Review your course syllabi for information about absence policies and what to do if you miss class content.  

You will need to work with your instructors as well. Make sure you communicate proactively about absences and anything else that may affect your ability to attend and participate in class.  

The TCAT bus operates across Cornell’s campus, and the surrounding area. Learn about the schedule and on-campus routes. There are also helpful apps that track bus location and timings.  

If the TCAT bus cannot meet your needs, there is a paratransit service through TCAT. SDS also has additional information about other transportation assistance resources.  

If you may be late to class due to travel time between classes, review your course syllabi for information about attendance policies and what to do if you miss class content (e.g., due to lateness). Communicate proactively with your instructors about anything that may affect your ability to attend the full class session. 

Review your course syllabi for information about exam policies and what to do if there is an unexpected situation, such as a sudden illness, affecting your ability to take an exam.  

Reach out to your instructor(s) ASAP. If possible, communicate with them in advance about potential exam absences. 

Review your syllabi and assignment instructions to identify upcoming deadlines and potential challenges related to your illness or injury. You will need to work with your instructors. Communicate proactively with them about anything that may affect your ability to complete coursework.

Consider connecting with your College or School’s advising office as well. Advisors can provide guidance on what to do if you are unable to keep up with your courses. Taking an "Incomplete" in a course may not always be an option, and you may need to consider dropping a course instead, which could have an impact on your degree progress.   

Review your course syllabi for information about lab absence or make-up policies.  

Communicate proactively with your instructors and/or course staff to discuss options if you have questions or if your illness/injury may prevent you from meeting expectations outlined in the syllabus or course policies.

Due to the nature of labs, not every lab can be offered multiple times, and a make-up lab may not always be an option. Therefore, it is important to work with your instructor and/or course staff to discuss any potential options to get the lab course content.  

Your Cornell Dining meal plan has an option to get a “sick tray.” A sick tray is a take out meal from a Dining Hall. Another student can pick up a sick tray for you at any residential dining hall. Review the Cornell Dining Meal Plan webpage for more information and steps to follow. 

You can obtain groceries on campus at Anabel’s Grocery, or at Cornell Dining convenience stores. 

To get food from off campus, you will need to utilize your friend network and/or food delivery services (either offered directly by restaurants or grocery stores, or through third party services like Instacart or Ithaca to Go).   

If you will have difficulty using a Cornell Dining location (e.g., standing in line, carrying a tray, putting food onto a plate), contact Cornell Dining to discuss options.  

Cornell is a large, hilly campus. If you will need to limit walking, make use of the transportation services available.  

• The TCAT bus operates across Cornell’s campus, and the surrounding area. Learn about the schedule and on-campus routes. There are also helpful apps that track bus location and timings.  
• If the standard TCAT bus service cannot meet your needs, there is a paratransit service through TCAT.  
• The CULift shuttle service provides rides to classes and other academic activities for students with mobility-affecting disabilities. All rides must be pre-scheduled, and SDS approval is needed to schedule rides.
• We also have information about other transportation assistance resources.

Cornell has a map of accessible walking paths and accessible entrances to buildings.  

Due to its hilly nature, Cornell has stairs throughout campus. To avoid stairs, you'll need to learn different paths to get around. Cornell has an accessibility map that shows accessible paths around campus (so that you can avoid stairs and steep paths), as well as accessible building entrances (to avoid stairs up into buildings).  

As an older campus with some historic buildings, not every building will have an elevator.  

• If you cannot get to a class (or other activity) due to lack of elevator, contact SDS right away. We can explore options, such as getting a class location moved.  
• If you live on an upper floor of a residence hall without an elevator, contact Housing and Residential Life; they can temporarily reassign you to an accessible room (space-pending). If you may have an ongoing need to avoid stairs, connect with SDS as well.  

To report an elevator outage, or other issue with the physical accessibility on campus, contact the ADA Coordinator for Infrastructure, Properties, and Planning.  

Make sure you are aware of all the seating options in your classrooms, as some have multiple options. Depending on your need, you could also consider carrying a seat cushion with you; there are many effective and portable seat cushions on the market.  

