Student Leave of Absence Policy

Policy Statement

The Johns Hopkins University (“University” or “JHU”) is committed to maintaining a welcoming, inclusive, and caring environment for all students. The University grants or requires a leave of absence under appropriate circumstances to support students’ necessary time away for medical, service, hardship, or academic reasons. The Office of the Provost provides leadership and support to University officials acting under this Student Leave of Absence Policy’s (the “Policy”) procedures and related divisional procedures, including consulting with and providing guidance to deans and their designees, registrars, and others to support consistent and fair application of this Policy across the University.

The University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which afford protection from discrimination for otherwise qualified students with disabilities. The University will engage in an interactive, individualized process with each Covered Student to determine if there are any adjustments that can be made in accordance with the ADA and Section 504.

Review the full policy in the JHU Policy and Document Library.

What kind of Leave of Absence can a student request?

Covered Students may request a Voluntary Leave of Absence (“LOA”) for appropriately documented reasons. These include medical reasons, military service, political campaign participation, other personal opportunities, internship, or personal or financial hardship.

Certain leave requests may require additional documentation, and separate protections and processes may apply depending on the circumstances. They include:

  1. Medical Reasons: LOAs requested for medical reasons must be supported by a licensed mental health or primary care (or specifically relevant specialty care) provider using the PDF Document: University’s required Provider Form. Pursuant to federal rules, for international Covered Students in F-1 status, medical LOAs must include documentation in support that is written specifically by a licensed medical doctor, licensed doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist. Provisional leave may be granted pending the submission of required documentation. Upon return from a medical LOA, the Covered Student must submit a Provider Form from a licensed healthcare provider that speaks to the management of the condition that precipitated the LOA such that the student is able to resume their studies and meet the academic requirements of their degree program.
  2. Military Service: LOA requests for military service require a letter or verification from the armed forces of the relevant country.
  3. Personal or Financial Hardship or other Personal Reasons: LOA requests for personal or financial hardship or other personal reasons generally require a signed statement from the student attesting to the specific nature of the hardship or articulating the need for the LOA.

How does a student initiate a Voluntary Leave of Absence?

In order to request a Voluntary LOA, Covered Students must consult first with either their academic advisors and/or Dean as well as financial aid advisors and international student services advisors, as applicable. The appropriate contact for your school/division can be found HERE.

After consulting with appropriate school officials, Covered Students must submit the standardized University Leave Request Form – and any additional information required by the relevant school – to be reviewed by the Dean.

Submit University Leave Request Form

What are the expectations while a student is on a Leave of Absence?

While on a Voluntary LOA, a Covered Student:

  • Should not be working towards completion of their JHU degree or training requirements,1 unless they have received prior approval from the Dean.
  • Cannot remain in student housing. (Deans shall communicate with the appropriate administrative offices to ensure that J-Cards are deactivated during LOA periods.)
  • Cannot participate in federal or University work-study.
  • Should not receive financial support from their JHU graduate program.
  • Cannot participate in University-endorsed activities and organizations, including but not limited to student organizations and athletics.
  • May retain JHED credentials, but access to resources will be limited to online library access and certain advising and student services.
  • Will not be charged tuition, but may be charged fees related to the maintenance of their student health insurance.

Covered Students in graduate programs will need to assess their eligibility for financial aid during their LOA.

Frequently Asked Questions

International Students

What considerations do International Students need to keep in mind when requesting a Leave of Absence?

International students in F-1/J-1 visa status must contact the Office of International Services (OIS) by emailing [email protected] prior to submitting the University Leave Request Form. OIS will advise you on the implications to your immigration status, the departure timeline once your LOA is in effect, and the necessary steps to take with our office once you are ready to return from your LOA.

Types of Voluntary Leave of Absence

What happens if a student is unsure what type of Voluntary Leave of Absence to Request?

If you are unsure which type of Voluntary Leave of Absence to request, consult with your specific school official. They will be able to advise you on the type of leave that is best for your situation.

Returning from a LOA

How does a student return from a Voluntary Leave of Absence?

