Medical documentation for students

Message from Valerie S. Kuehne, Vice-President Academic and Provost

Dear colleagues,

In keeping with the health and safety advice from the BC Government and Provincial Health Officer, faculty and instructors are asked to waive the medical documentation requirement (i.e., a physical or mental health care practitioner’s note) for students—regardless of how long they are ill—for the summer and fall 2020 terms.

You’ll recall that on March 4, 2020, the university began waiving the medical documentation requirement for students who were ill for less than two weeks in order to help contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19. This strategy was also an important factor in easing the pressures on our local medical system, including clinics.

The Senate Committee on Agenda and Governance, in consultation with me, and the Offices of the Registrar and Student Services, has approved the decision to further waive the requirement for students who are ill for more than two weeks. Given the need to provide assurance and clarity to students, this decision was required before registration opens on June 22.

This policy change applies equitably to all our students, regardless of their location. While the pandemic situation in British Columbia remains relatively stable at this time, we know that this isn’t the case everywhere, and UVic students living elsewhere in Canada or around the world may not be able to access medical systems or obtain a health care practitioner’s note in a safe and timely manner. We also do not know if and how the situation will change in the coming months, both locally and globally, and so we are taking a consistently cautious approach through the fall term.

This change is effective immediately and applies to the summer and fall 2020 terms only. We will update you if this change is extended into the spring 2021 term.

Sincerely,

Valerie

Valerie S. Kuehne, PhD
Vice-President Academic and Provost
University of Victoria