Approved November 2013 by the Mathematics Department Advisory Committee and the Dean of CLAS, updated August 2017 to align with Faculty Handbook renumbering; updated July 2024 to align with Faculty Handbook updates

Introduction and Rationale

Section SG3.04.A states:

A.  Absence from Class

Faculty members are responsible for meeting all classes for which they are scheduled. If faculty members are absent from teaching responsibilities due to illness, they should notify their unit heads and students should be notified through Blackboard or other electronic means as early as possible. 

In those cases where absences can be anticipated, approval for such absences must be obtained from the unit head. The faculty members are then responsible for arranging for substitutes or otherwise covering their teaching assignments.

Classes must be held for the duration of the semester and for the scheduled amount of time.

The purpose of this policy is to clarify the expectations of Mathematics Department faculty with regard to these requirements.

Approval and Documentation of Anticipated Absences

1. No prior approval is necessary for routine absences of three days or less for the purposes of professional travel such as attending conferences.  Approval is automatically granted in these situations.
2. Any absences for professional travel that require missing more than three days of classes, or any absences for documented personal reasons that involve missing more than two days of classes, must be approved in advance by the Unit Head, and, for extended absences, by the Dean.
3. ALL absences that involve missing one or more classes must be documented via e-mail with the administrative staff in the Mathematics Department, including details of the arrangements made for class coverage during the time of the absence.