Leave of Absence Requests
Leaves of absence are approved academic interruptions due to a personal situation that impacts a student's ability to remain on campus and complete the semester. No tuition or fees are charged while on leave. There are three types of Leave of Absence (LOA) explained on this page. If you are not sure what type of LOA is appropriate for your situation, contact your professional academic advisor.
These policies and procedures are in effect until June 30, 2024.
Standard Leave of Absence (sLOA)
Time away from campus for personal reasons including military service, full-time internships, missionary work, or other non-medical, non-emergency reasons.
Emergency Leave of Absence (eLOA)
Leave for dealing with an emergency situation, (i.e., sudden death of a family member) eLOAs are requested through the Office of Student Outreach and Support.
Medical Leave of Absence (mLOA)
Leave for a student to address their own physical or mental health concerns. mLOAs are requested through the Office of Student Outreach and Support.
Standard Leave of Absence (sLOA)
Students may be granted a standard leave of absence in the event that they have a non-medical, non-emergency personal situation that will not allow them to concurrently balance their academic work. Standard Leaves of Absence are administered through the Office of Engineering Advising. No tuition or fees are charged while on leave. If applicable, students should consult with the Office of Financial Aid prior to requesting a leave of absence. Students may not be eligible for health benefits if enrolled through JHU’s Student Health Benefits.
Requesting Leave
The deadline to request a standard leave of absence is the last day to drop classes. The deadline to request a medical leave of absence (mLOA) or an emergency leave of absence (eLOA) is the same as the last day to withdraw from classes.
How to request a Standard Leave of Absence
Deadline
The deadline to request a standard leave of absence is the last day to drop classes.
Submission Instructions
Complete the sLOA request form. You will need to provide the following information:
- effective term (the semester you will begin your sLOA)
- anticipated term of return
- explanation of why you are requesting an sLOA
Please allow 7-10 business days for it to be reviewed and processed after it has been submitted.
The submitted form will be reviewed by the Office of Engineering Academic Advising and appropriate offices, such as the Registrar’s Office, Homewood Student Accounts, and Housing & Dining, will be notified. Students, however, should always contact the relevant offices to determine the impact of their sLOA.
The submitted form will be reviewed by the Office of Engineering Advising and appropriate offices, such as the Registrar’s Office, Homewood Student Accounts, and Housing & Dining, will be notified. Students, however, should always contact the relevant offices to determine the impact of their sLOA.
Please allow 7-10 business days for your request to be reviewed and processed after it has been submitted.
During Leave
While on sLOA, the student’s account and record are on hold and will reopen for the semester they are set to return.
During a standard leave of absence, students may not enroll in another institution for the purpose of transferring credits back to JHU. It is assumed that a sLOA is taken because the student is not able to balance academic work with whatever situation needs attention during the time away.
If a student requires an extension beyond the original term of return, an extension request must be submitted.
How to request an extension to a Standard Leave of Absence
Submission Instructions
Complete the sLOA request form. You will need to provide the following information:
- anticipated term of return
- explanation of why you are requesting an extension to your sLOA
-
Please allow 7-10 business days for the request to be reviewed and processed after it has been submitted.
If there has been no communication a few weeks prior to the intended term of return, the student should contact their academic advisor.
Returning from Leave
Prior to your anticipated term of return, please contact your professional academic advisor and indicate that you are ready to come back. You will meet with your advisor to discuss what courses you should enroll, and they will release the Advisor Hold in SIS. You should check for the date of registration at the Registrar’s website.
If necessary, contact Financial Aid, Residential Life, and/or the Office of International Services to prepare for the semester.
A student’s academic status at JHU will remain in effect upon returning from an sLOA (i.e. if a student is on academic probation before taking the sLOA, they will be on probation when they return).
Students who fail to return to the university when expected, and who have not communicated otherwise, will be considered to have withdrawn from the university.
Emergency Leave of Absence (eLOA)
Emergency Leave of Absence (eLOA) allows students to take an unplanned mid-semester leave of absence to address pressing personal (non-medical and non-psychological) and family issues. The eLOA is for students needing to take time away from the university to manage a personal situation that is impacting their ability to manage school and personal commitments. eLOAs are administered through the Office of Student Outreach and Support.
Medical Leave of Absence (mLOA)
A Medical Leave of Absence (mLOA) is a temporary break from enrollment to allow students to devote their attention to medical treatment when their need for care prevents them from being able to be a successful student. mLOAs should be requested only for a students’ own health concerns–for attention to a family member’s medical needs, request an Emergency Leave of Absence. mLOAs are administered through the Office of Student Outreach and Support.