Swarthmore College Medical Note Policy

In alignment with college health experts and most college health centers, Swarthmore Student Health & Wellness Center does not provide medical excuse notes for routine illnesses, injuries, or medical appointments.  We believe that young adults should develop responsibility for managing their coursework, communicating clearly and appropriately with faculty and staff, and learn appropriate use of healthcare resources.

Health & Wellness Center Policy

• The Student Health & Wellness Center does not issue medical excuse notes or verification notes for routine illnesses (e.g., colds, flu, minor injuries).
• If a student experiences a significant health issue that results in prolonged/serious illness or hospitalization and requires academic support, a “Dean’s note” (an email to the student’s individual academic dean) will be issued by the treating healthcare clinician with permission of the student. 

Student Responsibilities

• Students should review each course’s attendance policy as outlined in the syllabus.
• If a student misses a class due to illness or medical reasons, they should notify their professor as soon as possible.
• In cases of extended illness or serious medical conditions that may impact multiple courses, students are encouraged to contact the Dean’s Office for academic support.
• If in need of medical evaluation, care and/or advice, please call the health center to schedule an appointment at 610-328-8058 during routine business hours or, if after hours, call the Team Health Nurse On Call service for nursing advice. 

Health Privacy & Confidentiality

Swarthmore College Student Health and Wellness Center is committed to protecting students’ health privacy. In accordance with federal and state laws, as well as College policies, medical information is confidential and will not be shared with faculty or staff without the student’s consent, except in cases where disclosure is legally required or necessary for the student’s safety. Students are not required to disclose specific medical details to their professors. Faculty members should respect students’ privacy and should not request detailed medical documentation.

Faculty Discretion

Attendance and make-up work policies are determined by individual instructors. Class attendance is a matter of academic integrity between the instructor and the student and is not the responsibility of student health. Faculty members are encouraged to support students in managing their health while maintaining academic integrity and fairness.

Conclusion

Not every illness or class absence requires an evaluation at the student health center. Many students are familiar with self care practices that promote healing for routine illnesses and injuries. In the spirit of healing, wellbeing, and fostering independent and adult decision making, a student may decide on their own that the absence is necessary due to their illness or injury and they may not need direct medical care from the health center to manage this illness/injury. In instances like this, students should not be directed to the health center solely to obtain an excuse note for class. Using the health center for this purpose is an inappropriate use of resources and may limit access to care for students with urgent medical needs. Furthermore, requiring students to provide medical documentation for class absences can contribute to an environment of distrust.

Other campus supports:

Schedule a time to talk with your dean to discuss academic support. Here is more information specific to Student Deans, and about Health Concerns and Academics.

For information specific to disability accommodations, please visit the Student Disability Services website.