SOS can provide advocacy to faculty on behalf of students regarding absences caused by extreme, short-term, extenuating circumstance that is supported by documentation or relevant campus partner (such as the Title IX Coordinator, or Campus Safety).

Examples include: a death in the family, a physical or mental health crisis or event, or being the victim of a crime.

For advocacy regarding the death of a loved one please complete the Bereavement Absence Support Form.

SOS advocacy is a formal request for grace that verifies the legitimacy of a student’s situation while maintaining their privacy, not a guarantee that an absence will be considered excused.

The decision to excuse an absence or provide flexibility around course work is made entirely at the discretion of individual faculty. While our office can provide retroactive advocacy, a request for advocacy must be submitted to SOS within a month of the event/concern occurring and before the end of the semester.

Once SOS provides Absence Support advocacy on behalf of a student, it is their responsibility to follow up with their faculty to see if an absence can be considered excused and to make arrangements to complete missed course work.

SOS does not provide legal accommodations to support long-term disability-related concerns. If you have questions about accommodations please contact the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services.