Advocacy and Absence Notification

What should I do if I am a student who has missed classes?

Each instructor or department determines policies for attendance, excused absences, and making up missed exams or assignments, and these policies are communicated in the class syllabus.  Students missing class should review their syllabus and contact their instructors as soon as possible to inform them of their circumstances and begin discussing plans to make up course assignments and exams.  Students may be expected to provide documentation to instructors in order to excuse class absences or approve make-up assignments and exams.

A student with questions or concerns about an instructor’s attendance policy or the policy for making up missed work or exams in the course syllabus should first speak with the instructor, and then, if the questions or concerns are not addressed, the Department Chair of the academic department offering the course.

Will Student Care and Well-Being help me communicate with my instructors about absences?

In certain situations Student Care and Well-Being will send instructor notifications to support students experiencing a crisis.  Absence notifications are intended to facilitate communication between students and instructors.  Absence notifications are not intended to serve as an excuse or documentation to approve missed classes.  Absence notifications are sent to the student’s college and then forwarded to instructors by the college.

Absence notifications may be sent in the following circumstances:

• The student is unable to communicate directly with instructors in a timely manner (e.g. a student is hospitalized or in an area without internet access)
• Student Care and Well-Being learns of an anticipated absence due to bereavement, catastrophic event, or other severe crisis, and the notification is requested as a form of support for a student in crisis
• Student Care and Well-Being learns of circumstances (e.g., social anxiety, trauma, etc.) that make it challenging for the student to initiate communication with instructors, and the notification is requested to assist the student in communicating about their circumstances

Students are encouraged to contact Student Care and Well-Being at bamacares@ua.edu or 205-348-2461 for any questions or concerns.