Extenuating Circumstances Policy
During your studies at Rasmussen, you may experience circumstances outside your control that may impact your ability to fulfill the requirements of your courses or program. These guidelines are in place to ensure equity for all students.
Extenuating Circumstances are generally defined as a combination of the following:
- Situations that are different from your usual day-to-day life.
- They are unforeseen and outside of your control: You could not have prevented them.
- They are likely to substantially impact your ability to comply with the policies of the University.
The following are considered extenuating circumstances with appropriate documentation:
- Military service
- Jury duty
- An Accommodations Plan that has been approved through the University's accommodations request process, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973).
If the extenuating circumstances reported fall under a Title IX related conditions, this should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected] for support and consideration. Title IX Offenses include incidents of sexual misconduct such as sex-based harassment, sexual violence, dating and domestic violence.
The following situations may be considered extenuating circumstances with appropriate documentation; this list is not all-inclusive:
- Serious ill health or caregiving of self or an immediate family member
- Personal accident or injury of a significant nature
- Bereavement due to the recent loss of a close family member
- Victim of a crime
- Short-term incarceration
- Court Appearance when mandated as third-party or witness
- Unforeseen transportation emergencies such as a car accident
- Unforeseen conflicts with childcare
- Unexpected medical complications
- Natural disasters or other emergencies declared by a state or federal agency
Standards of acceptable evidence include the following:
- A Health Provider's letter or certificate that confirms your illness and clearly identifies the time of the illness
- Hospital admission and discharge letter, to confirm your time spent in the hospital
- Death Certificate / Order of Service / Funeral Director's Letter
- Police Report
- Military Orders
- Jury Duty Summons - stamped jury duty form from the court
- Emergency Declaration
- Intake and Release Paperwork
- Accommodations Plan on file
The following situations are generally not considered extenuating circumstances; this list is not all-inclusive:
- Poor Time Management: Failure to manage time effectively or procrastination
- Work Commitments: Not planning appropriately for work commitments or volunteer work
- Holidays or Travel Plans: Lack of prioritization for academic expectations related to vacations or trips
- Lack of Preparation: Not completing work related to exams or assignments, misreading of schedule or tardiness
- Transportation Issues: Not planning for routine/expected traffic delays
- Non-Urgent Appointments: Routine appointments that can be scheduled at alternative times
- Minor Illnesses: that do not significantly impact academic performance