Academic Interventions

Students should work directly with their instructors to address any school-related absences due to illness, without the need to disclose sensitive health information.

Faculty members are prohibited from requesting personal health information from students. This includes, but is not limited to, medical records, test results, and the status of a student's health condition. Instructors are expected to respect the privacy of students and adhere to the university's guidelines on the confidentiality of medical information. 

University-approved absences are not provided by Campus Health for commonly occurring illnesses, minor injuries, or non-emergency surgeries. Some common examples of absences that do not qualify for a University Approved Absence are

• general doctor’s appointments
• strep throat
• upper respiratory infections
• influenza
• migraines
• ear infections
• common colds
• stomach bugs
• pink eye
• sprained ankles

Please work directly with your instructor to navigate absences for the above reasons.

Examples of significant health conditions may include:

• Emergency surgery
• Hospitalization
• Severe communicable diseases that require isolation (i.e. measles, mumps, tuberculosis, varicella)
• A severe injury/condition that affects mobility and/or cognition, or
• Acute exacerbation of a chronic mental health issue.

Students can request a university approved absence for a significant health condition by completing the request form on the University Approved Absence Office website.

Students and instructors who experience challenges negotiating a solution to class absences are encouraged to follow up with the chair of the department or the chair’s designee.

Current or retroactive course drops are supported by Academic Advising's Academic Difficult Appeals. Campus Health is not involved in course drops.

*Please keep in mind that Medical Underloads can only be approved before or within two weeks of the first day of class. Any requests for a Medical Underload outside that time frame would be considered a Medical Course Drop Request.

Medical Underload Process

1. Consult with your academic advisor or your program’s student service manager/coordinator to see if a Medical Underload is appropriate.
2. Email Campus Health Medical Interventions at [email protected] to formally request a Medical Underload.
   • The request should:
     • Address your request to “Whom It May Concern”
     • Acknowledge that you have met with your advisor
     • Include how the medical condition has affected your coursework
     • Communicate how many credit hours you are looking to take with the underload
3. In addition to the email, please have appropriate documentation from your treating health care provider about the medical condition affecting your academic progress. This documentation should…
   • Contain information about your diagnosis, prognosis, and length of illness.
   • Be submitted either by fax to Campus Health at 919-966-6575 or by email.

*If you were seen by a Campus Health provider, you will not need to submit this documentation since we have access to your health records at Campus Health.

1. Once all paperwork has been received (email and documentation from the treating provider), it will be submitted to our Lead Physician.
2. If the paperwork is approved by our Lead Physician, it will be sent to Academic Advising or your program.
3. Note that requests for underloads less than 9 hours may have a longer turn around time. Start the underload process as soon as you can if requesting an underload of less than 9 hours.

A medical withdrawal for the current semester is processed through Campus Health and must be completed before the last day of classes.

A medical withdrawal is when you, as an enrolled student, decide you must leave the university in a given term due to medical reasons once the term begins and you have attended at least one class.

There are impacts to undergoing this process, and we understand there are still good reasons why students may need to withdraw.

Clearance by Campus Health is required for readmittance after a withdrawal and must be completed 6-10 weeks before the first day of class in the semester you want to return. Details below.

Retroactive Term withdrawal requests are processed through Academic Advising Course Drop, Retroactive Course Drop & Retroactive Term Withdrawal Appeals - UNC Advising 

Students are obligated to attend class regularly. Students are encouraged to communicate with their instructors early about potential absences, and instructors may work with students to meet attendance needs. Many reasons exist for missing classes that do not fall within University Approved Absences.

University-approved absences are not provided by Campus Health for commonly occurring illnesses, minor injuries, or non-emergency surgeries.

Some common examples of absences that do not qualify for a University Approved Absence are general doctor’s appointments, strep throat, upper respiratory infections, influenza, migraines, ear infections, common colds, stomach bugs, pink eye, sprained ankles, etc. Please work directly with your instructor to navigate absences for these reasons.

We know that illnesses may arise during finals. Students who have a medical illness during the final exam period that significantly impairs one's ability to prepare for or take a final exam may participate in the process outlined below for assistance. 

If you are seeking a withdrawal, underload, or final exam excuse due to psychological reasons, you will need to stop by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) during walk-in hours (Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.). CAPS processes are similar to Campus Health, and are detailed on the CAPS website: academic withdrawals, underloads, or final exam excuses due to psychological needs.