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11/23/2009 Fall Term

Graduate Policies: Leave of Absence

Application Process
To petition for a leave of absence (LOA), Homewood graduate students must submit an application form to their department chair and, in the case of international students, to the Director of International Student and Scholar Services for approval, prior to its final submission to the Homewood Graduate Affairs and Admissions Office.  A letter of explanation addressing one of the permitted reasons a graduate student would qualify for a leave of absence (listed below) must accompany this form.  The final decision is made by either the Chair of the Graduate Board (for Krieger/Whiting School doctoral candidates and Krieger School master’s candidates) or the Whiting School Vice Dean for Education (for engineering master’s candidates).

Eligibility
Graduate students may apply for a leave of absence when medical conditions, compulsory military service, or personal or family hardship prevents them from continuing their graduate studies.  To be approved for a leave of absence, graduate students must provide the proper documentation for their given situation, as indicated below:

• Medical Condition: a letter from a physician (this may be a letter from a doctor at the Student Health and Wellness Center), the Counseling Center or the Office of Student Disability Services
• Military Duty: a letter or verification from the Armed Forces
• Personal or Family Hardship: a letter from the applicant

Any additional letters of support (e.g., from an advisor, department chair, etc.) are welcome.

Financial difficulty alone does not warrant a leave.

Conditions
A leave of absence will be granted for a specific period of time, not to exceed a total of four semesters, not including the summer term. When approved for a leave of absence, the Chair of the Graduate Board or the Whiting School Vice Dean for Education will notify the applicant.  During the leave period, graduate students may not be enrolled at another university.  Before applying, graduate students should consult their department for information regarding funding upon return.  When on an approved LOA, there is no tuition charge; the period of leave is simply regarded as an interruption of the degree program.

While on leave of absence, graduate students do not have student privileges—access to University services or facilities and student employment.  However, graduate students on LOA are eligible for employment through the University’s Human Resources Office.

Application to Return from Leave of Absence
When returning from leave of absence, a graduate student must complete and submit the Application to Return from Leave of Absence before registering for classes.  The form must be accompanied by a letter (from one of the sources below) that explains what progress has taken place in the student’s absence that would enable him/her to be successful upon return.

• Medical Condition: a letter from a physician (including the Student Health and Wellness Center), the Counseling Center or Office of Student Disability Services
• Military Duty: a letter or verification from the Armed Forces
• Personal or Family Hardship: a personal letter

Any additional letters of support (e.g. from an advisor, department chair, etc.) are welcome.