<p>Students need to realize that as soon as they have a problem they need to start working on trying to salvage whatever they can from their academic situation. I have a student this semester who disappeared from class for over two weeks. She missed an exam and numerous homework assignments. There was no word from her, despite the ease of sending emails through the campus system. After 18 days she sent an email saying she had been in the hospital and asking if she could make up the exam. I have not allowed her to do so. At this point, she will almost certainly fail the course. I don’t know if she will make some appeal to the College or whether they would support her or not. I’m going to wait and see.</p>
<p>OTOH, in a course some years ago one of the students contracted meningitis and was in a coma. While his parents were waiting to learn whether he would live or die, his mother contacted me on my cell phone attempting to do what she could to salvage his education if he survived (to my knowledge he did, but I have no idea whether he ever returned to school or when).</p>