Need to miss a class?

• Determine if you qualify for an Institutional Excuse. If your situation fits the newly expanded eligibility criteria, submit an Online Request at least 10 days prior to your anticipated absence.
• If you or your student are unexpectedly hospitalized and unable to communicate with faculty (e.g., unable to access technology, unconscious or nonverbal), contact the Lumberjack CARE Center or submit a CARE Referral.
• 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, submit a Sexual Misconduct Report.

• Unplanned medical situations or events. e.g., hospitalizations, surgeries, concussions, acute injuries, medical appointments, visits to emergency room or urgent care.
• Contagious illness. e.g., COVID, mono, strep throat, or flu.
• Other significant 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.

• Faculty and students will be responsible for directly managing any student absences which are not eligible for Institutional Excuses, Disability Resources accommodations, Equity and Access accommodations, or Title IX supportive measures.
• Common situations include:
  • Unplanned medical situations or events. e.g. hospitalizations, surgeries, concussions, acute injuries, medical appointments, visits to emergency room or urgent care.
  • Contagious illness. e.g., COVID, mono, strep throat, or flu.
  • Other significant 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.

University processes are available if your situation is related to Disability Resources, Equity and Access, Title IX or Sexual Misconduct (including pregnancy) or fits the Institutional Excuse eligibility. If you’re not certain, contact the most relevant department or the Dean of Students if you’re still unsure which department is best.

If you are unexpectedly hospitalized and unable to communicate with faculty, a family member, friend, or guardian may contact the Lumberjack CARE Center or submit a CARE Referral. The Lumberjack CARE Center can help be the link of communication between students and faculty during hospitalization.

Examples of this situation could include hospitalization due to medical injury while unconscious or nonverbal, or admittance to an inpatient behavioral health program with no access to technology.

It is up to you what information and/or documentation 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.

• Check out this guide on Helpful Hints for talking to faculty about absences.
• University processes can be complicated, and the CARE Center staff can help you navigate if you’d like. Contact the CARE Team in any of the following ways: submit a CARE Referral, email us at CARECenter@nau.edu, call us at 928-523-5181, or walk in at the CARE Center, located at the North annex of Sechrist Hall. Let us know that you want support in navigating absences. Common support includes reviewing drafted emails to faculty, helping identify faculty or staff contact information, general understanding of policies and options, and addressing faculty questions about absence related policies or policy changes.
• If your faculty requests an FNR, please direct them to this webpage. If they have questions about the transition, direct your faculty to contact the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Operations.
• Please allow a reasonable amount of time for faculty to reply to your absence request. Consider contacting them in another format such as visiting their office hours or calling them. If a reasonable amount of time has passed, consider contacting the department chair. See the NAU Directory for contact information.

Faculty Notification Requests (FNRs) have been discontinued. Use your discretion to equitably assess student absence requests that fall outside of the eligibility for Institutional Excuses, Disability Resources, or Equity and Access accommodations. Discussing this with your Department Chair or Dean may be helpful.

• Faculty and students will be responsible for directly managing any student absences which are not eligible for Institutional Excuses, Disability Resources accommodations, Equity and Access accommodations, or Title IX supportive measures.
• Common situations include:
  • Unplanned medical situations or events. e.g., hospitalizations, surgeries, concussions, acute injuries, medical appointments, visits to emergency room or urgent care.
  • Contagious illness. e.g., COVID, mono, strep throat, or flu.
  • Other significant 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 immediately refer situations related to Disability Resources, Equity and Access, or Title IX or Sexual Misconduct (including pregnancy). 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. An Institutional Excuse for the seven enumerated categories is not required or mandatory. There are many situations where the student and faculty reach an agreement on their own.

You are not expected to grant permission for every student’s absence request. Please consider the following:

• Requests should not fundamentally alter the essential requirements of the course.
• Requests should result in a student’s ability to reasonably succeed in the course – if not, other enrollment options should be considered.
• Faculty may consider students’ prior attendance and performance in the course.
• Common situations that were previously denied through the FNR process include:
  • Car/transportation troubles
  • Weather related absences
  • Caring for a loved one or pet
  • Family emergencies
  • Situations that require absences beyond two weeks duration