- Only one (1) scheduled Non-Medical excused absence per 12 months can be allowed and will grant the student to be absent for a maximum of three (3) working days from mandatory activities that can be rescheduled.
- It is each student’s responsibility to submit appropriate documentation to the SVM Office of Student Affairs, which in turn will provide certification to the instructor/clinician whose class must be missed.
- A Non-Medical Excused Absence needs to be pre-approved. Students can submit a request for a Non-Medical Excuse using the following link: https://na3.docusign.net/Member/ PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=b364404f-c8b1-4eee-800b-e8c48233f8b1&env=na3&acct=19450a2d-f38d-4b8a-9c25-8b7b5fb6c32c&v=2
- Students must submit the dates of their non-medical excuse with the SVM Office of Student Affairs within two (2) weeks from the start of each term to receive an excused absence. Once informed, the SVM Office of Student Affairs will record the excused absence and issue an e-mail to the instructor/clinician whose class must be missed, with copies to the student and respective course coordinator(s).
- Non-medical excuses will not be approved for scheduled midterm examinations, end of module examinations, final examinations and OSCEs.
- For conference travel, students must be in good academic standing, have a cumulative WMPG of 75% or higher, and actively participate in the conference.
- Students should register their religious holiday dates within two (2) weeks of the start of each term. They will be excused for religious reasons and take the completion examination scheduled within seven (7) calendar days of the original date of assessment/examination if they provide proper documentation and registration.
- Students assume responsibility for requesting excused absences for legitimate reasons, and instructors/clinicians must assume responsibility for objectively evaluating those reasons. It would be impossible to anticipate every possible example of acceptable and unacceptable reasons for absence from class. Questions regarding the legitimacy of reasons for an excused absence request should be directed to the SVM Office of Student Affairs.
- Examples of legitimate reasons for excused absences include, but are not limited to:
- Death in the family
- Birth or adoption of a baby (any guardian)
- Personal illnesses or ill spouse, child, child caregiver or parent
- Veterinary-related conference attendance
- Civic duties such as jury duty or military service
- Wedding of an immediate family member or close friend
- Religious holidays
- Serious emergency illness or death of a student’s animal
- Examples of reasons not considered legitimate for excused absences include, but are not limited to:
- Alarm clock problems or oversleeping
- Saving money on airfare
- Showing an animal
- Attending entertainment events
- Hunting and fishing
- Employment obligations
- Elective veterinary or personal health appointments
- Extenuating circumstances will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with a maximum allowable period of fourteen (14) days of absence. The SVM Office of Student Affairs may permit moderate extensions beyond this period; however, there must be truly exceptional circumstances to support the request.
- Prolonged absences from classes will be subject to review and could entail an academic leave of absence (LOA) until the course(s) can be satisfactorily completed at a later date.
- Participation in any mandatory orientation session (e.g., on program entry, at the start of the fourth year) is required. Unexcused absence may result in an unsatisfactory grade and prevent the student from continuing in the DVM Program.