Leave of Absence

Medical Leave

A degree- or certificate-seeking student who cannot continue enrollment for medical reasons may request a medical leave. A medical leave means that the student will be withdrawn from all courses in which the student is enrolled that semester; the university does not grant a medical leave from only one or multiple courses. A student may be unregistered from courses for subsequent semesters. If the medical leave occurs after the deadline to drop, the student receives a W grade on the transcript. Students granted medical leave will be placed on Continuous Registration (see Continuous Registration policy) for the current academic semester. Students who require more than one academic semester of leave can petition to extend the absence (see Continuous Registration policy). Medical leave is typically approved for one academic semester and rarely approved for longer than one academic year (two academic semesters and one summer semester).

Tuition and fee refunds are based on the published dates on the Academic Calendar. There is no refund beyond these published dates. Credits earned elsewhere while on leave will be accepted as transfer credits according to university policy.

Students (or a parent, spouse, or legal guardian) requesting a medical leave should do the following:

• Obtain email approval from the appropriate associate dean to be placed on Continuous Registration.
• Upon obtaining approval for Continuous Registration, submit the Medical Leave of Absence Form obtained from the Office of the Registrar to registrar@marymount.edu during the active semester by the last day to withdraw from classes.

• Attach supporting medical documentation, such as a doctor’s note, military papers, or licensed clinician’s note (not from a family member), that attests to the medical necessity for leave. Note that requests made without this required documentation will not be considered.

• Be a current student; no retroactive leaves will be reviewed.

• Not have taken any final examinations or culminating assignments during the current semester.

Final approval for medical leave is granted by the Office of the Provost in consultation with the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Students requesting to re-enroll after a medical leave should do the following:

• Make an appointment to meet with the dean of student success or designee no later than two weeks prior to the last day to add classes for the semester in which the student would like to return. No later than one week prior to the meeting, the student must provide electronic copies of the following to the dean of student success:

• A letter of intent to resume studies and residential living (if applicable).
• A letter from the student's licensed health care provider recommending that the student to return to academic study along with any recommendations for continued treatment. If the student lives in Marymount-sponsored housing, this documentation must also speak to the student’s ability to return to community living. 

• Upon receipt of the above documentation, the student may be provided a release form to complete, which will allow the dean of student success to speak to the student’s licensed health care provider in order to provide ongoing support to the student.

A student must be in good academic standing according to the university policy, and the student account must be paid in full before registering.

Non-Medical Leave of Absence

A degree- or certificate-seeking student who cannot continue enrollment for non-medical reasons (i.e., employment, personal, or family) may request a non-medical leave of absence. A non-medical leave means that the student will be withdrawn from all courses in which the student is enrolled that semester; the university does not grant a non-medical leave from only one or multiple courses. A student may be unregistered from courses for subsequent semesters. If the non-medical leave occurs after the deadline to drop, the student receives a W grade on the transcript. Students granted non-medical leave will be placed on Continuous Registration (see Continuous Registration policy). Students who require more than one academic semester of leave can petition to extend the absence (see Continuous Registration policy). Tuition and fee refunds are based on the published dates on the Academic Calendar. There is no refund beyond these published dates.

Nondegree students and alumni auditors are not eligible for a leave of absence and should follow the published course withdrawal policy.