To: All UW Faculty, Staff and Students

From: Feridun Hamdullahpur, Vice-President, Academic & Provost Feridun_sig.png

Date: October 9, 2009

Re: Declaration of Absence for Influenza-like Illness for Students Seeking Academic Accommodation

On September 21, 2009 I announced (www.uwaterloo.ca/influenza/absences.php) that verification of illness was not needed for student absences resulting from the flu and that absences resulting from other conditions continued to require verification by a doctor in the usual manner. This memo is to announce that online reporting for absences for influenza-like illness is now available to students through Quest. Such reporting is required if a student is seeking accommodation from any instructor for course requirements missed due to an influenza-like illness. Details from such reporting will be available to designated administrative staff and faculty, including instructors, advisors and associate deans.

Within two calendar days of deciding not to attend class because of an influenza-like illness, the student must report the start date of the absence. Upon returning to class, the student must report the return to class. The online declaration can be used for influenza-like illnesses of up to 10 calendar days; longer absences will necessitate completion of the standard Verification of Illness form.

Step by step instructions for students are available in the instructions for using Quest at http://www.quest.uwaterloo.ca/help/howdoi/index.html. Step by step instructions for instructors who want to view declared absences are available on the same page.

If a student becomes ill and does not have access to the internet, the student is to phone his/her graduate/undergraduate associate dean and provide his/her name, student number and the date of the start of the absence. The information should be left in a message if the student does not speak directly with the associate dean.

As is the practice with verified illnesses, instructors are asked to make appropriate accommodation to deal with student absenteeism due to the flu. Alternative arrangements for fulfilling course requirements are to be determined by each instructor, in consultation with the associate dean or chair as appropriate.

Ultimately, the authority for deciding whether an accommodation will be granted rests with the instructor. Regardless of whether an accommodation is granted, the student is responsible for meeting course requirements.