Medical Documentation for Student Illness

Bernard Mair, Associate Provost

To deal with the impact of the H1N1 virus on the campus community, the university earlier requested that instructors be flexible with students who miss classes and assignments.  Our data now indicate that the number of reported influenza and influenza-like illnesses has been trending downwards since a spike in September, but we continue to monitor the situation closely as it is still possible that this downward trend may be reversed.

In view of this situation and the need to develop a more systematic method for handling student illnesses for final examinations, the university is temporarily changing its position on medical documentation. Instructors can now require medical documentation for students who claim illness as a reason for missing examinations, or any other course assignments (such as papers) which are due during the final examinations period Dec. 12, 2009 – Dec. 18, 2009.