Current through all regulations passed and filed through December 16, 2024
(A)
Policy statement. A leave of absence may be granted for
degree seeking graduate students actively enrolled in courses for one or more
semesters for personal, family, financial or other compelling
reasons.
(B)
Eligibility. To be eligible for a leave of absence, a
student must be seeking a graduate degree, have completed at least one full
term of enrollment prior to the date a leave is to begin, be in good academic
standing and be making reasonable progress toward the degree.
Leaves will not be granted to students who:
(1)
Have completed less than
one full term of enrollment;
(2)
Are not in good academic standing at the time the
request is made; and
(3)
Have received
a previous extension of the degree time limit under this or any other
policy.
(C)
Implementation.
(1)
Pre-request
considerations. Prior to requesting a leave of absence, students should
consider its potential implications for related matters including but not
limited to: funding (assistantships and veterans benefits), loan repayment,
immigration status, health insurance, university housing and future course
scheduling and graduation issues.
Because of its direct relationship to student
eligibility under certain visa regulations, students attending the university
under the student and exchange visitor program (SEVIS) program should notify
the office of global education before requesting a leave of absence under this
policy.
(2)
Time limit. Leaves of absence are granted for a maximum
of three consecutive semesters (e.g., fall, spring, summer). Students may
request an extension for maximum one additional semester. Although a leave may
be taken for as many as
twelve months, students are encouraged to return to
graduate study as soon as is reasonably possible to minimize the impact of the
leave on degree progress. The time taken on an approved leave of absence is not
included in the time limitations for degree completion and advancement to
candidacy for the doctoral degree. Refer to the college of podiatric medicine
section in the university catalog for leave of absence time limits and
procedures for requesting a leave of absence for the doctor of podiatric
medicine degree.
(D)
Procedures.
(1)
Formal request.
The request for leave of absence form must be submitted prior to the start of
the term for which the leave is requested when the necessity for leave is
foreseeable. If the leave is not foreseeable, the request should be submitted
as soon as possible, but no later than the last day of classes in the term
during which the leave is taken. A retroactive leave of absence will not be
granted.
At the time of request, the student and the student's
advisor should develop a plan to facilitate the student's re-admission to the
program, including any conditions that must be met by the student prior to
re-admission. A copy of the plan should be retained by both
parties.
(2)
Course withdrawal. Students who are registered for
courses must drop or withdraw from all courses prior to taking leave. Course
withdrawal does not negate a student's financial obligation, and students will
be held responsible for all balances due to the university consistent with all
applicable university policies. Any applicable refunds will be processed per
rule 3342-7-06 of the Administrative
Code.
(a)
Course withdrawal is not permitted after the tenth week of
the fall and spring semesters (or the prorated deadline for flexibly scheduled
sections and summer terms).
(b)
Students applying
for a leave of absence after the course withdrawal deadline should address
grading and course completion issues with their individual instructors. The
university is not responsible for resolving grading and course completion
issues on behalf of the student.
(3)
Status during
leave. Students on a leave of absence are not enrolled in any courses and
therefore are not eligible for those rights and privileges afforded to enrolled
students.
Students on leave of absence under this policy will not
be permitted to fulfill any official department or university requirements such
as taking qualifying exams or submission of a dissertation/thesis.
(4)
If a
student does not return to the graduate program within the approved period for
which the leave of absence was granted, he or she will be considered as having
permanently withdrawn from the university.
(5)
Return from
leave.
(a)
A
student who has taken leave provided for in the policy must complete the
"application for graduate re-enrollment form" and return such form to the
department responsible for the student's main program of study that the student
will enroll in courses in the following semester. Failure to provide such
notice may result in the student being unable to enroll in
coursework.
(b)
To be reconsidered for graduate study, students who
have permanently withdrawn must formally apply to their program of interest,
including the submission of an application, the non-refundable application fee
and any necessary application materials.
(6)
Students are
advised to check with the bursar's office prior to taking an approved leave of
absence in order to determine the status of their student accounts. Accounts
that are overdue will be subject to regular procedures in accordance with
university guidelines, notwithstanding any approved leave of absence.
Replaces: 3342-3- 01.12