Postponement of Examinations and Special Excuses

St. George’s University

Psychological Services Center (Building E, www.sgu.edu/psc, 473.439.2277)

During psychological emergencies, and at other times, Psychological Services Center clinicians can assist students by arranging for examination postponement and other special excuses when appropriate.

 Students who present in the Psychological Services Center requesting examination postponement or other special excuse will be evaluated by the first available clinician.

 In order to be excused from an examination, the student must be experiencing one of the following: . Acute and severe psychosocial stressor (e.g., death in the family) that results in significantly impaired psychological functioning in multiple areas or settings. . Acute and severe onset of symptomatology of a DSM-IV disorder (e.g., clinical depression) that results in significantly impaired psychological functioning in multiple areas or settings. . Acute and severe exacerbation of otherwise managed symptomatology of a DSM-IV disorder (e.g., rebound depression when prescribed psychotropic medication not available) that results in significantly impaired psychological functioning in multiple areas or settings.

 If student meets criteria, and prior to excuse being written, students should be warned that they will be tracked during their remaining studies at St. George’s University to ensure that they are not abusing postponement privileges.

 Any excuse must be approved by the Director of the Psychological Services Center. If appropriate, Director will then notify Director of University Health Services of student’s name and status for processing.

 For students facing problems of a more chronic nature, it might be to their benefit to consider some other avenue, such as a medical leave of absence. It should be noted that many students actually perform well on exams when they are not excused.

 Students oftentimes present to the Dean of Students office in response to acute and severe stressors. Unless there is some counseling or evaluation need, the Dean of Students can take appropriate action, and not refer the student to the Psychological Services Center for exam postponement or other special excuse.