Extended Absence Policy
While occasional absences from a class session should be addressed with instructors directly as needed, students may be faced with a longer period of absence from classes due to extended illness, surgery, personal issues, or other circumstances. Students are highly encouraged to schedule elective medical procedures that will lead to extended absence from the course to periods of time outside of the academic term, so as not to disrupt their participation in academic activities. However, the university recognizes that this is not always possible.
For absences that will last longer than two weeks, students must petition the Dean of Academic Affairs for an extended absence from the university. The petition will include a rationale for the request and an expected date of return to full participation. The Dean will engage with the student in an iterative process to determine the viability of their request and whether it can be granted. Approval for such an extended absence is not guaranteed. If it is granted, the Dean will work with the student and their instructors to determine how the extended absence will be implemented. This policy assumes that students granted an extended absence will return to full course participation within the current term.
During the extended absence, students should expect to continue working in their classes as their circumstances permit. Students will be expected to communicate regularly with their instructors and the Dean to keep them apprised of their situation and their expected return to regular course participation. Failure to do may result in a revocation of the extended absence and subject the student to penalties listed in their course syllabi for unexcused absences.
Given the wide range of activities that happen in university classes, it is not possible to guarantee that the university can accommodate an extended absence in all classes. If it is determined that an extended absence is not possible in a course or courses, the student may be required to withdraw from the course or courses that cannot be accommodated. If this is true of all classes for which the student is registered, then the student may be granted a medical withdrawal from the university for that term. The implications of these decisions for tuition refunds, financial aid, and university status will be discussed with the student as part of the iterative process before decisions are finalized.
**Attendance (Current language from UC catalog)**
The participation of students in all regularly scheduled classes is considered an important part of the academic procedure. It is assumed that students will conscientiously fulfill this responsibility when classes are scheduled and will contribute to class activities. An instructor may consider irregular attendance in his/her evaluation of students' education achievement. Students are responsible for ascertaining attendance requirements for each course in which they are enrolled.
Specific policies related to excused and unexcused absences can be found in the [Student Handbook.](https://uj.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2022-2023/university-student-handbook/academic-and-administrative-policies/absence)