Extended Absence Notification for Students

Administrative Procedure 4.104

Students who are unable to attend class or actively participate in class activities for any reason should, whenever possible, communicate with their instructor(s) directly, providing information about their situation (insofar as they are comfortable sharing) and their anticipated return to class.  

Students who experience a family or personal emergency (e.g., death in the family, unplanned hospitalization, etc.) resulting in more than three consecutive absences or significantly impacting active learning/participation (attending class, participating in online activities) may request additional support from the Dean of Students Office.  Upon request from the student or family (if the student is unable to communicate), the dean will notify the student’s instructor(s) of the absence via email. The dean will inform the student or family that documentation to support the absence is required and should be forwarded to the Dean of Students' Office to be kept in a confidential file. The dean can be contacted at DeanOfStudents@elgin.edu or 847-214-7950.

Each faculty member has discretion to determine if the absence is excused according to their attendance policy, and faculty may request documentation to support any absence. Notification from the Dean of Students for extended absences does not constitute an excused absence. Faculty members and some grant funded programs have individual and specific attendance requirements listed in the course syllabus, which students are expected to know and by which they are to abide.

This policy was last reviewed on 04/12/2024.