All instructors must uphold the stated UI policy regarding student absences in the UI Operations Manual:

University regulations require that students be allowed to make up examinations which have been missed due to illness, mandatory religious obligations, or other unavoidable circumstances or University activities (Operations Manual, 8.1.).

Please note the situations below that have additional policies. Although it is not feasible to include every detail in the syllabus related to each type of absence, it is important for instructors to understand these additional policies and procedures and to apply them as required.

• Short-term Illness. Students with the flu, colds, or other viruses are encouraged by the health care community to stay home and not to seek care since viruses spread quickly in public places. UI Student Health does not provide documentation to students for a short-term illness. Because medical documentation generally is not available for short-term illnesses, instructors may not request documentation for a single absence but should allow a student to make up an exam, if missed. Other assignments and activities are not included in this makeup policy but are left to the instructor’s discretion. If a short term illness turns into a pattern of repeated absences, the instructor should talk to the student and may ask for documentation.
• Long-term Illness. A student with a long-term illness should provide a record of appointments or other related documentation from a health care provider to show that the student has been under care. Do not ask for specific details since these are protected under HIPAA privacy rules. Each situation involving a long-term illness tends to be unique and thus requires the instructor’s discretion. Depending on the amount of work missed, it may be necessary for the student to drop the course or to withdraw from the entire semester. An incomplete may be given only when the amount of work not completed is small and the student is in good standing in the course. Please consult with Academic Programs and Student Development, 120 Schaeffer Hall, 319-335-2633, if you have questions on this matter.
• Holy Day and Religious Obligations.  Holy Day and religious obligations should be treated following this policy in the Operations Manual: https://opsmanual.uiowa.edu/human-resources/paid-absences/religious-diversity-and-university-calendar (OM, 22.10). Students participating in religious Holy Days or other religious obligations must be allowed to make up missed work beyond exams and must be given a reasonable extension on related deadlines. Additionally, participation points missed should not negatively affect the student’s final grade. Students should inform their instructors of this absence within the first three weeks of class. Please use this resource for more information about specific dates involving Holy Days: https://www.thinkiowacity.com/planners/planner-toolkit/bmindful/
• UI Authorized Activities. The instructor of a student participating in an authorized UI activity is sent a statement generally by email from the UI official in charge of the event before the absence occurs; this statement will include the specific date and time that the student will miss class. In these cases, students should be given extra time to submit assignments and be allowed to make up any missed exams.  These activities do not include fraternity or sorority functions; work obligations; volunteer work; or any other activities that are not authorized by UI. Typically, many of these students are involved in athletics and UI performances.
• Unavoidable Circumstances. An unavoidable circumstance is defined as an event beyond the student's control and often involves a serious and unexpected hospitalization, a family tragedy, or a related incident. Such circumstances do not include attendance at a wedding, a family vacation, obligations related to work, or other such matters. The same discretion in these cases must be used as in long-term illnesses. Please confer with my office at the above number.
• SDS Accommodations for Absences. Recently, SDS accommodations to class attendance policies are becoming more frequent. Please see this page for important information https://sds.studentlife.uiowa.edu/accommodations/descriptions/attendance/. As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, instructors must provide reasonable academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities who present an official SDS letter to the instructor about such accommodations. Students without the SDS letter may be referred to SDS for help.

This CLAS Faculty page also gives information the above policies and procedures related to absences: https://clas.uiowa.edu/faculty/student-attendance-and-absences#absences-illness.

Of course, it is also important to help students to understand why attending class is crucial for their learning and why their attendance can also inspire the learning of their peers.

Please let us know if we can help further; we always appreciate your insights and suggestions.