Health Iowa Q&A

I am a student with a four year old child. I have been out of class the last few days due to my own flu illness, and because my symptoms didn’t warrant it, I did not visit a healthcare provider. As of yesterday, my child developed similar symptoms, and today she is much worse. I am feeling somewhat better and would otherwise be able to go to class, but my daughter needs to stay home and I need to care for her. If I miss class due to my daughter’s flu illness, do I need documentation from her pediatrician, even if her symptoms are similar in severity to my own?

Attendance policies and documentation requirements for missed classes are determined by individual departments and instructors. I recommend reviewing the syllabus for each course you have missed, as each should include a section detailing the class absence policy.

Have you emailed or talked to your instructors to let them know what is going on? If not, it is important to discuss the circumstances with your instructors as soon as possible to determine documentation needs, as well as plan for your return to class and making up any missed work.

Lindsay Wetzel, M.A.
Health Risk Assessment Coordinator
Health Iowa/Student Health Service

Written 6/18/10

Resources:
UI Office of the Registrar. (2009). General Exam Policies.

UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Teaching Policies & Procedures: Course Planning.

UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. (2010). Classroom Absences: Information for Faculty and for Students.