Policy on Absences Emergency absence procedure & how to make up missed exams & coursework The following policy applies to students who, for health or personal reasons, must be absent from class for several days or longer on an emergency basis. This policy was written by representatives of the Associated Students of the School of Medicine and approved by the Committee on Curriculum & Educational Policy in June, 1992. Students who miss classes, clerkships, and exams due to a personal and/or family emergency must reschedule the missed work. The following procedure, adopted by the Student-Faculty Liaison Committee and the Committee on Curriculum and Educational Policy, outlines student rights and obligations in making up missed educational time. Go to Student Health or the emergency room for treatment as necessary. Contact your course director or clerkship site director and house staff team IMMEDIATELY, prior to the expected absence whenever possible. The student will not be penalized when circumstances legitimately prevent adequate discussion of the absence prior to time off. If your instructor is not available, call Kathy Healy at 415.476.8085. If she is unavailable, call the assistant to the Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs at 415.476.2347 and leave a message. Absences of up to a few days are handled on a case-by-case basis with the student, clerkship site director, house staff supervisor and/or course director involved. The duration of more extensive absences, which often occur during a family tragedy or similarly significant circumstance, are handled when possible through case-by-case discussion between the student and Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs, while make-ups are coordinated with individual course or clerkship site directors. Course directors and clerkship site directors must reschedule examinations and missed work for legitimate absences at a time mutually convenient to both student and faculty on a case-by-case basis. Unexcused absences are handled according to current course and clerkship policy. When a mutually convenient time cannot be reached, or in cases where a course or clerkship site director feels the student's absence is not legitimate, the student may appeal the director's decision. The appeal shall be handled through a discussion between the student, the course or clerkship site director, and the chairperson of the Essential Core Course Committee or Third- and Fourth-Year Clerkship Committee responsible for coordinating the scheduling of curricular events for those years. The Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs may also serve as the third party in the discussion of an appeal. All appeals shall be addressed immediately. As with any academic grievance, the student may choose to pursue an unsatisfactory appeal through formal grievance procedures, as outlined in the Procedure for Student Grievances in Academic Affairs (12/14/77). Copies of this procedure are available in the Office of Curricular Affairs or refer to the By-laws and Regulations of the School of Medicine. Please note that this policy does NOT codify the prerequisites of a "legitimate" absence, the duration of such absences, nor the time period in which to reschedule missed work. These issues are more appropriately addressed on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of all parties involved. Leave of Absence Permission for a leave of absence (up to one year) may be granted to students in good academic standing who do not wish to retain their class status. Forms are available in the Registrar's Office. Please note that first-year students are not granted leaves of absence and must reapply in the regular process to gain readmission to medical school.