If you will need to take breaks from sitting, you can take an aisle or back row seat in your class and discreetly stand as needed. We recommend you discuss this with your instructors, so that they are aware.  

If you have classrooms, an office, or a residence hall room that does not have seating that works for you (given your condition), connect with SDS. We could loan you a seat cushion, add different furniture to the room (such as alternate seating, a desk that can raise, or a stool to keep a leg elevated), and/or reserve the seating in the room that will work for you.   

Cornell is a large, hilly campus. There are transportation services that can help in getting around.  

• The TCAT bus operates across Cornell’s campus, and the surrounding area. Learn about its schedule and on-campus routes. There are also helpful apps that track bus location and timings.  
• If the standard TCAT bus service does not meet your needs, there is a paratransit service through TCAT.  
• The CULift shuttle service provides rides to classes and other academic activities for students with mobility-affecting disabilities. All rides must be pre-scheduled, and approval is needed by SDS in order to schedule rides.
• We also have information about other transportation assistance resources as well.

Cornell has a map of accessible walking paths and accessible entrances to buildings.

Contact SDS if you cannot get to a class or other location due to lack of elevator. To report an elevator outage, or other issue with the physical accessibility of campus, contact the ADA Coordinator for Infrastructure, Properties, and Planning. 

A parking permit is required in most campus lots and during most hours. This is the case even if you already have an accessible parking placard (or license plate).  

To park in accessible spaces on campus at times when permits are required, you must be approved by SDS to either purchase an accessible parking (AP) permit for campus, or to trade in your existing campus parking permit for the accessible permit. To do so:

• Make a formal request and submit supporting documentation (including photo of your accessible parking placard/plate, if you have one).  
• SDS can only approve an AP permit on a short-term basis (up to two months) unless you obtain a state- or municipality-issued hangtag. We strongly encourage you to get that hangtag even if you only anticipate a short-term need.

If you are eligible for staff parking privileges, connect directly with the Transportation Office instead.

Campus parking is limited and based on availability. Most permits sell out each year, and many lots are frequently at capacity. Contact Transportation with questions about parking locations, rates, and availability.

There are transportation services that can be used instead of, or in addition to, parking on campus:

• The TCAT bus operates across Cornell’s campus, and the surrounding area. Learn about its schedule and on-campus routes. There are also helpful apps that track bus location and timings.  
• If standard TCAT bus service doesn’t meet your needs, paratransit service is available through TCAT.
• The CULift shuttle service provides rides to classes and other academic activities for students with mobility-affecting disabilities. All rides must be pre-scheduled, and approval is needed by SDS in order to schedule rides.
• We have information about other transportation assistance resources as well.

Note: Graduate students in assistantships are eligible for some of the same transportation privileges as staff, including parking. 

If you are encountering barriers to living in your residence hall (e.g., stairs, furniture), contact Housing and Residential Life; they can temporarily reassign you to an accessible room (space-pending). If you may have an ongoing need, connect with SDS as well.

If you will temporarily need to be away from campus (e.g., due to a hospitalization), contact the Office of Student Support and Advocacy to discuss your situation.  

Shower stools enable you to sit in the shower, steady yourself, or prop up a limb. They are lightweight, easy to move, and can be used in residence hall showers if needed. You can purchase one inexpensively online, or if you live on campus you can contact SDS to inquire about borrowing a shower stool for your bathroom.

If you need something more significant or longer-term, such as grab bars, contact SDS right away.  

Some of the campus service centers have a drop-off laundry service. You may need to rely on your network of friends for assistance in getting laundry to/from the service center. or in doing laundry in your residence hall.  

Activities of daily living and self-care may become more difficult or time consuming when you are injured or not feeling well. These include things like eating, sleeping, bathing, toileting, and cleaning. There may also be complex or timely medical tasks that you need to do (e.g., taking medications, doing exercises, changing bandages). This can be a lot to handle while trying to keep up with classes, work, and other responsibilities.

