It is up to the individual student to discuss with their professors prior to the religious Holy Day about missing class for that purpose. At the beginning of each semester, I would discuss with your professors the religious Holy Day that may interfere with your class attendance and make arrangements accordingly.

Our mission as a caring university community is to provide students with a rigorous education that prepares them for life after college. However, we also must acknowledge that unforeseen circumstances may arise that prevent a student from making it to class.

The Dean of Students supports faculty autonomy in the classroom while also supporting UNT students who may have unexpected situations occur throughout the semester. To this end, the Dean of Students office provides reasonable accommodations for students who miss class for reasons related to Title IX (pregnancy and parenting accommodations), being called into active military service, and attending officially sanctioned university events.

Examples of extenuating circumstances considered to be a matter between the faculty member and student include:

• Professional school interviews
• Conference attendance
• Receiving academic awards such as scholarships or other academic honors
• Missing class due to being waitlisted (only applicable prior to census date)
• Personal travel
• Short-term illnesses and doctor appointments (Flu, covid, strep, cold, etc.)

For absences related to significant illness or extenuating circumstances, faculty can request that verification/documentation of absence go through the Dean of Students office. Examples of absences considered extenuating circumstances include:

• Temporary disability or injury
• Extended medical absence or hospitalization
• Illness of a dependent family member
• Major illness or death of a loved one, which may include immediate family members of the student, spouses/partners, and others as deemed appropriate by the Dean of Students office
• Car accident that takes away transportation
• Housing emergencies
• Significant mental health concerns

UNT’s Student Attendance and Authorized Absences policy (06.039) may be found at https://policy.unt.edu/sites/default/files/06.039%20Student%20Attendance%20and%20Authorized%20Absences.pdf

You will need to come to the Dean of Students Office in the University Union, Suite 409 with documentation. We accept the obituary from the newspaper (with student’s name listed as a relative), a letter from the funeral home on their letterhead, or a program from the funeral service which would list the student’s name as a relative. After you bring this documentation to our office and talk with one of our staff members we can proceed with sending a notification to your professors that verify this absence.

Please stop by the Dean of Students Office in the University Union, Suite 409 for assistance.

The best way to receive this information as soon as the decision to close the university is made is by being registered with your most updated information (phone numbers and emails) in the UNT Eagle Alert system. You can register your information at my.unt.edu.

The Dean of Students Office is here to help! We can help you navigate through the proper procedures. Please stop by our office or send an email to deanofstudents@unt.edu

There are a few places you can go… First, if it is an issue concerning another student’s behavior with you, please stop by the Dean of Students Office in the University Union, Suite 409. The Dean of Students Office upholds the Code of Student Conduct and is responsible for holding students accountable for their behavior. Second, if it is an academic related issue (faculty member, grading, etc) please go to the Department Chairperson of that academic department. Each academic unit has policies and procedures in regards to grievances. Third, if you feel as if you are being discriminated against please stop by the Office of Equal Opportunity in the Hurley Administration Building 175. If you don’t know who to go to in regards to your complaint, please contact the Dean of Students Office at Deanofstudents@unt.edu and we will help you with the issue or point you in the right direction.

If a student must withdraw due to medical reasons, prior to the withdrawal deadline as indicated in the academic calendar, a student may do so through the regular withdrawal process. If a student is incapacitated or unable to make the request on their own, please contact the Dean of Students Office for assistance at 940-565-3633 For details regarding the withdrawal process, go to https://studentaffairs.unt.edu/dean-of-students/policies/withdrawals

You will receive a notice of complaint to the mailing address listed in the UNT system (or residence hall) instructing you to make an appointment with a Dean of Students Representative. It is important that you follow-up with this request, make an appointment and keep it. Ignoring the situation will not make it go away. In fact, ignoring the request is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct and could result in a misconduct penalty or sanction (including a block on registration and/or suspension).

Issues of academic integrity (cheating, plagiarism, etc) are handled through the office of Academic Integrity under the Provost Office. Please contact the office of Academic Integrity academic.integrity@unt.edu and/or visit the Academic Integrity website for more information.