absence waiver requests

policies and procedures

InIn order for the Absence Waiver Request to be officially considered, students must submit this form. Emails, telephone calls, in-person meetings and the like will not be considered. This is in place to ensure a fair process for all students and to prevent any undue influence. Any prohibited communications will not be answered.

A student must take the courses and examinations for the section in which the student is enrolled. Each student is expected to perform all class assignments and to attend class meetings regularly and in a punctual manner. Failure to do so may result in exclusion from the course, which may result in a lowering of grade or F. 

With respect to any course, a student is allowed to miss up to the “Applicable Absence Limitation” for that course. Students with absences in excess of the Applicable Absence Limitation shall be excluded from the course, unless such excess absences are waived by Dean Yannick Brookes. 

Any absences within the Applicable Absence Limitation should be reported directly to the professor by the student. Any absences in excess of the Applicable Absence Limitation shall be reported to the Associate Dean of Students, Yannick Brookes, by the student during the Reading Period. Emergency situations are managed on a case by case basis.

Absence Waiver Process:

Step One: During the Reading Period, students must submit this online form with required supplemental supporting documentation illustrating the exam conflict. 

Step Two: Students will receive a confirmation email of their submission.

Step Three: Students will receive a decision email informing them whether their request was approved or denied by Dean Yannick Brookes. This email will list the dates waived. All absence waiver requests outcomes will be issued by the last day of classes in a given semester. 

Examples of Supporting Documentation:  

- A letter from the medical professional who is performing the procedure;
- A copy of the death certificate of the member who has passed;
- An email receipt from covidconfidential@udc.edu after emailing them your positive test results;
- A copy of the program of service;
- A police report;
- A copy of the exam schedule with the student's final exams highlighted; or
- Documentation that shows the extenuating circumstance preventing the student from being present.

Please Note: These supporting documents cannot come from the student's family, partner, friend, coworker, and the like. Instead, it must be provided by the student's direct supervisor, a clergy member overseeing the service/ceremony, work authorization, etc. As a general rule, work-related requests and jury summons are not granted.

Please Note: This supporting documentation must identify the author and their credentials. And, it must indicate that the conflict is the same date and time that the exam was originally scheduled to be administered.

Please Note: The Associate Dean of Students reserves the right to retroactively deny a request if the student fails to submit supporting documentation promptly.

Assignments, Assessments, Early Departure or Late Arrival: 

This waiver only covers a student's attendance. Students remain responsible for any assignments, assessments, in-class tasks, etc. This waiver does not permit a student to arrive late to class or depart from a class early. 

QUESTIONS / Office of Student Affairs INFORMATION-

Mondays - Thursdays 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (In-Person)
Fridays 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Remote)

Mr. Yannick L. Brookes, Associate Dean of Students (Office #448)
Mr. Ravaughn Pope, Assistant Director of Student Life and Services (Office #483)
Ms. Loretta Young-Jones, Staff Assistant for Student Affairs (Office #449)