It is okay to ask for help:

• Cornell is a caring community. Your friends may be wiling to help with things like getting food, cleaning, laundry, picking up medications, transportation, and getting notes from missed classes.  
• Cornell’s Office of Student Advocacy and Support can also help. They can talk through your situation with you and provide specific guidance and resources.
• If your academics may be impacted, let your instructors know, and reach out to your College or School’s advising office.
• You can also consult with Cornell’s Health Leaves Coordinator if you may need to take a break from being a student. You can also set up a meeting to discuss the option and its implications before you make a decision.

You can use speech-to-text technology to convert your spoken words into text in a document. Many phones, browsers, and operating systems have built-in options.  

Take a look at our list of free and low-cost assistive technology resources to explore additional options, as well as tools to help with taking notes in class.

Contact SDS if you have concerns about using such technologies in class or during exams. 

Take a look at our list of free and low-cost assistive technology resources to explore tools to help with taking notes in class. For example, Jamworks is free-to-use for all Cornell students and provides recordings as well as note-taking support.  

Contact SDS if you have concerns with using such technologies in class (e.g., due to restrictions on computer/device use).  

You can use text-to-speech technology to read webpages and documents aloud. Many phones, browsers, and operating systems have built-in options.  

Take a look at our list of free and low-cost assistive technology resources to explore options. For example, all Cornell students have free access to NaturalReader, which sounds very natural. It is customizable, and you can convert files into MP3s or podcasts, or do a “read along” in the app. 

Screens on computers and other electronic devices can be quite bright, and make you feel like you are staring into a lightbulb.  

Here are some things you can do:

• Make your screen dimmer. All screens have a way to adjust brightness.
• Use dark mode, or change the display colors. You can adjust these settings in the app and/or operating system settings.  
• Shade your eyes. You can wear tinted glasses or sunglasses.
• Try an e-ink display for your device. These do not emit light to display text/images (though some e-ink devices come with options for backlighting). They are more like looking at paper than at a screen. Mann Library has some e-ink readers and tablets you can borrow to try out.  
• Listen instead of reading. Use using text-to-speech software to read aloud emails, documents, and webpages. There are built in options and you can also take a look at our list of free and low-cost assistive technology resources to explore some more robust options (NaturalReader is excellent and is free for Cornell students).
• Print out things that you may need to repeatedly reference. Cornell provides all students with CU Print funds for printing on campus.  

Contact SDS if you are experiencing ongoing symptoms and would like to discuss these options in more detail. We may be able to assist by loaning you an e-ink monitor, providing additional CU Print funds, or putting a formal accommodation in place for you to have all your course materials provided in a paper format (including textbooks).  

If you work on campus (i.e., receive a W-2), you are eligible for NY paid sick leave (this includes students in assistantships). This could allow you to take time off from your work duties when you are too ill to work. You may also be eligible for a short-term disability leave from your position. For questions about time away from work, you can contact your work supervisor, the Student Employment Office, or the "Workday pay rep" for your division/unit.  

Changes to your current work environment may allow you to work, given your injury or condition (e.g., you may need to be able to use a chair if you can no longer stand for your whole shift). Learn more about accommodations for campus employment (including assistantships). It is important to connect with SDS as soon as possible if you may have such a need. 

Cornell requires all students to have health insurance. This is to protect you from sudden and costly medical expenses. 

• Contact your health plan to see if there are expenses that should have been covered.  
  • Your provider may need to resubmit a claim.
  • You may need to provide a receipt if you are seeking reimbursement  
  • Ask about seeing in-network providers (which are less expensive).
• If you are on the Student Health Plan (SHP),  contact the specific provider (e.g., Aetna for medical expenses, Optum for prescriptions, etc.). If you are unsure who to contact, reach out to Student Health Benefits for guidance.
• If you are not on the Student Health Plan, look at your health insurance card for contact information, or check with your policy holder (family member).

Even if your health insurance has covered everything it is supposed to, costs can still add up, especially if you are dealing with a deductible or multiple smaller expenses. Here are some ways to reduce costs:

• You can complete a waiver at Cornell Health from paying its copays. Cornell Health also provides many low-cost services.
• Ask other health care providers about payment plans, or a sliding scale, if you cannot afford payments. Some medical expenses are negotiable. Just ask.

