Concussions

If you believe you have suffered a concussion while on campus, meet with student health services or your athletic trainer as soon as possible after the injury  for a diagnosis and treatment protocol recommendations. 

Student Health / Athletic trainers will automatically notify DSS if you are diagnosed with a concussion, and DSS will email you to schedule a meeting to discuss the provision of temporary academic accommodations while you recover from your concussion.      

Injury and Illness

You should personally notify your professors if you have missed and/or expect to miss any classes; your professors are in the best position to discuss how absences from class will affect your class performance and work with you to develop a plan to complete outstanding work as your health allows.

If you experience  an injury or  medical condition, or  require a medical procedure for an illness / condition and will be unable to participate in your course requirements of work  or attendance for a significant period of time  (i.e. hospitalization, surgery),  you should also contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 202-319-5619, cua-deanofstudents@cua.edu. 

If you will require accommodations when you return to campus, related to mobility, classroom accommodations or other needs, complete an Accessibility Request Form and contact DSS as soon as you have information about the date you will return to campus and accommodations you will require, including any mobility-related needs.  DSS will ask you to provide medical records that include a diagnosis and information detailing the short-term impact of the condition and how long it is likely to persist.  

Absences:  Please be aware that neither the Dean of Students’ Office nor Office of Disability Support Services has the authority to excuse you from class.  The sole authority for excusing absences remains with the Instructor.  It is your responsibility to remain in communication with each professor regarding absences.  DOS and DSS may share in advocating with you when we have documentation on file to support the necessity of absences.  Each professor, in consideration of the timing in the semester, the academic and seat time requirements of the course, and other pertinent factors, will advise you of the best recommendation for the remainder of the semester if absences will be significant.  

Likewise, DSS and DOS cannot ask professors to allow you to participate in your classes through a remote option.  By University design, in-person classes do not have a virtual component and a professor cannot be compelled to offer an alternative to in-person attendance. 

Updated January 2025