12.1.1. Didactic Year Absence Policy
Faculty recognize that personal responsibilities may, on occasion, require a student to miss class. A student is permitted a single day planned absence per semester for personal reasons that do not fit the category of accepted absences outlined in section 12.1. Such absences are not intended to be “personal days”, nor should they be considered one “allowable” day off. In keeping with a student’s professional commitment and the Program’s requirement of class attendance, these absences should be a result of unavoidable conflicts with important personal commitments. Students will not be allowed to Zoom in to any class when taking a planned absence. Students will receive a zero grade for any quizzes, exams, or graded assignments being administered on any missed days beyond the one day allowed per semester.
Requests for a planned absence must be made at least two weeks in advance. Planned absences will not be approved on days that include any examinations or clinical experiences. The student must complete the
Request for Planned Absence form (see Appendix C), obtain permission from and signatures of the course coordinator for each class that will be missed, and then submit the form to their advisor. Students are responsible for all material covered on days that are missed for personal reasons. The student may be allowed to make up Individual Readiness Assessment Tests (iRATs) for planned or acceptable unplanned absences. Make-ups will not be allowed for any Team Readiness Assessment (tRAT) tests and missed tRATs will be assigned the same grade as their make-up iRAT grade.
Consistent, timely attendance is considered one element of professional conduct. Chronic or unexcused absences (>1 per semester) or lateness (>3 per semester) may trigger a Notification of Concern and/or referral to the Student Development Committee for consideration of action based on
Failure to Meet Professional Conduct Criteria (Section 10.6). Students are encouraged to speak with their faculty advisor if they are experiencing difficulty getting to class.
Any contagious illness (such as COVID, influenza, etc.) requiring extended absences will be subject to current Federal, State, and/or MGH Occupational Health protocols and guidelines and will require a medical note describing the length of absence and clearance to return to campus.