Need to miss a class?

Support and guidance for students

Where do I start?

Always start by talking to your instructors. It may be that the absence falls within their attendance expectations or they are able to meet your needs without any further institutional processes.

To help simplify, a flowchart is available that summarizes the information on the rest of this webpage.

Communicating with faculty

If you’d like tips for talking to faculty about absences, check out this help guide for all the pro tips, including what to do if you’re having trouble getting a hold of them.

It is up to you what information you wish to share with your faculty regarding your situation. We advise that you consider carefully before sharing sensitive medical information. Please note faculty are instructed not to request or keep such documentation.

Available next steps

• If your situation fits eligibility criteria for an Institutional Excuse, submit an Online Request at least 10 days prior to your anticipated absence, or as soon as possible for unanticipated eligible events.
• If your absence is related to a disability, contact Disability Resources.
• If your absence is related to an Equity and Access concern, contact the Equity and Access Office. (e.g., you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment in the classroom or in campus employment)
• If your absence is related to a Title IX or Sexual Misconduct concern (including pregnancy related concerns), submit a Sexual Misconduct Report.
• If you or your student are unexpectedly hospitalized and unable to communicate with faculty, submit a CARE Referral to initiate CARE Team outreach and support. Examples include hospitalization due to medical injury while unconscious or nonverbal, or admittance to an inpatient behavioral health program with no access to technology.

Student Institutional Excuses Policy

You are not required to submit an Institutional Excuse if you have already reached an agreeable outcome with your instructor(s).

The following seven types of situations may be eligible under the Student Institutional Excuses policy:

• Academic: Anticipated curriculum-based, scheduled course activities outside of a normal class meeting time or academically oriented or postgraduation career activities.
• Athletic: Participation in anticipated athletic events sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
• Extra or Co-Curricular: Participation in anticipated sanctioned extracurricular or co-curricular events sponsored by student clubs and organizations.
• Military: U.S. Department of Defense service orders or U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) medical treatment and related non-VA referrals.
• Medical: Anticipated or unanticipated significant medical events.
• Bereavement: Death of a loved one including inability to participate in courses due to grief or needing to attend funeral services.
• Religious: Participation in anticipated religious observances and practices.

Your Institutional Excuse Request must be submitted no later than ten (10) business days in advance to allow five (5) business days for processing. You must present Institutional Excuses to faculty five (5) business days before the event. Exception to these timelines exists, naturally, for unanticipated medical or bereavement circumstances.

Student Institutional Excuses do not relieve you of completing academic responsibilities, but rather offer you and your instructor(s) flexibility in doing so.

Absences not eligible for any formal NAU excuse

Life happens! Many reasonable reasons for missing class may not qualify for any formal institutional excuse or accommodation process. Common situations include:

• Minor medical situations (e.g., concussions, routine medical appointments, visits to emergency room or urgent care)
• Contagious illness (e.g., COVID, mono, strep throat, or flu)
• Personal events (e.g., court dates, weddings, caring for family members or friends, visiting ill family, caring for sick or injured pets, emergencies at home, weather delays, travel, or vacations)

Please discuss such absences directly with faculty. Check out our help guide for tips on communicating with faculty.

When your course success is impacted by your absence

If it does not seem that you can successfully complete the class, talk to your instructor and/or academic advisor about enrollment options, deadlines, implications, and next steps.

It is important to remember that even if faculty are understanding and empathetic, make up work, make up exams, or other desired outcomes may not be feasible for a variety of reasons. The natural academic outcomes may be missed points or a lowered grade. We encourage students and instructors to have realistic and timely conversations about the ability to succeed in the course.

Support and guidance for faculty

Where do I start?

To help simplify, a flowchart is available that summarizes the information on the rest of this webpage.

Communicating with students

Provide clear guidelines on syllabus regarding attendance and absence expectations and how students should contact you with questions or requests. Educate students on the course design elements that rely on regular attendance to foster learning.

When a student contacts you about their situation, it may be important to ask questions to clarify or learn more, but it’s equally important to approach these conversations with trust.

Do not request or accept medical documentation or other health records from a student; this can be a violation of patient rights and privacy.

Absences covered by Institutional Excuse

Even if the absence may be eligible for an IE, it is not required. You and the student may reach an agreeable outcome without an IE.

A Student Institutional Excuse (IE) may be granted to a student who participates in academic, research, extra- or co-curricular, athletic, religious, or military service activities or because of anticipated or unanticipated significant medical or bereavement circumstances. Faculty are required to offer students an excuse from otherwise required academic activities when a valid IE is approved by the appropriate administrative official and presented to faculty within prescribed timelines. Student Institutional Excuses do not relieve students of completing academic responsibilities, but rather offer you and your students(s) flexibility in doing so.

Absences supported by other university offices

Please immediately consult with or refer situations you believe are related to Disability Resources, Equity and Access, or Title IX or Sexual Misconduct (including pregnancy related concerns). If you’re not certain, err on the side of referring to the most relevant department for assessment or to the Dean of Students if you’re still unsure which department is best. In the meantime, you may still reach an agreeable outcome directly with the student when feasible.

Absences not eligible for any formal NAU excuse

Life happens! Some reasonable reasons for missing class do not qualify for any formal institutional excuse or accommodation process. In such cases, instructors are expected to directly respond to and manage these requests. If a student contacts you regarding an absence, you are encouraged to discuss it directly with them to determine what is feasible in your course. As always, faculty make these determinations based on the course, the student’s attendance and performance, the nature and timing of the absence, or other factors deemed relevant by faculty.

Common situations include:

• Minor medical situations (e.g., concussions, routine medical appointments, visits to emergency room or urgent care)
• Contagious illness (e.g., COVID, mono, strep throat, or flu)
• Personal events (e.g., court dates, weddings, caring for family members or friends, visiting ill family, caring for sick or injured pets, emergencies at home, weather delays, travel, or vacations)

Please discuss such absences directly with the student. If uncertain, consider consulting your supervisor or department chair.

When student success is impacted by their absence

Students are reminded that even if faculty are understanding and empathetic, make up work, make up exams, or other desired outcomes may not be feasible for a variety of reasons. The natural academic outcomes may be missed points or a lowered grade. We encourage students and instructors to have realistic and timely conversations about the ability to succeed in the course.

If it does not seem that the student can successfully complete/pass the class, discussion about enrollment options, deadlines, implications, and next steps is appropriate. Referral to their academic advisor can help.