Today@Dal

Instructors are encouraged to implement the Student Declaration of Absence (SDA) Form for their fall 2020 online courses. The SDA Form replaces sick notes for absences of three days or fewer that result in missed or late academic requirements.

Implementing the SDA Form as part of a course is done through Brightspace. Simply log in to Brightspace, select "Student Declaration of Absence" from the drop-down menu, and choose the course(s) in which you would like to implement the SDA​ Form.

The discretion to arrange alternate coursework, assignments and/or tests remains with the instructor. Please be sure to inform students how to submit the form in your course (e.g. in Brightspace, via email, etc.). 

The Faculties of Engineering, Medicine, Law, Dentistry and the College of Pharmacy will continue to be exempt from the new regulation and will not be using the SDA Form. These faculties have separate regulations to cover short- and long-term absences.

Further details about the SDA Form are available at dal.ca/studentabsence.