Email to professor for missing class

Email to Professor about Missing Class/lecture

Letters Kate

Students are required to inform their teacher about missing class. This letter explains why the student missed the class and whether the reason is acceptable.

Why is it important?

Every institute has its policies to control absenteeism. Therefore, students are not allowed to remain absent from their class, and if they have a genuine reason for absence, they should inform their teacher about it. University students often meet with professors to discuss their research or course-related matters. They also have to attend lectures. So, when they cannot participate in the lecture, they must email the professor about their absence.

Things to remember when writing an email to the professor:

Know the policy of the university:

Every university has a different policy to handle such problems of absenteeism. Before you write the email, you should know what the policy of your institute is regarding the email to your professor. Some institutes strictly forbid their students to discuss missing lecture problems with their professors via email or text. You can write an email if your institute does not impose such restriction.

Know your history:

Before a student emails his teacher, he should ponder his behaviour and whether his professor knows him as a bad or good student. The impact of the email on the professor also depends on the student’s reputation.

Be honest:

Make sure that you don’t have to lie or make any statement that is not truthful. There might be a reason for you to miss the class; if you’re concerned, you should state that very reason. If you make a lame excuse for illness, your professor might ask you to provide the medical certificate, which you cannot easily arrange.

Let the professor know that you are concerned:

For many teachers, the behavior of the student matters a lot. So, when they see that you are concerned about the loss of studies due to missing your classes, they will realize that you have not skipped the class deliberately. For showing concern, you can tell your professor that you have completed the assigned work.

Don’t ask the teacher to provide you with the notes:

Asking the teacher for class notes is the most annoying thing for a teacher. So, never ask him for notes. You can take notes from your classmates but never from your professor. This might make him angry and compel him to take action against you for missing your classes.

Stay polite:

Respect is the first and foremost element to demonstrate, no matter what kind of letter you write to your professor. Students are usually afraid to miss their classes and talk to their professors about them; however, if it is essential to speak to the teacher, one should be wary of their tone and choice of words.

Keep the email concise:

The major difference between an email and a letter is the length of the content. Although letters written to professors are also short, emails are even shorter. You have to write down some important details and then make a formal request. Respect your professor’s time, and don’t try to engage him in reading lengthy content.

Don’t repeat:

It is not recommended to ask your professor to approve your request repeatedly. Instead, make the request and then leave the decision to the teacher.

Basic elements of the email to the professor:

Consider adding the following details to the email to be sent to your teacher:

  1. Details of the student, including name, roll number, section number, department name, etc., should be added to the email.
  2. Please inform the teacher that you have missed your classes and mention the dates you missed.
  3. Put a formal request to the teacher to accept your leave application. If you are writing to apologize, write your apology professionally and close the email with your signature.

Sample Letter

#1

I am writing to express my regret for missing today’s class. Unfortunately, I missed my bus and could not make it to the university on time. Please share the lecture slides with me so that I can stay updated with the topics covered in today’s class.

I would appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

#2

I am writing to apologize for my absence from the Economic class today. I regret missing your important lecture due to a medical emergency in my family. I urgently had to accompany my father to the hospital since he needed immediate medical attention. I hope you understand my situation.

Since my absence was due to an emergency, I request you kindly not mark me absent because it would affect my attendance record. I have already contacted my classmates to share the lecture notes and assure you that I will be well-prepared for the upcoming quiz.

I would sincerely appreciate your cooperation. I appreciate your understanding.

#3

Dear Dr. [name]

I [name] from [course name] took [subject name] with you. On [date], we had our [subject] class with you from [time] to [time]. Sir, I couldn’t attend the class because I was ill. I had a high-grade fever and cough so that I couldn’t come to the university for the whole week.

When I asked my classmates about the missing work, they told me about the surprise quiz you took, which will have a weightage of 5 marks in the Finals. Sir, please take my quiz separately, as missing it would significantly affect my grades.

I am also completing the notes I missed last week so I won’t have any problem with the upcoming monthly assessments. Please excuse my absence; I was very sick and have only recovered enough to attend university this week.

Please let me know when it would be convenient for you to take my quiz. I look forward to your response.

[Your Name].

Email to professor for missing class

File: Word (.docx) and iPad
Size 16 KB

Download