Student Absence Policies

Jury Duty

Massachusetts jury duty and Massachusetts grand jury service can be deferred to another date within one year of the original summons date. There is no such provision for Federal court jury duty. Students who are summoned for Massachusetts jury duty or Massachusetts grand jury service should, if practicable, defer their service to another date that does not conflict with their course schedule.

Students who are unable to change their date of jury duty service should consult with their instructors or program coordinators regarding the opportunity to make up missed work, exams or practicums.

For more information, please contact either the Registrar at registrarpublic@necc.mass.edu or the Dean of Academic Policy Advising, Articulation and Transfer at gyoung@necc.mass.edu

Pregnancy and Childbirth

In accordance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, absences due to pregnancy or related conditions, including recovery from childbirth, shall be excused for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences to be medically necessary. When the student returns to the College she shall be reinstated to the status she held when the leave began, which includes the opportunity to make up any missed work. The College may offer the student alternatives to making up missed work, such as retaking a semester, taking part in online instruction, or allowing the student additional time in a program to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date.

For more information, please contact either the Registrar at registrarpublic@necc.mass.edu or the Dean of Academic Policy Advising, Articulation and Transfer at gyoung@necc.mass.edu.

Religious Reasons

Students who, due to religious beliefs, are unable to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day, shall be excused from any such examination or study or requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement which they may have missed because of such absence on any particular day, provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon the school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to said students such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to students for availing themselves of the provisions for an absence for religious reasons in accordance with Chapter 375, General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.