If you encounter a health issue that disrupts your course work while you are a student, Penn State World Campus Student Affairs can assist you. You are encouraged to complete the Care and Concern form to reach out to us with any concerns or questions about how your situation may impact your status at the University. Our office can advise you on your individual needs and help you balance your personal health with your academic pursuits.
Student Disability Resources
Our Student Disability Services team provides reasonable accommodations and services to Penn State World Campus students with permanent or temporary disabilities who are experiencing functional limitations.
Examples of current functional limitations include:
- broken bones
- concussions
- surgeries
- other injuries or procedures
To consider whether a situation you are experiencing involves a functional limitation, you may ask yourself, “Does the extenuating circumstance significantly impact my walking, my breathing, my hearing, or any other functions?”
Review our Disabilities and Accommodations information to learn more about eligibility, possible accommodations, and how to request accommodations.
Faculty Notification
In instances when you cannot notify your instructor of missed course work due to extenuating danger and distress circumstances, our staff can send a general notification to your instructors.
A Care and Concern notification to your instructors informs them that the University was notified that you are currently experiencing extenuating circumstances and are unable to contact your instructors. Our staff will ask you, when you are safe and able, to contact your instructors to make arrangements related to your course work. We are happy to serve as a liaison until it is reasonable for you to resume your studies.
This notification is a courtesy notification informing instructors that your circumstances may warrant valid time away from your courses. Any academic accommodations or arrangements to make up missed work must be agreed upon between the student and instructor.
For this notification to be sent, a student, staff member, or other stakeholder will need to initiate the process by completing the Care and Concern form.
If you foresee extenuating circumstances that may impact you, you should take the first step and reach out to your instructor to ask for consideration for extra time to complete course work before the situation begins. Some extenuating situations may include, but are not limited to, scheduled medical procedures requiring extended care, bereavement, jury duty, birth or adoption of a child, impeding dangerous weather conditions, and more.
