Uncertainties are part of life, just when you feel you are about to hit the next milestone in life you are welcome with a piece of heartbreaking news. The death of a loved one causes more pain and hurt than I’ll health especially if the person was the wing behind your academics. It leaves you confused not knowing what step to take next. It raises a lot of questions and thoughts about your next journey. How do you handle this in the middle of an examination or an academic defense especially when there are no second chances? Let us know how to write ‘Death in Family Email to Professor’.
Death in Family Email to Professor :
Amid a family emergency as a student, the first point of call will be to relate the information to your departmental head (professor). There might not be a perfect time to do this than when the event hits but then having to write a letter to a professor might be a bit burdensome in the midst of the grief. Sometimes you are confused not knowing where and how to start with the letter. Let’s explore how you can write an email to a professor to inform him of the death in your family.
When Should You Notify Your Professor Of The Death Of A Family Member:
While there may not be any specific time as to when you should officially notify the professor of the death of a family member the most appropriate time to do this is when the event hit. This will help the department to make plans in such as way that you can get a few considerations in some of the academic activities especially if you had an important aspect of your academic work to handle. You can send an email or a letter to give notification in this regard. The mail may not be a piece of detailed information but it should be such that they are aware of your absence from departmental activities within the period that you will be away if need be.
How To Write An Email Notification To Professor About Death In A Family:
Writing an email to a professor takes the same official process as every other email notification you will have to send to a professor regarding other aspects of your academic work such as studies suspension, absenteeism from class, or appreciation. The only difference here is that this has to do with a death of a loved one and may not require a full explanation as to what led to the death.
Before writing the letter you must go through your school’s policy regarding bereaved family members some schools do not give consent to this. Most schools have a specific family member that they give references. Let your letter be in tune with your school policy.
Introductory Paragraph:
The first paragraph of the letter should capture an introduction of yourself which will include your department, level, and name. Then move forward to state why you are writing the email.
Body of the Letter:
The purpose of writing the email though it has already been captured in the title should follow immediately. Go ahead and state your relationship with the deceased letting them know when the sad incident took place.
The next paragraph should state if you need any form of assistance from the department which might be a studies extension, or permission to be absent from lectures for a few days or weeks depending.
If the formalities for the burial have been put in place you can go further to give an invitation if you so desire.
Your letter should also capture any expectations that you may require from the department as you resume school after the process.
End the letter with an appreciation for their support and also your name and contact details in case they would want to reach out to you via phone calls.
Ensure that your letter has an official tone and also meets the criteria for your school in such scenarios. No matter how heartbroken you may feel, don’t go out of your school policy to make demands that are not in line with your school standard.
Examples Of Emails To A Professor About The Death In Family:
While some professors may not care about giving consent during the death of a loved one, some do. Here are a few examples of how to present your email notification to them. The letter depends on the request that you want to make.
An Email to Request a Few Days off from Class:
Dear Professor Michal,
I am Liberty Show, a 300-level student of Psychology. Accept this as an official notification about the loss of one of my closest family members.
I understand how important it is to attend your lectures and your stances when it has to do with students being absent from classes. I plead for an exception as I need a few days to mourn my disease and also attend to other family concerns during this period.
Please, I am sorry for any inconvenience that my absence may cause you and other departmental members. I promise to return to the department within a week and turn in any task that I’ll miss within the period.
Thank you and I await your kind response to my request.
Yours sincerely,
Liberty Schow.
An Email Notification to the Professor About The Death Of A Family Member:
Dear Professor Galiel,
I believe that this email is coming to you at an appropriate time. My name is Noami Wills, and I am in your Economics class where we meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Political Science block. The last week has been the most difficult moment of my life. I have been dealing with deep pain.
I recently lost one of my family members and this has been a great blow to my entire family member. It has not been easy coping with my studies since his demise as he has been my academic support since childhood.
I need three weeks off from school to join other family members in planning for his funeral rites and also put myself in order before the commencement of our mid-semester assessment. I understand that during the period of my absence that I’ll miss all class assessments and evaluations, I asked for consideration to carry out mine as soon as I return.
Please, I will appreciate a quick response from you to know if my request has been approved.
Thank you as I anticipate your feedback.
Yours sincerely,
Naomi Wills
Economics Department
300 level
An Email To Professor Requesting For Project Defense Extension:
Dear Professor Silva,
Compliments of the day. I am Moses Lin one of your students in Physical Geology where we meet every Thursday and Friday at noon at Pavilion 4. It has been a period of grief for me and other family members over the loss of one of us.
I understand that our defense has been scheduled for the next two weeks and according to our departmental schedule, all students who are due for defense must be in school days before the defense date. Because of the uncertainty, I and other family members have found ourselves in at the moment, I’ve lost concentration in my studies because of how close the deceased was to me.
I understand that my absence will cause a significant alteration to the department’s plan of activities regarding the defense. Please, grant me a few days off to mourn my loss and I promise to meet up with all tasks as soon as I return to the college.
I am eagerly awaiting your kind response in this regard.
Yours sincerely,
Moses Lin.
Conclusion:
The death of a close family member is very devastating and no matter what the stances of your department or professor may be towards mourning a deceased it is necessary to send an official notification to them. In as much as your academic activities are important to you, you need to associate with your family members during a time of grief such as this. Keep your letter simple and brief and don’t be scared to make your request. Don’t be scared to let your professor understand how you feel to avoid a more painful situation in your academic achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Will the professor honor my email notification about the loss of a family member?
It’s not all professors that consider this but this should not deter you from expressing your feelings to them as the death of a family member is not something to toil with.
- What is the acceptable duration to be away from school for mourning a family member?
This depends on your department’s policy on mourning a deceased family member. Before you send the email notification goes through your department’s policy to ensure that your request is in line with the school’s policy.
- Is it appropriate to invite my professor to the funeral rites of my late family member?
Though this may not be wrong, you have to be sure that your school has accommodated this in its policy. This may also depend on your relationship with your professor and proximity. Everything must follow an official arrangement.
