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Student Life

Personal Emergency and Class Absence

Life can change suddenly, and sometimes you need time to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Whether you’ve experienced a death in the family or a physical or mental health crisis, it’s important to know what’s reasonable when it comes to missing class and how to communicate with your instructors. There is no official short-term leave of absence, so any class absence(s) would be managed according to the instructor's course policies typically as outlined in the syllabus. Early and open communication with the Dean of Students Office and your instructors will put them in the best position to support you, and your continued learning, during a difficult situation.

What's normal?

Grief and health crises affect students differently. While absences may vary based on the situation, here are general recommended guidelines:

  • Immediate family member’s death: Up to 5 calendar days would be reasonable to attend services, travel, and begin coping with the loss.
  • Extended family or close friend: Typically, 1–3 calendar days is reasonable, depending on the circumstances.
  • Surgery or other medical concerns:  Medical recovery may vary widely based on the circumstances and medical advice; however, more than five consecutive class days may be difficult to make up. 
  • Serious personal or family emergency (non-death related): The amount of time depends on the nature of the situation—students should discuss needs with their professors or the Dean of Students office as soon as possible.

If travel, cultural customs, or ongoing emotional distress require more time, you may need to consider a leave of absence or incomplete grades to help you recover. It is difficult to miss more than one week of classes without impact on your learning. Remote learning for a short period of time may be possible; however, moving fully remote for all courses is unlikely. The Dean of Students office and/or Office of Academic Advising can help you navigate options if you need a longer period of time.  

  • Leave of absence information can be found here.
  • Incompletes in individual courses are at the discretion of each faculty member and are not guaranteed. If granted, the form to submit by the faculty member in consultation with the student can be found here.

Communicating with Faculty

  • Notify the Dean of Students Office quickly. If you can, email dstudent@iwu.edu (or have someone email on your behalf) to explain what is happening. We will notify your instructors to support your absence.  The Dean of Students office cannot excuse absences, but serves to offer legitimacy and support.
  • When you can, you should also email your faculty about missed work, deadline extensions, or other needs. Any extensions or make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.  Please consult your syllabi for the instructor’s policy regarding absences.

Campus Support Resources

  • Dean of Students Office – helps with excused absences and academic accommodations
  • Assistant Dean for Student Success - works with students to identify and address academic concerns, connect with campus resources, and develop strategies for success
  • Counseling and Consultation Services – provides grief and crisis counseling
  • Academic Advising – helps you plan your return and manage coursework
  • Student Accessibility Services - supports students with short-term and long-term medical accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act

Remember

Grieving and recovery don’t follow a strict schedule. Take the time you need to begin healing, and lean on campus resources to help you transition back to class when you’re ready.