Graduate School Bulletin

Leave of Absence

Graduate students may request a leave of absence by submitting a Request for Leave of Absence form to the Graduate School.  Program approval is not a requirement for requesting a leave of absence from the Graduate School. However, it is strongly suggested that students who want to request a leave discuss this with their Graduate Program prior to form submission. Whenever possible, the student and Graduate Program should develop a tentative re-entry plan (see our Student Resources page for a sample) prior to the leave of absence period.  The final decision on all leave of absences is made by the Dean of the Graduate School. Leaves of absence are subject to the following conditions.

• A leave of absence may be granted for a maximum of one year at a time, and is renewable upon request for a maximum of two years. At the end of this two-year period, a leave of absence will be terminated and the student will be considered to have withdrawn from the university, unless there are documented extenuating circumstances (such as a chronic illness) that prevent readmission.
• The student must have been registered for the semester prior to the requested leave of absence. Students that have been admitted but never registered are not eligible for a leave of absence.
• International students must obtain approval from an international student advisor prior to requesting a leave of absence with the Graduate School. Approval of an academic leave by the Graduate School does not waive the U.S. Immigration requirement for full-time registration for each semester. By submitting the Request for a Leave of Absence form, international students are certifying that they understand the implications of this leave of absence on their immigration status in the United States.
• Any semester in which a student is on an approved leave of absence does not count in the calculation of the student’s time limit for degree completion.
• Faculty cannot expect or require students on a leave of absence to undertake, complete, or submit scholarly, research, or other academic work during their leave period.
• A student on a leave of absence does not have access to material university student resources (such as the library and student parking), and might have limited access to digital resources (such as email).
• As members of the public, students on a leave of absence can still make use of publicly available campus resources.
• Individual programs will establish consistent policy for how students on a leave of absence interact with program specific elements. For example, students that need to consult with staff or faculty regarding future semester enrollment, career advice, or how to transition back to the program must be allowed to do so. Further, students on a leave of absence can be allowed to interact with graduate student program-specific professional organizations. However, programs may require that students on a leave of absence not access their previously assigned office space(s), that they return physical keys to these spaces, and that personal items be removed from these spaces, as soon as possible prior to the leave period. These program-specific expectations will be shared with students when they notify the Graduate Program of the requested leave of absence, or within 10 business days after an unplanned medical leave of absence. These expectations must be consistent amongst all students on leave from an individual Graduate Program.
• Unplanned medical leaves of absence can be requested at any point during the semester and require a certified doctor's note justifying the request, when available. These leaves of absence can be granted until the end of the current semester or for up to a year. With approval of the graduate program director, G5 students can also be granted a shorter leave. With appropriate accommodations for unplanned leaves of absence, the above policy details are still applicable (e.g., sharing of program specific expectations). Questions pertaining to health insurance coverage for students on or going on a leave of absence should be directed to Student Health Services .  
• Leaves of absence are processed on the date in which they are received at the Graduate School and are subject to the registration and tuition liability deadlines outlined on the Academic Calendar .
• Military leaves of absence will be granted for the duration of obligated service to students in good standing, with appropriate documentation.
• A student on academic probation may be granted a leave of absence with the understanding that reenrollment is subject to academic conditions imposed by the Graduate School and/or the Graduate Program. These conditions will be specified in writing at the time the leave of absence is approved.
• Students planning to return from a leave of absence must complete a Readmission Form , which requires Graduate Program Director approval. Students are advised to begin the readmission process as early as possible, preferably two months in advance of the term for which they wish to register.
• Students returning from a currently approved Leave of Absence are generally guaranteed readmission.
• Students not on an official Leave of Absence must pay a $500 readmission fee.
• International students must submit a new financial affidavit and be cleared by an international student advisor before readmission can be approved.

The program or the Graduate School may set specific requirements to be fulfilled by the readmitted student during the first year of their readmission. Readmission will be revoked for students who do not fulfill these requirements.

More information regarding access to systems after taking a leave of absence or withdrawal from the University can be found here .

Involuntary Leave of Absence

Requiring a student to take a leave of absence is rare and only happens when current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence indicates to the President's designee(s) at the University that there is a significant risk to the student's health or safety, or the health or safety of others in the Campus community, or the student's behavior severely disrupts the University environment, where no reasonable accommodations can adequately reduce that risk or disruption.

The institution offers a range of resources, support services, and accommodations to address the physical and mental health needs of students. However, on rare occasions, a student's needs may require a level of care that exceeds the care that the institution can appropriately provide. Where current knowledge about the individual's medical condition and/or the best available objective evidence indicates that a student poses a significant risk to their own safety not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations, or the health and safety of others in the Campus community, or where a student's behavior severely disrupts the University environment and the student does not take a voluntary leave of absence, the President's designee(s) has the authority to place a student on an involuntary leave of absence, after appropriate procedural due process has occurred according to the SUNY policy found here .