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Illness Reporting & Class Absence Policy

University Health & Counseling Services (UHCS) is here to support your health and academic success. If you’re feeling ill, you can easily report your symptoms through MyHealthConnect to receive guidance from our nursing team and a verification letter you can share with your instructors if needed.

Reporting an Illness

Many common illnesses, such as colds (upper respiratory infections), influenza, and gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”), may be managed at home or in your residence hall and do not require a visit to a healthcare provider.  

Please note, students with severe or concerning symptoms, including but not limited to difficulty breathing and chest pain, should seek emergency care by calling 216.368.3333 on-campus or 911 off-campus, or going to the nearest Emergency Department. 

Students who would like to schedule an appointment for an evaluation may do so through myhealthconnect.case.edu. Telemedicine visits are also available any time through TimelyCare. After hours and on weekends, students may contact 216.368.2450 to speak to the nurse on-call for medical advice.

How to Report an Illness

  • Log in to Myhealthconnect.case.edu
  • Select “Messages” → “New Message” → “I want to report an illness.”
  • Complete and submit the form

A UHCS nurse will review your report within one business day and send a secure message with:

  • Guidance for managing your symptoms
  • Instructions on when it’s safe to return to class
  • A verification letter confirming your illness report (posted in MyHealthConnect)

If a handout is available for your specific illness, it will be attached to your secure message.

Reporting Limits

Students may submit up to three (3) illness reports per semester without an appointment.

  • 1st–3rd reports: You will receive a verification letter and care instructions.
  • 4th or more reports in a semester: You must schedule a visit with a UHCS provider or a TimelyCare clinician before additional documentation can be provided.
  • Requests for additional documentation (more than 48 hours after your initial report) require a provider visit and count toward your total number of illness reports.

These limits help ensure that students with recurring or ongoing illness receive appropriate evaluation and care.

Scheduling a Provider Visit

UHCS is not a walk-in clinic — appointments are required.

You can schedule by:

If you experience severe or concerning symptoms (such as difficulty breathing or chest pain), seek emergency care by calling 216.368.3333 on campus or 911 off campus.

Class Absence and Faculty Notification

  • UHCS does not issue formal class excuses.
  • If you’re going to miss class, you should first work directly with your faculty and instructors to inform them about your situation and make appropriate arrangements directly with them about your work and assignments. Some faculty may ask that you provide supporting documentation to your four-year advisor for verification if you are absent for medical reasons. If so, you can email your four-year advisor with your specific request along with supporting documentation.
  • Four-year advisors cannot excuse absences; the ultimate decision of whether an absence is excused or unexcused is up to your instructors.
  • The verification letter you receive after submitting an Illness Report can be shared with instructors and/or four year advisors to confirm you reported an illness.
  • For extended or serious illness (such as hospitalization), UHCS can, with your permission, coordinate with your Dean’s Office to provide additional support.

For more information on this and other types of absences, consult the university class attendance policy found in the General Bulletin.