Academic Leaves of Absence
An academic leave of absence is used when a student will not enroll for one or more semesters. An academic leave of absence may be used for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, health reasons, personal reasons, active military service, or dependent or family care responsibilities. Students who are on an approved academic leave of absence are not expected to make progress on the degree. In addition, students on academic leaves of absence should not expect that faculty will provide feedback on academic work, including proposals or drafts of theses.
Enrolled students who need to take time away after the semester has begun are not eligible for academic leaves of absence. Students should consult with their program on academic and registration options and human resources regarding employment leave options.
Students must document their request for a leave by filing a Leave of Absence Request form. Students who anticipate not being enrolled for one or more terms, (fall or spring semesters, not summer), for whatever reason should meet with their program adviser before the first day of classes of their period of non-enrollment to request an academic leave of absence.
Timing and Limits
All academic leaves should be requested before the term begins and cannot be approved for a term in which the student had registered and withdrawn. An academic leave of absence cannot be requested for a previous term.
Students are eligible for a two terms of academic leaves of absence (spring or fall semesters) during a student’s degree program. These terms may be consecutive or approved individually. In exceptional circumstances a student may, upon submitting a petition, receive approval for additional academic leave after exhausting the two initial terms.
When an enrolled student withdraws from the current term, this term will not be counted towards an academic leave of absence.
Degree Time Limits
An approved academic leave of absence extends the Graduate College time limits for completion of the preliminary examination and the time to degree by the number of approved leave terms (up to a maximum of two terms).
If the student’s time to degree will have expired by the start of their academic leave, then they will need to petition for a time extension when requesting the academic leave of absence.
Summer-only Graduate Programs
Students who are enrolled in summer only programs must apply for a leave of absence before taking a summer term off. Students in summer only programs are eligible for two summer terms of leave.
Re-Entry after Leave of Absence
At the time their leave of absence is approved, students will be approved to re-enter the same graduate program for the designated term following their leave.
Procedures to Request a Leave of Absence
Requests for a leave of absence should be approved by the student’s academic department prior to the first day of classes. To request a formal academic leave the student should complete the Request for Academic Leave of Absence form before the first day of classes of the term of non-enrollment.
Absent Without Leave Policy
Degree seeking graduate students are required to request a formal academic leave of absence before not being enrolled for one or more terms, (fall/spring, not summer). Students in summer-only programs are required to request a formal academic leave of absence before taking a summer term off from their enrollment. There are potentially negative consequences for failing to request an academic leave of absence. Students who do not enroll and do not meet with the program and document their status with an approved academic leave of absence before a period of non-enrollment are considered absent without leave. A program may put an advising hold on a student who is absent without leave. A student who is absent without leave may be prevented from reenrolling, may have additional degree requirements to complete if allowed to return, or may be subject to new degree requirements.