Absences & Missed Work: Questions and Answers

Author

Steven Bogaerts

Life happens. Most missed work is handled automatically, with no need to contact anyone. This page explains how. In fairness, the same policies apply consistently to everyone.

Start with “The Short Version” below. If you need more detail, find your question further down the page.

Going through something hard right now? Please take care of yourself first, and see Getting Support.

The Short Version

  • After reading this page, if you need to contact us about items on this page, please use the Admin Form, not email / Canvas / Piazza. This form reaches the right staff member, and helps us respond quickly and fairly as we manage this course of hundreds of students.
  • Most missed items are covered automatically by drops, and Projects 1–3 have late days instead. Check the policy table below.
    • You don’t need to ask permission or email anyone for a drop or late day to be applied.
    • Documentation doesn’t change how drops or late days work or when they are applied.
  • Keep your documentation (doctor’s note, etc.).
    • See the documentation section for details of what you should keep.
    • We may not ask you for documentation right away, but we may ask for it later.
  • We don’t give individual extensions or excusals except in very rare, very serious, documented situations, and only after standard drops / late days are exhausted.
  • If your SSD accommodations conflict with the policies of this page, then your accommodations take precedence. See the syllabus for details. We will need official documentation from the SSD office before we can provide any accommodations.

The Policy Table

Here’s how each type of item is handled. You never need to request a drop or a late day; they’re applied automatically.

Assignment Type Late policy Drop Policy
Lecture Attendance No late submissions 6 drops
Lab Attendance No late submissions 2 drops
Lab Assignments No late submissions No drops
zyBooks Readings (Pre) No late submissions 4 drops
PrairieLearn (Post) No late submissions 4 drops
Projects 1–3 3 “late days” to use throughout the semester No drops
Final Project Core and Reach No late submissions No drops
Other Assignments No late submissions No drops
Exams Must be taken during the flexible exam window (see the Exams page) No drops

Save your drops and late days for when you really need them. If you use them up early in the semester, you won’t have any left for something more serious that may happen later, like a significant illness or personal emergency.

How do drops work? Why does Canvas still show a 0?

Canvas automatically drops an increasing number of items (up to the maximum) as the semester moves on. These drops are recalculated regularly, such that by the end of the semester, your lowest scores are dropped. Most likely, any concerns you have about something being dropped or not will be automatically resolved near the end of the semester.

This also means that you should keep track of your own misses in each category, so you know how many drops you have left.

I missed / will miss / need more time on a graded item. What should I do?

The information below applies to sickness, personal emergency, religious observance, technical problems, and any other reason. In every case, please be sure to keep any documentation and get caught up.

  • An upcoming religious observance will affect work: We are happy to support you! Drops and late days apply first. If observances would exceed your drops / late days, let us know as soon as possible, ideally within the first few weeks of the semester. See religious observances.
  • Missed lecture attendance, lab attendance, Pre, or Post: Do you have drops left in that category?
  • One-time conflict with lecture or lab time: See one-time switch.
  • Need more time on Project 1, 2, or 3: Do you have late days left?
    • Yes: No need to contact us. Submit late, and your remaining late days will be applied automatically.
    • No: See out of late days.
  • Missed a lab assignment, Final Project deadline, or other assignment: No late submissions or drops are allowed for these items. See items with no drops.
  • Missed an exam appointment: Contact us via the Admin Form as soon as possible. See missed exam.

There’s something else going on. What should I do?

Missing Class and Regular Work

I missed (or will miss) class / lab. May I be excused?

You don’t need to be excused, and you don’t need to tell us. Lecture attendance has 6 drops and lab attendance has 2 drops. If you have drops left, the missed session will simply be one of your dropped scores.

Documentation doesn’t change how drops work, but hold on to any documentation you have.

Please do get caught up on what you missed.

I missed a zyBooks reading (Pre) or PrairieLearn assignment (Post). Can I get an extension?

No; Pre and Post each have 4 drops. If you have drops left, the missed item is simply one of your dropped scores. No need to contact us.

Documentation doesn’t change how drops work, but hold on to any documentation you have.

You should still complete the work anyway. It won’t earn points, but it provides the practice you need for later assignments and the exams.

I need to miss class for a religious observance. What should I do?

Drops / late days apply first, just like for any other absence, so there’s nothing you need to do. If your religious observances would require more than your drops / late days can cover, please let us know via the Admin Form as soon as you know, ideally within the first few weeks of the semester. We’ll work with you.

Please do get caught up on what you missed.

Can I attend a different lecture or lab section?

Our rooms are often full! So we can’t offer this regularly for a large number of people. But if you have a one-time conflict based on a significant need (e.g., medical appointment, religious observance, personal emergency, job interview, etc.), we can allow a one-time switch to a different section:

  • Lecture: You may attend a different Python lecture section if there is one. C++ sections are not suitable for our course. No need to contact us; your attendance will be counted automatically.
  • Lab: Email the instructor of the lab section you want to attend (find them on the Staff page) to make sure there’s room first. This is the one situation on this page where email is the right choice, since only that lab’s instructor knows whether their room has space. Pending capacity, the lab instructor will need to make a special annotation of your attendance, so you must communicate with the lab instructor you’re switching to.

