For Students

I am an engineering student but am enrolled in a non-engineering class, can I still request Academic Considerations from Engineering Advising? Yes, any undergraduate student whose home college is Engineering, as well as Computer Science and Information Science, Systems, and Technology majors in Bowers CIS, may work with Engineering Advising for Academic Considerations regardless of the particular course(s) enrolled in. Please know that academic disruptions often impact all of your classes so considerations for both engineering and non-engineering courses may be appropriate.

I am not an engineering student but am enrolled in an engineering class, can I request Academic Considerations from Engineering Advising? No. Engineering Advising can only offer Academic Considerations to students whose home college is Engineering, as well as Computer Science and Information Science, Systems, and Technology majors in Bowers CIS. If you are in another college and experiencing academic disruption please contact your home college advising/student services office.

Am I guaranteed flexible arrangements from my instructors when I have an academic disruption? Engineering Advising offers Academic Considerations requests – which are just that; a request. However, many instructors are willing to offer flexibility when students are facing academic disruptions and it is worth inquiring about flexibility. Please bear in mind any flexibility granted is entirely at the discretion of the course instructor who must also consider equity for other students in the course. For appropriate situations SDS offers Academic Accommodations which are guaranteed.

Does it help to have Engineering Advising send a Request for Academic Considerations on my behalf? While it is helpful for Engineering Advising send out a Request for Academic Considerations it is not necessary. If you are able and comfortable you may reach out on your own and ask for flexibility. However, we understand there will be times students will not be able to reach out directly to instructors due to the impact of the academic disruption, comfortability with doing so, the timing of the disruption, etc. and in these situations Engineering Advising is more than willing to assist students.

Should I connect directly with my instructors? Yes. Whether on your own or following-up on a Request for Academic Considerations it is student responsibility to connect with instructors to make specific flexibility requests and establish appropriate expectations and timelines with instructors.

Should I have Academic Considerations sent to all my instructors or just one or two that I need the most flexibility with? Often times academic disruptions can have far reaching impact. While it’s prudent to seek academic flexibility in courses with immediate deadlines, prelims, etc. it is also prudent to consider informing all of your instructors of the situation. In the event other classes are impacted instructors will already be aware of the situation and/or you may find additional flexibility in classes that will help with one or two you need the most flexibility with.

What types of flexibility can I ask my instructor for? Determine what would be most helpful for the course and ask the instructor for that flexibility. This could include things like: extensions, deferred or make-up prelim, alternative assignments, waiving (and re-weighting) assignment or quiz, asking for an Incomplete in the course. Remember that any flexibility is at the discretion of the course instructor who is also considering equity for other students in the class. The goal is to work collaboratively with the instructor to develop a plan for flexibility in the course.

Can I continue to ask for flexibility throughout the semester, even long after the Academic Considerations request was sent? A Request for Academic Considerations is meant to alert instructors about emergent, short-term, academic disruptions. It is student responsibility to follow-up on the request to ask for specific flexibility and disclose other relevant information (for example: expected return to campus if there will be time away). If a student is encountering a chronic heath situation or the disruption persists beyond two weeks it is a good idea to reach out to other offices such as SDS, Cornell Health, CAPS, etc. for additional support and services.

What if an instructor is unable to provide any flexibility in my course and I fall behind? While we hope this isn’t the case it is a scenario to be prepared for. If flexibility cannot be granted please reach out to Engineering Advising to consider other options (dropping/withdrawing from a course, taking a leave of absence, etc.) that may be available to you.

When reaching out to your course instructors via email, whether you are reaching out without the assistance of Engineering Advising or with the help of an Academic Considerations request, consider providing the following information and asking the following follow-up questions:

• Introduce yourself
• Reference the Academic Considerations request that Engineering Advising sent on your behalf or disclose what you are comfortable sharing about your academic disruption
• Dates of missed class(es), quiz(zes), exam(s), assignment(s)
• If away from campus, what is your estimated return date
• Your availability to meet with your instructor to follow up
• What is the likelihood of catching up in their course? What is the reality of getting back on track and salvaging the course for this semester?
• If there is flexibility, what specific arrangements can be made (excused absences and how many, make up quizzes and/or exams, making up labs, extensions on assignments and projects and new, clear deadlines for those extensions, dropping lowest exam, additional work to offset work that has been missed, etc.)?  If you have been thinking about possible arrangements, please bring your ideas forward to your professors to see if they are appropriate.
• If there is no flexibility (and sometimes there isn’t to maintain the integrity of their course), would they recommend a drop of the course at this point?
• Is there the ability to take an Incomplete at the end of the term should you continue with the course, if need be (INC grades are only given by professors when they believe a student has enough equity build in a course)?

Here are some templates you can use:

Emailing professors on your own without the help of Engineering Advising's Academic Considerations

Dear Professor,

My name is (full name), and I am in your (class and time) and I wanted to reach out because I have to travel home for a family emergency and will have to miss class this week. I am not sure when I will be returning to campus but wanted to let you know of my absence. I was wondering what work I will be missing and what your policy is on excused absences (*pull from syllabus if stated*). I understand the importance of the work that I will miss, and I am committed to show my ability to be successful in this course.

I would be more than happy to meet with you when I return to campus to discuss my situation further and collaborate on options if you are available. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Thank you,

(full name)

Emailing a follow up to your professors after Engineering Advising's Academic Considerations Email

Dear Professor,

My name is (full name), and I am in your (class and time) and I wanted to reach out as a follow up from the Academic Considerations that were sent out on my behalf by Engineering Advising. In my absence, I missed an exam due to personal challenges indicated in the consideration’s notification. I understand the importance of the work that I missed and was wondering if you were willing to offer me a makeup time for the exam or if there is another way to make up for the exam. If a makeup exam is not an option, is there any way I can catch up in the course and show my ability to be successful in this course without that exam grade?

I am returning to campus this week and am willing to meet with you to discuss my situation further and collaborate on options if you are available. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Thank you,

(full name)

Student Disability Services

Religious Accommodations

Cornell Health

Health Leave of Absence

College of Engineering Semester Dates and Deadlines