There are financial resources for students with sudden expenses:

• CU Emergency Fund
• Access Fund
• Students Helping Students Emergency Grant
• Contact the Office of Financial Aid (undergrads), or your Student Services Office (graduate and professional students) to learn about other options that may be available. 
• You can also contact Student Support and Advocacy Services for guidance. 

Faculty should not be asking for medical information, nor do you have to provide it to them. It doesn’t matter if your health condition is temporary or ongoing.  

From the faculty handbook (see section: “Health-Related Accommodations”):

“Cornell Health does not provide excuses for routine illnesses, injuries, and mental health problems that may lead to missed classes, labs, studios, exams, or deadlines. This longstanding policy resembles those of most other major universities and is consistent with the recommendations of the American College Health Association. The University expects students to be honest with their professors regarding their ability to complete work [...]. Professors are expected to work with students on these issues. Academic advising staff and associate deans are available to provide assistance to students or faculty members who have concerns about attendance issues.”

Contact your Student Services Office for assistance if a faculty member asks for medical information from you.  

A faculty member may refer you to SDS if you have an ongoing need for support or if you may need disability accommodations due to the ongoing nature of a condition. 

Review your course syllabi, which may have information about exam policies and what to do if there is a situation affecting your ability to take an exam. 

Reach out to your instructor(s) ASAP.  

If you are concerned about the impact of a missed exam on your success in the class, contact your Student Services Office. 

Reach out to your instructor(s) ASAP.

In certain circumstances, you may be able to request an  “incomplete” in the class. Receiving an “incomplete” as a grade allows you time to finish the work after the end of the semester. You will receive your final grade in the course after work is turned in and graded (or after the allotted timeframe to resolve the "incomplete" has expired).  

To be eligible for an incomplete:  

• you must have enough equity in the course (i.e., completed at least 50% of the course at a passing level),  
• the instructor is willing and available to facilitate a later deadline for you to complete the course,  
• the work missed was outside your control (e.g., due to sudden hospitalization), and
• the remaining work can be completed after the semester ends.

An incomplete is at your instructor’s discretion.

You should also contact your Student Services Office to discuss your situation, especially if an incomplete may not be an option. 

Most classes at Cornell are in-person due to class engagement requirements as outlined in the syllabi. These courses cannot be made into online courses as they were designed to be in person. Changing the course to an online format would fundamentally alter the methods of instruction and engagement.

You are going to need to make a plan for what to do. Not being in class means that you are going to miss some of your course content.

Start by reviewing your course syllabi, which may have information about attendance policies and what to do if class content is missed. Sometimes there are resources you can access that would keep you from falling too far behind (e.g., copies of lecture slides).  

You will need to work with your instructors as well. Proactively communicate with them about absences and anything else that may affect your ability to attend and participate in class.

Continue to participate in study groups, office hours, and use your network of friends to get copies of class notes.

Contact your Student Services Office, especially if you may be absent for a critical period of time or it would be difficult to catch up on missed material. Depending on your situation, they may speak with you about taking a lighter course load for the semester to better focus on necessary courses, exploring the option for taking an "Incomplete" in a course, or considering a leave of absence from the University.  

Depending on the reason you may be taking time away, consider connecting with Student Support and Advocacy Services to discuss resources and other supports specific to your situation.  

Not being in class means that you are going to miss some of your course content, so it is important to plan ahead if you can.

Review your course syllabi for information about attendance policies and what to do if class content is missed. Sometimes there are resources you can access that would keep you from falling too far behind (e.g., copies of lecture slides).  

Work with your instructors as well. Communicate proactively about your absence and anything else that may affect your ability to attend and participate in class.

Continue to participate in study groups, office hours, and use your network of friends to get copies of class notes. 

Contact your Student Services Office, especially if you may be absent for a critical period of time and it will be difficult to catch up on missed material.

