Missed Class and Academic Work for Medical Reasons
Students are expected to understand their essential requirements, schedule and policies as explained on syllabi. Each class may have different expectations regarding attendance, completion of work, and whether there is flexibility within the term. The course policies will determine how absences for legitimate reasons or requests for flexibility can be managed. It is important that students contact course instructors early to arrange for making up missed work.
Students in need care for illness should seek care at NM Student Health Services (NM SHS) or a private provider while symptomatic. The primary purpose of NM SHS appointments is to provide care, and not to provide notes for excused absences. NM SHS will not provide notes for students who were seen by another provider or who are no longer experiencing symptoms. NM SHS can only confirm the need for short-term academic flexibility to the corresponding undergraduate dean's office if the student is seen while experiencing an illness and if symptoms warrant. Students should send the notes written by NM SHS or an external treatment provider to the undergraduate dean's office representative listed on this page.
Students requiring long-term academic accommodations due to a chronic medical condition should contact AccessibleNU. Students experiencing a very serious injury or illness that may require time away from studies should contact Student Assistance and Support Services.
Students in The Graduate School who need to be absent from their lab or other PhD/Master’s degree-related endeavors should consult their program’s handbook and/or speak with their Director of Graduate Studies.
Flexibility Confirmation
To receive a flexibility confirmation, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider.
You can schedule an appointment with NM SHS on your NM MyChart app. This is the most common way for students to verify illness. If needed, students may instead visit an external facility, such as an immediate/urgent care, or another clinician.
Step 2: Obtain a provider note that verifies when you were seen and estimates how long you may be unable to engage in coursework.
Please keep in mind, undergraduate deans' offices will confirm the need for short-term flexibility of up to about one week. Students who miss more than one week of class will need to work with their academic adviser or undergraduate dean to discuss any academic flexibility options, which depend on the time period within the quarter.
Step 3: Send the provider note to your school representative (listed on the right-hand side of this page). Students do not need to send notes to faculty directly.
Please do not submit any post visit summaries, health charts, official diagnoses or lab results received from your external provider in place of a confirmation note.
Students receiving verification of illness from NM SHS will have access to a provider note following their visit.
Students seeing an external provider should request a dated note that indicates: 1) Date of appointment and 2) A statement verifying that the student’s current condition on the date of appointment impacts their short term ability to participate in academic activities.
Sample Language:
“To Whom it may concern,
[INSERT YOUR NAME] was seen at [Name of Medical Facility] on [MM/DD/YYYY] for a health-related issue. After assessment, it has been determined that academic participation may be impacted by their current condition. Please allow academic flexibility while the student recovers. Thank you for your time, attention, and understanding for the help in managing this student's condition.”
This note should be signed and dated by the healthcare professional and written on official letterhead.
Step 4: Your school representative will notify your faculty regarding the dates for which you need to miss class. Academic advisors may also be notified.
In situations where the illness or injury is anticipated to require more than one week of flexibility, it will likely be recommended to meet with the school representative or academic adviser to discuss alternative options rather than sending a short-term confirmation note to faculty.
Step 5: Once the confirmation note has been sent from your school representative, work directly with your instructors to determine whether and what flexibility measures might be possible. In some cases, you may not be able to successfully complete the course; your academic advisor or school representative in the undergraduate dean’s office can help you navigate your academic options in these situations.