Dean of Students Office Guidelines Regarding Student Absences

There are many reasons that students will miss class. While faculty are required to inform students of their policies regarding missing class, there are often unforeseen circumstances that are not specifically addressed in course attendance policies. In these cases, students are oftentimes referred to the Dean of Students Office.

The Dean of Students Office does not verify students’ reasons for absences and will only send faculty notifications under certain limited conditions. For example, this office will not send a notification to faculty for medical appointments, general illness, chronic or reoccurring illness, court dates or event participation.

Students who encounter extreme circumstances that necessitate short-term absence, such as a death in the immediate family or hospitalization, should contact the Dean of Students Office at 304-929-1232. The Dean of Students Office will notify instructors of imminent absence in situations in which the student is unable to do so. Please note that the Dean of Students Office does not "excuse" absences but will communicate to instructors for notification purposes only.

We instruct students to contact their faculty directly as soon as possible for information regarding missed classes and make-up work. Students will be reminded of course drop and withdrawal deadlines and may be referred to the Office of Accessibility Services for possible accommodations.