If a Day student does not plan on taking classes in the Fall or Spring semesters, then the student must take a leave of absence. Students are allowed to take up to two semesters of leave. All Day students interested in taking a leave of absence must visit Academic Advising in the Center for Academic Excellence located in the Berry Library on the first floor and complete the appropriate paperwork.
Continuing and Professional Studies (CPS), also known as Evening students, are not required to take a leave of absence unless they receive financial aid.
Graduate students must contact the School of Graduate Studies and complete the appropriate paperwork. For more information, please visit the following: What is the graduate leave of absence policy?
CPS and graduate students who withdraw from all classes but do not fill out leave paperwork will be placed on an administrative leave of absence for the remainder of the semester.
If the student takes a leave of absence after the Add/Drop period ends, they will receive W grades for all classes as long as the last withdrawal day has not passed. The last day for withdrawals is posted on the Academic Calendar for the term and generally falls in November for the fall semester and April for the spring term. For specific dates, please consult the Academic Calendar.
Please note that the university's standard refund policy applies to students taking a leave of absence. Leaves initiated after the Add/Drop period has ended will result in financial obligations to the university. In addition, financial aid guidelines require that state and federal aid be adjusted when students stop attending classes, which may result in a balance due to the university. For more information, please visit Leaving the University and the Return of Financial Aid Funds and Why Did My Financial Aid Change?
Before taking a leave of absence, we strongly recommend that students review their financial aid and bill to understand the ramifications of taking a leave. Students who receive federal Direct Loans will enter their six-month grace period before they must begin repaying their student loans. If students reenroll in school at least half-time before the end of their grace period, they will receive the full six-month grace period when they stop attending school or drop below half-time enrollment.
Day students who do not return from a leave of absence will be administratively withdrawn from the university. Students on a leave of absence must contact their faculty advisors at the normal advising time when planning to enroll in a future semester.