Depending on the nature of your surgery, you may want to connect with Student Support and Advocacy Services to discuss resources and other supports specific to your situation. 

As you are recovering, you may have difficulties in getting around campus, or in doing other things. Reference the other information on this page to know what specific resources may help, or when to connect with SDS. 

Contact your Student Services Office to discuss options. Depending on your situation, they may speak with you about taking a lighter course load for the semester to better focus on necessary courses, exploring the option of taking an "Incomplete" in a course, or considering a leave of absence from the University. 

Use the example email template on this page when connecting with your instructors.  

Contact your Student Services Office for assistance in communicating with your faculty members. 

Not being in class means that you are going to miss course content.  

Review your course syllabi for information about attendance policies and what to do if class content is missed. Sometimes there are resources you can access that would keep you from falling too far behind (e.g., copies of lecture slides).  

Work with your instructors as well. Communicate proactively about absences.

Contact your Student Services Office, especially if you may be absent for a critical period of time or if it will be difficult to catch up on missed material. Depending on your situation, they may speak with you about taking a lighter course load for the semester to better focus on necessary courses, exploring the option for a taking an "Incomplete" in a course, or considering taking a leave of absence from the University.  

Continue to participate in study groups, office hours, and use your network of friends to get copies of class notes. 

If your illness is ongoing (e.g., more than two weeks), it may qualify as a temporary disability. Review the information at the top of this page about temporary disabilities, and reach out to SDS if you would like to discuss your situation and whether or not disability accommodations may be appropriate. 

Review your course syllabi, as there is sometimes some flexibility in the course for students who need an occasional extension due to things like a sudden illness.

Work with your instructors. Communicate proactively about anything that may affect your ability to complete coursework.  

Consider connecting with your College or School’s advising office as well. Staff there can provide guidance on what to do if you are unable to keep up in your courses. Taking an "Incomplete" in a course may not always be an option. You may need to consider dropping or withdrawing from a course, which could have an impact on your degree progress.   

In certain circumstances, you may be able to request an  “incomplete” in the class. Receiving an “incomplete” as a grade allows you time to finish the work after the end of the semester. You will receive your final grade in the course after work is turned in and graded (or after the allotted timeframe to resolve the "incomplete" has expired).  

To be eligible for an incomplete:  

• you must have enough equity in the course (i.e., completed at least 50% of the course at a passing level),  
• the instructor is willing and available to facilitate a later deadline for you to complete the course,  
• the work missed was outside your control (e.g., due to sudden hospitalization), and
• the remaining work can be completed after the semester ends.

An incomplete is at your instructor’s discretion.

You should also contact your Student Services Office to discuss your situation, especially if an incomplete may not be an option. 

Access the resources you need: Cornell’s Mental Health website outlines the support options available.

Contact Student Support and Advocacy Services to discuss resources and other supports specific to your situation.

When you are ready, review your course syllabi. They often have information about absence policies and what to do if class content is missed.  

You will need to work with your instructors as well. Make sure you are proactively communicating with them about absences (when possible). 

Cornell Health has COVID-specific guidance about when to stay out of class, who to communicate with, and what resources are available for support. 

For a routine pregnancy or related condition (nursing/lactation, termination, childbirth, etc.), accommodations are arranged by the Cornell Office of Civil Rights. Reach out to them to initiate an accommodation process.  

They may refer you to work with us (SDS) if you have a disabling condition in addition (e.g., severe morning sickness, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia).  

There is additional information on the EEOC website.  

If you work on campus (i.e., receive a W-2), you are eligible for NY paid sick leave (this includes students in assistantships). This could allow you to take time off from your work duties when you are too ill to work. You may also be eligible for a short-term disability leave from your position. For questions about time away from work, you can contact your work supervisor, the Student Employment Office, or the "Workday pay rep" for your division/unit.  

Changes to your current work environment may allow you to work, given your injury or condition (e.g., you may need to be able to use a chair if you can no longer stand for your whole shift). Learn more about accommodations for campus employment (including assistantships). It is important to connect with SDS as soon as possible if you may have such a need.