouraged to provide appropriate documentation to the Dean of Students Office to support their absence – for information on what constitutes appropriate documentation, see Documentation below. Following receipt of appropriate documentation, the Dean of Students Office will inform faculty of the student’s absence and that supporting documents have been submitted. Notably, this notification does not itself excuse an absence. The decision to “excuse” an absence is up to the discretion of the faculty member. Decisions with respect to allowing flexibility for missed or incomplete student coursework are also subject to the faculty member’s discretion. The correspondence from the Dean’s Office to the faculty will verify that the student’s absence has been documented. It is always the responsibility of the student to communicate with faculty individually to discuss missed course information and requirements including quizzes, exams, assignments, etc.

Students who allegedly abuse this policy by falsely claiming to be ill or have an extenuating circumstance will be documented and referred to the Office of Community Standards for an alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

Missed Classes and Assignments

Instructors will address class absences on a case-by-case basis. Faculty members have final approval on excusing an absence or allowing students to make up missed work within a given time frame. Students who miss class for any reason will be responsible for contacting the instructor and confirming arrangements to make up missed assignments, if granted by the instructor.

Documentation

The type of absence will determine the type of documentation needed. Please refer to the following:

Illness/Medical/Hospitalization: A note on letterhead from your health care provider stating the dates that you were unable to attend classes (dates) due to illness/medical condition/hospitalization, etc. (specific details of the illness/medical condition do not need to be included)
Death in family: A copy, or link, to the obituary or a note on letterhead from the funeral home.

For any questions on the type of documentation needed for an absence, please contact the Dean of Students Office at 508-626-4596.

Students are responsible for notifying their faculty of their absence due to an extenuating circumstance or illness prior to the missed class.

Class Absence Due to Illness, hospitalization or Extenuating Circumstances

Students are responsible for notifying their faculty member of their absence due to an extenuating circumstance or illness prior to the missed class.

Illnesses Treated at the Health and Wellness Center – Foster Hall

The Health Center does not provide medical notes to students for missed classes due to illness. The Health Center strongly encourages students to maintain contact with their faculty throughout the semester and communicate with them directly when ill or at the onset of illness. If a student will be absent for three (3) or more consecutive class periods, staff from the Health Center will notify the Dean of Students Office.

All services provided at the Health Center are private and confidential. The Health Center will not provide medical or mental health information to anyone (parents or faculty) without the student’s written consent.

Extended Absences

Students who will miss a substantial number of class meetings may wish to consider dropping or withdrawing from the course, or exploring a Leave of Absence. They should discuss their options with their faculty and, in the case of a medical reason or hospitalization, they are encouraged to consult with their medical provider.

Death of family member

If there is a loss within the student’s family, students are responsible for notifying their faculty of their impending absence prior to the missed class. Documentation should be sent to the Dean of Students Office if the absence is for three (3) or more consecutive class periods, and should include a link to the obituary, or a note from the funeral home.

Extenuating Circumstances

In the case of a personal emergency or extenuating circumstance that might interfere with a student’s ability to attend or perform in class(es), students are highly encouraged to contact the Dean of Students Office for support and assistance. The Dean of Students Office reviews these situations on a case-by-case basis, and may require documentation or evidence of the situation to help facilitate the decision-making process.

Students Who are Pregnant or Who are Parents

Students who are pregnant and need to miss class due to medical appointments or related conditions are encouraged to work with staff in the Dean of Students Office for support. The Office may request that students who miss class for an extended period of time to submit a doctor’s note documenting the number of days the student is advised to miss. Students who have children who are ill and need to miss class to take care of them are encouraged to provide a doctor’s note to the Dean of Students Office if the absence involves three (3) or more consecutive class periods. The Dean of Students Office will work to support these students as they work to complete their academic requirements.

Absence Due to Religious Beliefs
Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his/her religious beliefs, to attend classes or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination, study, or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such an examination, study, or work requirement which he/she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon the school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his/her availing himself/herself of the provisions of this section (MGL, Chapter 151C, Section 2B).