I have documentation that excuses my situation. Can I save my drop / late day for later?

No; drops and late days are applied automatically to your lowest scores, and documentation doesn’t change that. That’s exactly what drops are for: so that you don’t need to ask. Keep the documentation anyway, in case you run out of drops later.

My computer or internet stopped working and I missed a deadline. What can I do?

If the problem did not affect all students in the class, it’s handled like any other miss: drops, late days, and the rest of this page apply. This is one of the reasons drops and late days exist, and documentation doesn’t change this.

If a course system is down for everyone (for example, PrairieLearn or the autograder), you don’t need to contact us. We’ll handle it for the whole class and announce the information you need.

Projects and Lab Assignments

I need more time on Project 1, 2, or 3. Can I get an extension?

Use your late days. You don’t need to ask. You have 3 late days total for the whole semester (not 3 per project), usable on Projects 1–3. Just submit late, and late days are counted automatically.

  • Each late day extends the deadline by 24 hours, to 11:59 pm the next day.
  • You are responsible for tracking how many late days you’ve used.
  • Working with a partner? See the Partners Policies page for how late days work in partnerships.
  • Late days are not available for the Final Project.

Documentation doesn’t change how late days work, but hold on to any documentation you have.

I’m out of late days and need more time on a project. What can I do?

Submit what you have by your last available deadline. If the situation is serious and documented, you may submit an Admin Form request for more late days. We’ll look at every request carefully, but approval is not guaranteed.

When Drops Don’t Cover It

I’m out of drops, and I missed another item. What can I do?

You have two options:

Option 1: You can let the drop policy stand.

Option 2: Submit a request on the Admin Form. We will ask for documentation for all of your misses in that category (for example, all of your lecture absences, not just the latest one). We’ll look at every request carefully, but approval is not guaranteed.

Either way, please be sure to get caught up.

I missed an item that has no drops. What can I do?

This includes lab assignments, Final Project Core and Reach, and other assignments (see the table). You have two options:

Option 1: You can let the policy stand.

Option 2: Submit a request on the Admin Form. We will ask for documentation for the miss. We’ll look at every request carefully, but approval is not guaranteed.

Either way, please be sure to get caught up.

Also note:

  • The lab assignment deadline already gives you extra time: each lab assignment is technically due the day of your lab, but you get an automatic grace period until the next week. Check the course schedule for each lab’s due date.
  • The Final Project and other assignments are announced far ahead of time on the course schedule. Please plan accordingly.

I missed my exam appointment. What should I do?

See the Exams page. Another opportunity is not guaranteed, so please contact us via the Admin Form as soon as possible.

I’m going to be out for a long time (extended illness, family emergency, etc.).

Please contact us as soon as possible via the Admin Form. We’ll work with you on a plan. We will ask for documentation and will consider your request.

I added the course late. Do I have to make up everything?

Please see the Late Add page and begin the process described there immediately.

Documentation

What documentation should I keep?

Keep documentation for every item you miss, even when a drop covers it. You don’t need to send it to us now. We may ask for it later if you run out of drops.

  • Illness: A note showing you were seen by a medical professional, including the specific dates you were unable to attend or complete work. A note that only says you were seen is not enough.
  • Required U-M event (athletics, band, etc.): Documentation showing that you were required to attend, and the dates and times, including travel time.
  • Other situations: Please ask us via the Admin Form what documentation would be appropriate.

Should I send my documentation to you now?

No. Just keep it. We’ll ask for it if it’s ever needed.

Getting Caught Up

Every item in this course is there because it’s an important part of your learning. Even when a drop covers the points, please make up the learning, so that you’re ready for later assignments and the exams.

How do I catch up on a missed lecture?

  • Watch the lecture recording on Canvas (posted after the lecture, under “Media Gallery” and/or “Lecture Recordings” in the left sidebar).
  • Study the slides and try the in-class exercises. Try to recreate the in-class experience as closely as you can.
  • Check the course schedule so you don’t miss any upcoming deadlines.

How do I catch up on a missed lab?

  • Study the lab slides and watch the lab video on Canvas (posted after certain lab sections).
  • Complete the lab assignment by its due date. Missing the lab session only affects attendance points, not the assignment.

How do I catch up on a missed Pre, Post, or other task?

Complete it anyway, even though it won’t earn points. It’s the practice you need for the projects and exams.

I’m feeling lost after missing some class. Where can I get help?

Please visit the Getting Help page. We’re all happy to help you!

Getting Support and Reaching Out

I’m sick or going through something hard right now.

We’re sorry you’re facing this, and we truly wish you the best. Please take care of yourself first. Please also reach out to campus resources as listed in the syllabus. If you’re not sure where to turn, let us know via the Admin Form and we’ll help you find the right resources.

This page didn’t answer my question. How do I contact you?

Use the Admin Form, not email / Canvas / Piazza. The form reaches the right staff member, and helps us respond quickly and fairly as we manage this course of hundreds of students.