You woke up with a pounding headache and a fever. Your throat is scratchy, your body aches, and you have two assignments due this week. What do you do?
For adult learners juggling careers, families, and coursework, getting sick isn't just inconvenient —it can feel like a major derailment in your day, week, or even your year.
The good news? You don't have to navigate this alone. Whether you're dealing with a sudden illness or you’re managing a chronic condition, there are practical steps you can take to protect both your health and your academic progress.
1. Communicate Early with Your Professors
As a college student, the single most important action you can take when illness strikes is reaching out to your professor (or professors) as soon as possible, ideally before you miss a deadline or a class session.
"The first piece of advice is always contacting the instructor to explain the situation and asking about possible adjustments or extensions," says Darlene Sanchez, UMGC success coach.
When you contact your professor, keep your message brief, truthful, and specific. Let them know you're unwell, which assignments or classes you'll miss, and what exactly you're requesting—whether that's an extension, advice on catching up, or clarity on missed lessons. You don’t need to share detailed medical information, but communicating upfront will help your professor understand your needs.
2. Take Time to Rest & Recover
We understand it’s tempting to power through when you're sick, especially when you're motivated to reach your educational goals. But pushing yourself in your classes, especially when you’re already balancing your job and your life at home, can prolong your illness and ultimately set you back further academically.
According to a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, presenteeism—working despite being sick—can negatively affect students’ health status, well-being, and ability to study.
"My main piece of advice when a student is sick is to take care of their health, first and foremost," says Leah Barbato, UMGC success coach. "You can't pour from an empty cup. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can have a path forward and focus on the priority of healing."
3. Connect with Your Student Community
Your classmates are in a unique position in that they probably understand better than most others what you're going through and the pressures you might be facing. Reaching out to them can provide practical help with managing coursework, as well as emotional support.
If you are looking for peer support, particularly around mental health and wellness, resources like Togetherall, which is available at no cost to all UMGC students, provide safe spaces to connect with others who are navigating similar challenges.
As part of UMGC’s resources around student connection and relationship-building, we also offer the “UMGC Student Community”—a student-driven online platform where you can connect with peers, ask questions, share experiences, and support one another throughout your UMGC journey.
4. Plan Your Return Strategically
When you are ready to return to your studies, it’s a good idea to create a realistic catch-up plan that acknowledges your current capacity. Start by reviewing what you missed and prioritizing assignments by due date and importance. Continue communicating with your professors and ask for guidance on what's most critical to focus on first.
Additionally, consider breaking larger assignments into smaller tasks and setting incremental goals. This approach can prevent overwhelm and help you build momentum as you work your way back to your regular schedule.
"The best strategies are to break missed work into small daily chunks and prioritize high-point-value assignments or upcoming deadlines," says Sanchez. "Communication with instructors is critical."
5. Look into Your Options & University Resources
At UMGC, we offer a comprehensive support system designed to help students navigate situations like these. UMGC success coaches can talk you through your options, help you understand the university’s policies around health-related absences, and connect you with the appropriate resources.
Additionally, if you're dealing with a chronic illness or a disability that affects your studies, UMGC's Accessibility Services Office will work with you to establish formal accommodations. These might include extended time on assignments, flexible attendance policies, or other support designed to help students with disabilities succeed in an online learning environment.
Depending on the nature of your illness, you may also be considering whether to drop a course or courses. UMGC offers several withdrawal options depending on your situation and timing. Understanding the withdrawal process and policies, including exceptions to the withdrawal policy, can help you make an informed decision.
You're Not Alone in This
Getting sick during college is more common than you might think. According to the American College Health Association, around 38 percent of college students reported having a cold, virus, or other respiratory illness in 2024. Other common health issues reported were the flu and orthopedic injuries.
The most important thing you can do is reach out early, take care of yourself, and use the resources available to you. UMGC's flexible structure, comprehensive support system, and experienced faculty and staff are all here to help you navigate these real-world challenges.
Your education is important, but so is your well-being. With the right support and strategies, you can manage both successfully.
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
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