Medical Emergency and Temporary Health Conditions

Medical Emergency

Accessibility Services offers support to students who may be hospitalized and /or experiencing medical emergencies.  Students encountering medical emergencies which lead to extended absences may contact Accessibility Services at (507-537-6492).  Accessibility Services staff will collect information from the student or his/her/they representative, document the reason for the absence, and contact the student’s instructors upon receipt of supporting medical documentation.  It is the responsibility of the student, or his/her/they representative to provide documentation which states the diagnosis and expected dates of absence.

The information provided to Accessibility Services does not mandate any action on behalf on behalf of the course instructor but serves to verify the absence.  Students must follow up with their individual course instructors as soon as they are able to do so, in order to discuss their status in each individual class and clarify if successful course completion is possible, given the extended absence, or if other options should be considered.  The Accessibility Services staff will assist the student as needed with course advising for their particular circumstances. 

Students experiencing family crises and emergencies that are not related to a medical emergency involving the student, and which lead or may lead to extended absences (two weeks or longer) should contact the Dean of Students at Jessica.Bentley@smsu.edu.

Temporary Health Condition

If more than two weeks of class is missed due to an illness, Accessibility Services offers support to students with temporary documented health conditions.  Services are extended only for the duration of the limitations associated with the illness.  Students experiencing temporary illnesses (less than two weeks) are responsible for contacting their course instructors.

Students should provide documentation of their temporary illness including diagnosis and a summary of the functional limitations.  After reviewing the documentation and meeting with Accessibility Services, the appropriate supports are determined based on how the student’s functional limitations impact the academic setting. 

This temporary illness form may be completed and returned by your medical provider for documentation.