Universities across the English-speaking world are increasingly re-evaluating the role of doctor’s notes for minor student illnesses. At Indiana University Student Health Center, a revised policy, effective from August 2019, reflects a broader trend among peer institutions: we no longer provide medical excuses for short-term absences from classes, assignments, or tests due to common health issues like colds, flu, or brief mental health concerns.
This policy shift doesn’t mean we are less concerned about student well-being. In fact, for students experiencing ongoing or serious health challenges, injury, or disability, the Student Health Center remains committed to providing comprehensive care and necessary documentation. Students facing complex health situations impacting their studies are encouraged to reach out to the Student Advocates Office or Accessible Educational Services for guidance and support. These dedicated resources specialize in assisting students in navigating academic life while managing health and disability-related challenges.
So, why this change regarding doctor’s notes for everyday illnesses? Historically, many students have sought appointments at the Student Health Center primarily to obtain a “note” for minor ailments that typically resolve on their own, such as common viral infections or short-lived gastrointestinal upsets. This practice, while seemingly straightforward, presents several significant drawbacks that impact both students and the university health system.
Firstly, requiring doctor’s visits for notes creates an unnecessary financial burden on students. These visits often necessitate using insurance coverage or incurring out-of-pocket expenses, even for minor issues. This can disproportionately affect students with limited insurance options or those who struggle to afford healthcare fees, creating an uneven playing field compared to peers who can more easily absorb these costs.
Secondly, the demand for “notes” overloads our healthcare services. When appointments are filled with requests for documentation for minor illnesses, it reduces the availability of timely appointments for students with more urgent or serious medical needs. This strain on resources can impact the overall quality and accessibility of healthcare for the entire student population.
Thirdly, encouraging students to visit a health center, even when unnecessary, can inadvertently increase the spread of communicable illnesses. Bringing mildly ill students into a healthcare setting, even with precautions, can expose others and potentially contribute to the transmission of viruses and bacteria.
Furthermore, the timing of these “note-seeking” visits is often problematic. Students frequently seek appointments after they have recovered from the illness. In these situations, healthcare providers must rely solely on the student’s self-reported history, lacking any objective, verifiable medical findings from the time of illness. While we trust student reports, this retrospective verification process is not ideal for medical documentation.
The potential for fabricated or exaggerated symptoms is another concern. When the primary purpose of a visit is to obtain a note, there is a possibility, however small, that a student might misrepresent their symptoms. Such reports, even if inaccurate, become part of a student’s permanent medical or mental health record, which can have unintended consequences.
Beyond the health center, requiring unnecessary visits places a time burden on students. Scheduling, traveling to, and attending appointments takes valuable time away from studies and other commitments, especially when self-care at home would be sufficient.
Perhaps most importantly, the practice of requiring doctor’s notes can inadvertently undermine student privacy. Instructors requesting specific medical details to excuse absences are asking students to share private health information. This raises concerns about patient confidentiality and the appropriate handling of sensitive medical data within an academic context.
Finally, from a healthcare perspective, routinely providing notes for minor illnesses goes against our mission of educating students to be wise healthcare consumers. Encouraging students to seek professional medical care when self-care is appropriate and sufficient can foster over-reliance on medical services and detract from the importance of self-management of minor health issues.
For all these compelling reasons, we firmly believe that decisions regarding student class attendance for short-term illnesses should be based on direct communication between the student and their instructor. This approach fosters responsibility, encourages open dialogue, and respects both student autonomy and faculty judgment, without the need for medical professionals to act as intermediaries for minor health concerns.
If you are an Indiana University student and a professor requires formal documentation for a missed class, you are welcome to print and share this letter which explains our policy and the rationale behind it. This letter serves to inform instructors about the university’s approach and encourages a more direct and effective communication model for managing student absences related to short-term health concerns.
