University Regulations outline that class absence are in one of two categories- University Senate established class absence or the course instructor's class absence policy. The Office of the Dean of Students can assist students with an absence based on the guidelines and criteria of the class absence policies established by the University Senate. These include jury duty, grief, and military absences, as well as in emergent medical situations involving hospitalization, emergency department visits, or surgery.

A student should submit the corresponding request form below to request that an absence notification be sent. The absence policies established by the University Senate can be found on the Student Regulations website.

For help with how to talk with a professor about an absence, visit our Coaching Tips page.

We know that a time of loss can be difficult for a student. For class absences preceding the death of a loved one, the student should contact their instructors directly to discuss their absence. Purdue University's Grief Absence Policy provides students with a specific number of days of excused absence following the death. The relationship of the individual lost determines the number of days that can be provided under the policy. Additional days may be available to account for travel considerations.

A student should complete the Grief Absence Request Form to request that an absence notification be sent to instructors.

Students summoned to serve as potential jurors or who have been empanelled as jurors in a criminal or civil trial may request an excused absence through the Jury Duty Absence Policy for Students.

A student should complete the Jury Duty Absence Request Form to request that an absence notification be sent to instructors.

Students may occasionally miss class and other academic obligations due to emergent, serious, short-term, health-related reasons, whether physical or mental. These would include visits to an emergency room, hospitalization, or surgery. The Medical Excused Absence Policy intends to afford arrangements for students experiencing these medical situations who, at the direction of the medical provider, missed coursework or exams. 

A student should complete the Medical Excused Absence Request Form to request that an absence notification be sent to instructors. The policy in its entirety can be viewed here and the 2024 amendment here. 

Purdue recognizes that those actively serving in the reserves or National Guard of the United States are required by their military contract to attend mandatory training, with failure to participate punishable under law.

A student should complete the Military Absence Request Form to request that an absence notification be sent to instructors.

Students who are pregnant, have recently given birth, or need a leave of absence to care for a newborn, adopted, legal guardian, or foster care, may petition for a leave of absence though the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE).

We know it may be necessary for a student to be absent for personal reasons beyond their control. Purdue expects each student to be responsible for class-related work missed due to an unavoidable absence. While the absence type may not be listed above, it does not mean that the absence cannot be excused. Rather that the absence is at the instructor's discretion in conjunction with their absence policy.  Students should contact their instructors directly to discuss the absence and opportunity to complete missed coursework. This work may be made up at the discretion of the instructor. Students who feel an instructor has wrongly denied an absence or opportunity to make up missed work should contact the head of the department offering the course to attempt to resolve the matter.