Student Absences
Absences can disrupt a student's coursework temporarily. The Dean of Students Office will notify instructors of reported student absences. Please note that students are not required to report absences to the Dean of Students Office unless they would like to utilize one of the University's excused absence polices (see below). Students should refer to their course syllabi for specific course absence information. Not all student absences are excused; many are at the discretion of instructors.
Prefer to discuss an absence? We can assist in person or by phone:
- Stop by 387 Student Services Building (no appointment needed)
- Call (309) 438-2008
The Dean of Students Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., except during University closure periods.
Common Absence Reasons
- Illness, injury, hospitalization, or medical appointments
- Required isolation resulting from positive Covid-19 test or other communicable disease (excused)
- Bereavement for loss of a relative (excused)
- Bereavement for loss of a friend/family friend
- Military duty or training (excused, with limitations)
- Jury duty or court appearance
- Family commitment/trip/other
- Religious observance
Although this absence may disrupt a student's coursework temporarily, the University does not have an excused absence policy for this reason. Students should refer to their course syllabi or contact instructors directly to determine if the absence will be excused or if the student will be permitted to make-up work.
If a student is required to be absent from class because of a required self-isolation or quarantine based on the directive of a public health official or health provider for a reason related to a communicable disease, the absence from class will be considered excused.
Each of the student's instructors will provide reasonable modifications/extensions for completing missed exams, quizzes, and other required work. In courses that allow dropping a low grade or grades, instructor must offer the student reasonable modifications/extensions for making up work missed and may not require that missed work be counted as the low grade to be dropped.
For the absence to be excused, the student must provide appropriate documentation that they have been required to quarantine/isolate to the Dean of Students Office at DeanOfStudents@IllinoisState.edu and arrange to complete missed classroom work as soon as possible. Ultimately, students are responsible for material covered in class.
View the Excused student absences due to communicable disease policy.
Students are eligible for up to five (5) consecutive days (not including weekends or holidays) of excused absence in the event of a death of a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparents, grandchild or sibling, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, first cousin, in-law, or step-relative.
The student is responsible for notifying the Dean of Students Office (DoS) prior to their absence. The DoS will communicate the absence and bereavement policy to the student's course instructors. Upon receiving proper documentation regarding the death and relationship, the DoS will provide this documentation to each of the course instructors, if requested.
Upon notification of the absence and receipt of proper documentation, each faculty member shall excuse the student from class and provide an opportunity to complete missed exams, quizzes, and other required work. Ultimately, the student is responsible for all material covered in class and must work with each individual professor as soon as they return to complete any required work.
View the Student Bereavement policy.
Losing someone close to you is very hard and we are sorry for your loss. While University policy limits excused absences to be granted for the loss of a family member, the Dean of Students Office will send a courtesy absence notification and will note it is due to the loss of a close friend. Please refer to your course syllabi or contact your instructors directly to determine if the absence will be excused or if you will be permitted to make-up work.
In accordance with state laws and regulations (330 ILCS 60/5.2), a service member enrolled in an institution of higher learning who is unable, because of his or her military service, to attend classes on a particular day or days has the right to be excused and to reschedule a course examination administered on such day or days. The faculty and administrative officials shall make available to the service member an opportunity to make up any examination he or she has missed because of his or her military service.
Although this absence may disrupt a student's coursework temporarily, the University does not have an excused absence policy for this reason. Students should refer to their course syllabi or contact instructors directly to determine if the absence will be excused or if the student will be permitted to make-up work.
Although this absence may disrupt a student's coursework temporarily, the University does not have an excused absence policy for this reason. Students should refer to their course syllabi or contact instructors directly to determine if the absence will be excused or if the student will be permitted to make-up work.
Student Access and Accommodation Services (SAAS) assists students who are seeking religious accommodations. Visit their Religious Accommodations website or contact SAAS at AbleISU@ilstu.edu or (309) 438-5853 for assistance with this absence request.