The LMU-CVM requires all DVM students to attend all laboratories, small group sessions, exams, patient care shifts, and clinical activities as scheduled. Attendance policies, including tardy policy, are outlined in the course syllabi. All learning events (lectures, laboratories, etc.) are mandatory in Semesters 1 and 2. Lecture attendance for Semesters 3-6 is strongly encouraged; however, required attendance during semesters 3-6 is at the discretion of the Course Director.
If a student must miss a mandatory session, students must notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions by submitting the Absence Request Form, which is found in the Student Services page in Canvas. If the request is approved, the student will contact course directors and exam services to schedule make-up exams or assignments. Some missed learning events may not be able to be made up, but the student is still responsible for the material. Requests for excused absences must be submitted prior to an absence, but if emergency or unforeseeable issues arise, students may inform the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions as soon as possible by email or through the Absence Request Form. Absence requests submitted more than 24 hours after the missed learning event without communication with the ADSAA will not be approved. All efforts should be made to not miss examinations, graded learning events, active learning sessions and laboratories.
Reasons for absences that may be excused include:
- Medical concerns (own or of dependents): Any medical absence that requires a student to miss an exam or graded learning event will require a note from a physician stating the necessary days of absence. Other medical absences may require a doctor’s note upon request.
- Bereavement: Bereavement days can be used for the loss of an immediate family member only. These days cannot be used for the loss of a pet. Please contact the ADSAA if you lose a close family member so that a plan can be made to accommodate family obligations.
- Military service: Please submit requested days as far in advance as possible to allow for planning for this leave.
- Presentation at a conference or official governance position at a conference. Conference attendance without formal responsibilities must be requested as a personal day, not as conference attendance. Conference attendance days must be requested >5 business days in advance.
- Religious holiday/special observance. Religious holiday/special observance days must be requested >5 business days in advance.
- Personal: Personal days are limited to four (4) days per semester for students in semesters one (1) and two (2) and two (2) days for students in semesters three (3) through six (6). These days are intended to be used for planned events such as weddings, graduations, conference attendance where the student is not presenting, etc. and must be requested 5 business days prior to the absence. These days are not intended for additional time to study for exams. If an emergency arises, please reach out to the ADSAA and personal days requested <5 days in advance may be approved on a case by case basis. Personal discretion days may not be used on the day prior to or the day after a university holiday or on LMU-CVM sponsored special events except with special permission from the ADSAA. Students should strive to avoid taking personal discretion absences during active learning sessions (labs, group work, case-based learning, etc). In courses under 3 credit hours, there may be no more than 2 events missed due to personal discretion absence. Half days used for personal days are not counted. Missing part of the day will still be counted as a full day of absence.
Absences from Surgery Weeks (Semesters 5 & 6):
- No Personal Days allowed during surgery weeks.
- Significant Life Events:
- Must notify Clinical Skills course directors before the semester begins.
Absences from exams:
General Rule: Attendance is mandatory for all exams at scheduled exam times.
Allowances:
- Maximum of 2 excused exam absences per semester
- 1 of these may be a Personal Day as defined below
Personal days:
Conditions:
- Must be for a significant life event (e.g., close family wedding, conference presentation).
- Must be requested more than 5 business days in advance.
- Cannot be used for:
- Lab exams
- Anatomy practical exams
- Clinical Skills OSCEs
- Professional Skills OSCEs
Illness on an exam day:
- Documentation: Doctor’s note from in-person visit (telehealth notes not accepted).
- Submission:
- Absence request: Before exam starts (via Student Services Canvas).
- Doctor’s note: Submitted within 24 hours of exam start time (email to ADSAA).
- Penalty: Late submission of either will result in a 10% deduction from all exams taken that day.
Exceeding allowed exam absences:
- Any additional exam absences (beyond the 2 allowed absences listed above) = 50% deduction on each missed exam.
Illness:
- Same documentation and submission requirements as for exams:
- In-person doctor’s note required (telehealth notes not accepted) and needs to be submitted to the ADSAA within 24 hours
- Submit absence request via Student Services Canvas prior to the student’s scheduled shift.
- Must communicate directly with Clinical Skills course directors to manage patient responsibilities.