Dean's Note

Dear CRCers,

What is a dean's note?

Signed, I Think I Need One

Art4All | nature.com

Some professors state on their syllabus or verbally that they will accept requests for assignment extensions with a "dean's note."  Typically, many academic advising deans will write a note to confirm a student's description of an extenuating circumstance that may have temporarily affected a student's ability to meet a deadline; however, the note does not carry the weight of authorizing an excuse by which a professor must abide.  

Student Support Services deans (and some academic advising deans) will write a note to all of a student's professors if a student is urgently trying to manage a critical illness or personal situation; the note can help a professor decide if they will make a temporary accommodation. As well, Dean Maud Mandel's office will write a memo to all professors of a student who has recently lost a close family member or friend.  You can read of the Office of the Dean of the College's statement on dean's notes here.

For final exams, students can only be excused from one and take the exam at the start of the following semester if (1) serious illness at the time the exam is being administered [i.e., illness sufficiently serious to warrant a visit to Health Services or other health professional]; (2) grave family or personal emergency; and (3) conflict of exam times as scheduled by the Registrar's Office. You may read the official policy here.

Students who have a diagnosed health condition, a learning or physical disability in need of accommodations ought to officially register themselves with the Office of Student Employee Accessibility Services, ideally at the start of the semester. For example, if you are seeing a therapist on a weekly basis for anxiety or depression, you can get ongoing accommodations that a professor would abide by throughout the semester--such as more time for a paper or on taking an in-class exam--so you wouldn't need to explain why you're having a hard time meeting a deadline every time you experience the difficulty and with each new professor you have.  It's better to have the SEAS accommodation in place and not use it, rather than expect that a dean can write you a note every time you feel you need one.

Finally, remember that most professors would rather hear from you directly about the difficulties you're having and your need for extra support. Try to communicate with them yourself if you can; deans can help you think through what to say to them.