Resources for Students
Questions?
For general questions regarding the Student Leave of Absence Policy or process, please contact [email protected].
Requesting a Voluntary Leave of Absence
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, 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:
- 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.
- Military Service: LOA requests for military service require a letter or verification from the armed forces of the relevant country.
- 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, Dean, or Office of Leave of Absence Administration as well as financial aid advisors and international student services advisors, as applicable. The appropriate contact for your school/division can be found HERE. Students can also reach out to [email protected].
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 or Designee.
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, unless they have received prior approval from the Dean.
- Cannot remain in student housing. (The Office of Leave of Absence Administration will 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. While on leave a covered student will not have access to in-person University Primary Care and Mental Health Services. Student Health & Well-Being will work with current patients to transition care to an outside provider for the duration of the period of leave.
Returning from a Voluntary Leave of Absence
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:
- 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.
- Military Service: A return from military service requires a letter or verification from the armed forces of the relevant country.
- 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.
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.
School/Divisional Contacts
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Josephine Albert, Associate Registrar
Carey Business School
Heather Pollak, Associate Director of Student Affairs
Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
Advanced Academic Programs
Rebecca Stringham, Associate Director of Student Affairs
Graduate
Jasmine Harris, Assistant Director of Graduate Affairs
Undergraduate
Jessie Martin, Assistant Dean of Academic Advising
Office of Leave of Absence Administration
Peabody Institute
Deb Gould, Associate Director for Student Support
School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
Brian McEntee, Director of Graduate Education
School of Education
Cynthia White, Director of Student Records
School of Medicine
Graduate Students
Peter Espenshade, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Graduate Biomedical Education
Katherine Chretien, MD, Associate Dean for Medical Student Affairs
School of Nursing
Please Consult with your Faculty Advisor
Whiting School of Engineering
Undergraduate
Kimberley Zing, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Academic Advising