Note
Verification of Illness
U of T has temporarily suspended the need for a Verification of Illness including a doctor’s note or medical certificates for medically related absences. However, documentation is still required for absences due to non-medical reasons.
Absence Declaration
If you are unable to attend class or complete an assessment due to an illness, you must report your absence through the Student Absence Declaration Tool on ACORN. Please note that as of January 2, 2023, the maximum absence period you can declare on ACORN will change from fourteen to seven days in the future.
Missed Exam due to Illness
We continue to ask students to please remain home if they are ill. If you are unable to write a final exam due to an illness, you must declare your absence on ACORN before you miss the final exam and submit a final exam petition within seven days of the exam. Please include a screenshot or email confirmation of the absence declaration with your petition. For more information, visit final exam petitions.
Please also refer to the Procedures in the Event of Confirmed/Symptomatic Case or Exposure to COVID-19 from U of T’s Environmental Health & Safety and the Provincial Self-Assessment.
Sometimes, things do not go as planned. A petition is your formal request for an exception to a Faculty or University rule, regulation or deadline. The University of Toronto acknowledges that students sometimes encounter unforeseen or uncontrollable circumstances that can severely interfere with their ability to fulfill their academic obligations.
Through the petition process, you may seek a resolution for the academic consequences that may have resulted from extenuating circumstances. However, you are expected to make every effort to complete term work and examinations. Petitions that arise from a failure to prioritize academic responsibilities or carelessness will not be granted.
Some examples of reasons you may consider submitting a petition:
- Severe personal illness
- Illness or death of a close family member
- Personal or family crisis
- Other extenuating circumstances
There are three types of petitions:
If your petition is denied, you have thirty days to submit an official appeal to the Faculty. Typically, an appeal will include additional information that was not submitted with the original petition.