A medical leave of absence may be requested by the student through the Counseling Center for substance-related or emotional reasons or through Student Health Services for physical reasons. A supporting letter from a student’s attending physician, therapist, or counselor is required. Medical leaves, which are generally for a period of no less than six months and up to one year, must be approved by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. All medical leaves follow the College’s refund policy as posted on the Student Financial Services webpage. 

Renewing Medical Leaves

Renewal of an approved medical leave of absence must be requested annually in writing by submitting new medical documentation to the Counseling Center or Student Health Services. Students who do not renew their medical leaves will be administratively withdrawn from the college by the Office of the Registrar.

Registration while on Medical Leave of Absence:

Students on medical leaves may be eligible to register for campus housing and for classes based on their completed credits during the time of their leave. To be eligible for pre-registration, the student must have their treatment provider submit a preliminary letter that indicates that the student is currently undergoing treatment and is expected to be able to return to active student status for the semester in question (i.e., summer, fall, spring). That letter should be submitted by the treatment provider to either Health Services or Counseling and Behavioral Health Services – whichever department originally recommended the medical leave. Once the letter is received, the student will receive an email communication from the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs or designee informing the student of the date(s) that the account hold will be lifted to allow for registration. Following registration, the hold will be replaced on the student’s account pending final re-entry assessment clearance as outlined below. In the event that the student does not return through the process or is denied reentry through the process, the student will be deregistered as follows:

• May 5 for summer session courses
• August 10 for fall semester courses
• December 10 for winter semester courses
• January 10 for spring semester courses

Returning From Medical Leave

A request to return to the college from a medical leave of absence is assessed when requested by a student. 

Requests for returns from leaves must be received by the Friday of the first week in August or the Friday of the first week in January prior to the first day of classes in a new semester. The re-entry process can be scheduled as follows:

• After April 15 for summer session returns
• After July 15 for fall semester returns
• After December 1 for winter session returns
• After December 15 for spring semester returns

Returns from medical leaves are subject to the recommendation of the Counseling Center or Student Health Services and approval of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs or designee. The required documentation and instructions for return requests is available online on the Student Affairs site.

 

Maintaining Enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Program

A student who has enrolled in the college’s student health insurance program is eligible to remain enrolled in that insurance program throughout his or her approved medical leave. To do so, the student must contact the Office of Student Financial Services before the beginning of each semester of the approved medical leave to make arrangements to pay the insurance premium in a timely fashion and to guarantee continuous insurance coverage. Failure to do so will result in loss of coverage.