As the new academic year begins Aug. 24, University of Iowa officials report that six UI students have tested positive for mumps in the last few weeks.

"Our priority as the new academic year gets underway must be to minimize the number of sick students on campus or sitting in class, exposing others to illness," says Lon Moeller, associate provost for UI undergraduate education and dean of the University College.

In light of this, UI officials remind faculty and teaching assistants about UI policy concerning student medical absences from class. In order to help keep medical services available to people who truly need to be seen by a doctor, university policy is that faculty and teaching assistants cannot require a doctor’s note from a student who is requesting an excused absence from class due to illness. Students should, however, self-report illnesses using the absence from class form on the Office of the Registrar’s website here as a downloadable PDF. 

Students should not be penalized for missing a class due to illness. Faculty and teaching assistants should provide appropriate makeup work for those students with excused absences due to illness (this includes attendance requirements, assignments, quizzes, and examinations).

Students who do go to Student Health & Wellness can utilize MyChart to verify a visit to the clinic. Students who do not already have MyChart can get assistance from Student Health & Wellness staff to sign up for MyChart during their visit. If a student does not wish to sign up for MyChart, they will be given a visit summary form. This form can be attached to his or her absence from class form. This can be given to the student’s faculty instructor or teaching assistant.