Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:42:47 -0400
From: Jane Waters <jewaters@mtu.edu>
To: acadforum-l@mtu.edu
Subject: Excused Absences (from the Provost)

Please circulate the message below.  Thank you.

*****************
Dear Colleagues:
As the flu season crests, and exams begin, 'tis the season of much
sickness. In the past, some faculty required an afflicted student to
visit with staff in Student Affairs, and obtain from them a note
excusing their absence. This note would be used as grounds for allowing
a makeup exam or alternative assessment. While this has been common
practice in some areas of the University, I would like to circulate the
general reminder that it is not, in fact, a required University Policy.

Clearly, the Student Affairs staff are no more qualified to assess a
student's illness than are individual faculty or instructors. Reference
to the Faculty Handbook (3.2.9. Student Absences) indicates that if
students are for some special circumstance beyond their control, unable
to attend an exam, test or turn in a paper on time, they should be in
contact with the instructor. At that point they should  arrange an
excused absence, and establish a mutually acceptable means of making up
the work or assessment. Instructors may  require verification of the
student's excuse (e.g. a note from a health practitioner, or in the case
of bereavement, a Funeral Director or other professional), but the
faculty member is not required to do so.

Thank you for consideration of our students at this time, and for your
support of effective and meaningful evaluation of their learning.

Best regards,
Lesley

--
Lesley Lovett-Doust
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Michigan Technological University
503A Administration Building
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931
lld@mtu.edu
Phone: 906-487-2440
Fax: 906-487-2935