Return to Standard Absence Policies

As of August 1, faculty, students and staff will no longer need to self-report a positive COVID-19 test online and should use the CLAS standard absence policies summarized below if an absence is needed. Subsequently, the University’s self-reporting form is no longer active.

Continue to follow CDC guidelines

If a faculty member, staff, or student tests positive for COVID-19, it is still important to follow the self-isolation instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public and taking additional precautions if you are at high risk of illness.

Student Absences

Please see the CLAS policies and procedures on student absences that can be found at the following links:

• Absences: Illness, Religious Holy Day Obligations, Military Service Obligations, and Unavoidable Circumstances
• Shorter illness
• Longer illness
• Information on incompletes

Instructor absences

Please note the CLAS instructor absence policies, which also apply to graduate student course instructors as well:

• Instructors should arrange for coverage of teaching and office hours obligations during a brief illness or when a short absence from the classroom needs to occur.

• The DEO and course supervisor (where appropriate) should always be informed of any absence affecting teaching ASAP.

  • In the case of travel, instructors should be reminded to submit the travel form for approval before the travel is arranged.

  • Additionally, DEOs should encourage faculty to designate a colleague who is willing to assume their teaching responsibilities in an emergency or absence.

• While we have learned that there are new ways to cover a course when the instructor needs to be away (i.e., using Zoom), an instructional modality change from in-person to online for more than one or two class periods is not permitted.

• Ideas for handling these emergency absences include the following: utilizing a guest instructor to lecture, leading discussion or small group work, utilizing a guest speaker in the classroom, or having the instructor or guest speaker lecture via Zoom with a TA or colleague present.

More information on this topic may be found on this page and in the UI Operations Manual, 22.3.

We are always willing to consult on matters related to student and instructor absences.