Leave of Absence

Personal Leave of Absence:

A personal leave of absence is requested when the student, because of unexpected circumstances, is not able to actively pursue their graduate program of study.  A student must formally request a leave of absence by petitioning their Graduate Program Director who, in turn, provides justification for the request to the Graduate Dean. If a leave of absence is granted, the student's statute of limitations is extended by the length of the leave of absence. Graduate students on a leave of absence must maintain continuous enrollment by registering for the Continuous Enrollment course and paying the program fee every semester during their leave. A student on a leave of absence is not considered to be actively pursuing their graduate program of study; therefore, they are not eligible to receive a loan deferment for the duration of that leave of absence.

Medical Leave of Absence/Withdrawal:

A student may request a medical leave of absence for reasons related to a medical concern which, in the opinion of the student’s treating physician or mental health professional, significantly impacts their ability to fulfill academic obligations in their role as a student. Each request will be reviewed by the University Health Services (UHS) Medical Director and a determination of the request will be made based on an individualized assessment of the student and appropriate medical evidence. UHS relays to the Graduate School the start and end date of the leave.  During the period of a medical leave of absence, the student must maintain their status by registering for Continuous Enrollment.  The full policy is available in the Graduate School Bulletin and from the Office of the Graduate Dean or the Graduate Student Service Center.