ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION/MAKING UP FOR ASSESSMENTS DUE TO
ABSENCE
The general student population is called to learn the value of fortitude and develop grit. The general student population is expected to accomplish their responsibilities as students in a manner that values work-life balance and holistic development. Since the duties and responsibilities of FEU students are calibrated (2.5 hours per week per class guideline), students should be able to do this if they set their priorities and manage their time properly.
FEU is concerned as well for the mental wellness of its general student population. This is why its Guidance and Counseling Office has come up with several programs to provide psychosocial support and intervention in coordination with the FEU Psychological Clinic. Other university programs such as the Wellness and Recreation Program (WRP), the FEU Learning Journey (FLJ), and the Kumustahan program are permanent fixtures of FEU life.
A distinction, however, must be made between, general, overall stress and difficulty, and common illness, and conditions that will render a student incapable of carrying out their duties as a student. For this tiny minority of students, students-in-crisis, the university can provide academic accommodation.
Academic accommodation comes in the form of permission to make up for a summative assessment or and/or a series of formative assessments. It may also come in the form of an extension of deadlines. Academic consideration is offered only to students who have a serious illness, a family emergency or for other justifiable reasons. Request to make up for a single formative assessment, even for these reasons, are generally not granted. Considering that teachers may have a better understanding of the nuances and situations of their students, teachers may freely deal with requests for academic accommodation provided that the decision is fair, responsive, professional, and cares about genuine learning.
The following implementing guidelines apply:
1. Students-in-Crisis
They may be granted academic accommodation due to their incapability of carrying out their duties as students due to extenuating circumstances in subsections 4, 5, and 6.
2. Rule of Presence at 80% of the Semester
Students who have a serious illness or a family emergency or other justifiable reasons are still held to the rule of presence at 80% of the semester. Their absence for these reasons is not excused and are still counted. If a student has used up their quota of absences prior to a legitimate emergency that arises, the student will be advised to take a leave of absence as the 80% rule should be respected.
In general, students who will be unable to return to work after three weeks will be advised to take a leave-of-absence and or cancel enrollment.
3. Teacher as Initial Go-To Person
- 3.1. Students who wish to apply for academic accommodation should first approach and discuss the matter with each of their teachers.
- 3.2. Teachers will endorse the request through proper channels, as indicated in sub-sections 5, 6, and 7 of Academic Accommodation.
- 3.3. Teachers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the FEU Policy on Absences and Academic Accommodation and to be guided by it. A teacher may, decide to give academic accommodation without raising the matter to the Department Chair, Dean, Health Services, or Academic Affairs provided that the principles of the policy and other academic policies are followed. Teachers are advised, however, to refer the matter to the Academic Affairs Office and/or the University
Health Services to ensure a more uniform implementation of academic accommodation across all the teachers of a single student.
4. Serious Illness
What constitutes an illness is to be determined by the FEU University Health Service (UHS).
- 4.1. Students who wish to apply for academic accommodation should inform their Department Chair, and Dean, and the University Health Services.
- 4.2. A “report of illness” form should be filled out by the student’s attending healthcare professional and submitted with the appropriate medical reports to the UHS.
For COVID-19 Positive cases: Result of official RT-PCR Test should be submitted to UHS. If exposed to COVID-19 with symptom/s:
Certification from attending physicians/UHS.
- 4.3. The UHS will coordinate with the Dean and Department Chair (who, in turn, will coordinate with the teacher) on whether academic consideration will be granted and for how long.
- 4.4 If the case involves mental/wellness health, the Guidance and Counseling Office and the Psychology Clinic (if applicable) will be consulted.
5. Family Emergencies
What constitutes a family emergency is to be determined by the FEU Academic Affairs Office (AAO). Deaths in the immediate family and loss of home due to fire are some of these emergencies.
- 5.1. Students who wish to apply for academic accommodation should inform their Department Chair, Dean and the AAO.
- 5.2. A “report of family emergency” form should be filled out by the student and submitted to the AAO.
- 5.3. The AAO will coordinate with the Dean and Department Chair (who in turn will coordinate with the teacher) on whether academic consideration will be granted and for how long.
6. Other Justifiable Reasons
For reasons other than illness and family emergencies, students are advised to speak to their Department Chair and Dean who may decide to disapprove or recommend the case to AAO for approval. For example, pregnant students may declare their temporary medical condition and apply for academic accommodation.
7. Decisions
In determining whether academic accommodation will be granted, the following will also be considered:
7.1. Criteria:
- 7.1.1. The duration of the crisis: short-term or long-term (See 7.4 for details)
- 7.1.2. The academic performance of the student prior to the crisis,
- 7.1.3. The attendance record of the student (if the student stays within the 20% allowable absence if accommodation is granted),
- 7.1.4. The likelihood of the student being able to cope with the work upon return from the absence,
- 7.1.5. The likelihood that the student will be able to submit satisfactory work or better.
- 7.1.6. Academic accommodation, therefore, may be granted to a single student for some courses and not for others.
- 7.2. Process:
7.2.1. Decisions will be made through a quick consultation between the Dean, the UHS director, and the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
7.2.2. A standard letter indicating whether academic accommodation was approved and for which classes, for how long, and including other terms of the accommodation will be sent to the student and faculty through the Department Chair.
- 7.3. Alternative Requirement:
7.3.1. In general, up to three and a half weeks of academic accommodation can be given to students (20% of the semester).
7.3.2. If academic accommodation was requested within three weeks prior to final examinations, and if approved, an arrangement will be made where the student will receive an F at the end of the term. The student will be given no more than thirty days to complete their requirements for the class.
7.3.2.1. This special arrangement must be approved by AAO, not an internal arrangement between the student and faculty.
7.3.2.2. Teachers who request for a change of grade for reasons of academic accommodation will be sent a memo that they are in violation of policy.
- 7.4. Duration of the Crisis:
7.4.1. If the crisis is assessed to be a long-term crisis, the student may be advised to either withdraw from school or to take a lesser load. Attending to their health problem should be the priority.
7.4.2. If the crisis is short-term, the student may be given academic accommodation that may come in the form of a make-up for missed assessments. Absences, however, will not be excused, and the assessments to be made-up cannot be assessments that were missed throughout the semester. Make-up assessments will only be given for assignments missed during a specific period.
8. Confidentiality
All endorsements made by the teacher will be confidential. AAO will keep a record of all appeals (approvals and disapprovals) for academic accommodation.