Students should speak with their school official about any school-specific requirements to return. Once a student is ready to return, they should submit the University Return From Leave Request Form and include the necessary documentation:

  1. Medical Reasons: Upon return from a medical LOA, the Covered Student must submit a PDF Document: Provider Form from a licensed healthcare provider that speaks to the management of the condition that precipitated the LOA such that the student is able to resume their studies and meet the academic requirements of their degree program. Pursuant to federal rules, for international Covered Students in F-1 status, medical LOAs must include documentation in support that is written specifically by a licensed medical doctor, licensed doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist.
  2. Military Service: A return from military service requires a letter or verification from the armed forces of the relevant country.
  3. Personal or Financial Hardship or other Personal Reasons: A return from LOA for personal or financial hardship or other personal reasons requires a signed statement from the student.

Student Health Insurance

Can a student retain their University-offered Student Health Insurance Plan while on a Leave of Absence?

Students on a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA), will be automatically enrolled in health insurance coverage for the following two semesters (or four terms). Enrollment into coverage for the next semester/term will automatically occur a month before the start of the next semester/term.

Can a student taking a Voluntary Personal Leave of Absence retain their insurance?

If the student’s leave of absence is not a Medical Leave of Absence, the student will remain enrolled in coverage through the semester or term that their leave began. After this period, they have the option to enroll in a 3-month extension of coverage or explore enrollment in a marketplace plan such as Mercer Indigo.

How does a student waive the University-offered Student Health Insurance Plan?

If the student was not enrolled in the University-offered Student Health Insurance Plan or had waived coverage at the time their MLOA started, the student is not eligible for the coverage extension. However, the student will remain in a waived status for up to two additional semesters or four additional terms.

Students who were enrolled in the student health insurance plan and subsequently go on a Medical Leave of Absence will have the option to waive coverage during the next open waiver period. The student will need to provide proof of comparable coverage to be granted a waiver. Waivers are submitted online through the Academic Health Plans portal.

Required Leave of Absence

What is a Required Leave of Absence?

In rare instances, the University may require a student to take a Required LOA. These instances may occur in circumstances where a Covered Student presents an imminent threat of harm to the Covered Student, another Covered Student(s) and/or any member of the University Community, and/or when a Covered Student experiences health conditions that cannot be addressed under the scope of reasonable accommodations and require a level of care that exceeds what the University can appropriately provide.

How does a student appeal a Required Leave of Absence?

Within five (5) business days of receiving the decision of the Committee to institute a Required LOA, the Covered Student may submit an appeal of the decision in writing to the Vice Provost for Student Health and Well-Being or their designee, who may not have been involved in the decision to institute the Required LOA. Appeals may be made on procedural grounds only. The written request for appeal must specify the particular procedural basis for the appeal. The review by the Vice Provost for Student Health and WellBeing will be limited to determining whether the alleged procedural errors materially affected the decision to institute a Required LOA. After reviewing the matter, the Vice Provost for Student Health and Well-Being shall issue a written decision to the Covered Student affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision to place the Covered Student on a Required LOA. The decision of the Vice Provost for Student Health and Well-Being shall be final.

How does a student return from a Required Leave of Absence?

Once a student is ready to return, they should submit the University Return From Leave Request Form and include the PDF Document: Provider Form.

The Dean, in consultation with the Committee, may require the Covered Student to provide evidence that the Covered Student, with or without reasonable accommodations, has sufficiently addressed the issues that previously established the criteria for imposing a Required LOA. The Dean may require the Covered Student to provide documentation from the Covered Student’s licensed healthcare provider that the Covered Student has made sufficient progress in addressing the condition(s) that precipitated the LOA such that the Covered Student is able to meet the academic requirements and expectations of their program.

All Covered Students returning from a Required LOA must meet the essential eligibility requirements and technical standards of their academic program. The Dean, in consultation with the Committee, will review the Covered Student’s request to return to their academic program and the related documentation and will notify the Covered Student in writing as to whether the request to return is granted or denied. If the request to return is denied, the Dean will notify the Covered Student of the steps necessary for successful return to the Covered Student’s academic program. The Dean shall take all reasonable efforts to provide notification regarding the request for return within ten (10) business days of receipt of all necessary information from the Covered Student.