- 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.
- A scheduled 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
- 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.
- 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. This timeline includes registering religious holiday dates for which a student requests to be excused from classes.
- 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 GPA of 3.0 or higher, and actively participate in the conference.
- In the case of extenuating circumstances occurring during the term that would necessitate an unplanned non-medical excuse, students must reach out to the SVM Office of Student Affairs and seek approval.
- Extenuating circumstances will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with a maximum allowable period of fourteen (14) days of absence. Extensions beyond this period may be permitted when truly exceptional circumstances exist.
- Students assume responsibility for requesting excused absences for legitimate 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 scheduled Non-Medical Excused Absences include, but are not limited to:
- Veterinary-related conference attendance
- Civic duties such as jury duty or military service
- Wedding of an immediate family member or close friend
- Religious holidays
- Examples of legitimate reasons for Non-Medical Excused Absences under extenuating circumstances 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
- 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
- Instances where prolonged absences from classes are needed may require that the student take an academic leave of absence (LOA) and restart of the term at a later date.
- If a Non-medical excuse is approved for extenuating circumstances that occur during scheduled examination periods, then Completion examinations will be scheduled within seven (7) calendar days of the original date of the assessment/examination. The student is responsible for reaching out to the Course Director to arrange date and time for the completion examination.