Excuses for Absence from Class or Work

The Health Center does not provide absence notes due to federal confidentiality guidelines. Students are encouraged to speak directly to faculty concerning absences due to illness.

In the event of a prolonged student illness of three days duration or longer, the Student Health and Wellness Center notifies the Director of Judicial Affairs  who will then notify the student’s professors of the student absence from class.

At times, students request a note to document an illness for a professor and thereby be excused from an academic commitment. Without an excuse note, some students unfortunately use the discharge summary given at the end of the clinic visit as proof of illness for faculty. The discharge summary is a written reminder of medical discharge instructions verbally given to the student; it may contain confidential information that includes a diagnosis, prescribed medication, lab work, and other health teaching. The student should not have to share this information with anyone.

Confidentiality is vital to a successful health care visit for the student and is mandated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The staff of the Student Health and Wellness Center is committed to providing each student with a safe and secure environment, where health care needs can be met in a trusting student-professional relationship.