- NMU Policies and Requirements

Student Responsibilities:

To be granted the accommodation, the student must:

1. Contact each instructor by email or in person. Contact should be initiated no later than one week after the student has been informed of the death, unless the instructor chooses to allow the student more time.

2. If requested by the instructor, the student will email evidence such as a copy of the death certificate, link to the obituary, funeral program, or similar, to each instructor. The evidence will be provided no later than 48 hours after returning to campus.

3. If the student does not provide requested evidence to the instructor then absences may no longer be excused, and all accommodations associated with this policy are revoked.

Instructor Responsibilities:

Upon receiving notice from the student regarding a death of an individual covered by this policy:

1. The instructor will respond to the student with information about, or link to this policy/procedure if requested by the student, so that the student may properly be informed of the process necessary to receive an accommodation.

2. The instructor will excuse the student from class for up to the limit provided in the policy.

3. The instructor will provide the opportunity to earn equivalent credit and to demonstrate evidence of meeting the learning outcomes for missed assignments or assessments. Instructors are expected to make reasonable accommodations that do not penalize the student for initiating this policy, yet meet learning outcomes for the course. Examples include, but are not limited to, extended deadlines, makeup exams or assignments, alternative assignments, deferred critiques or presentations, individualized makeup work when feasible, etc.

4. The instructor will:

• Finalize the accommodation without requiring evidence from the student, or
• Finalize the accommodation upon requiring and receiving evidence from the student, or
• Finalize the accommodation upon notification from the Dean of Students Office, Department Head, and/or Academic Dean that the relationship falls under the policy.

Failure to Comply and Appeal:

1. If the instructor does not recognize the relationship as being covered by the policy, the instructor shall inform the student of their right to appeal, and provide the student a link to the policy. The student may appeal to the Dean of Students, or designee.

• a. The student may initiate a meeting with the Dean of Students or designee, within two business days of the denial.
• b. The student shall provide any relevant evidence that can verify the nature of the relationship.
• c. The Dean of Students, or designee, shall notify the student and instructor, by email within two business days, whether the relationship falls under the policy.

2. If the instructor will not accommodate the student, the student may appeal the instructor’s decision to the Department Head.

• a. The student may initiate a meeting with the Department Head or designee, within two business days of the denial.
• b. The student shall provide any relevant evidence that can verify the nature of the relationship.
• c. The Department Head or designee, shall notify the student and instructor, by email, within two business days, whether the relationship falls under the policy.

3. If the instructor does not recognize the relationship as being covered by the policy, the student may appeal to the Academic Dean or designee.

• a. The student may initiate a meeting with the Academic Dean or designee, within two business days of the denial.
• b. The student shall provide any relevant evidence that can verify the nature of the relationship.
• c. The Academic Dean or designee, shall notify the student and instructor, by email, within two business days, whether the relationship falls under the policy.

4. If the student is not satisfied with the implementation of this policy by the instructor, and feels that their final grade for the course was unfairly negatively affected, the student may follow 1.2.1 (Reason #3) of Student Complaints Concerning Grade Appeals.