Medical leave is a period of absence for graduate students from academic and research work intended to allow time for treatment of and recovery from mental and/or physical conditions that interfere with a student’s ability to participate in campus life, including their ability to complete or make satisfactory progress towards academic goals. For graduate students, medical leaves are granted or required by the Office of Graduate Education (OGE). Approval of medical leave will stop the academic and research clocks with regard to assignments due, reports anticipated, or other class and research related requirements. Faculty are expected and encouraged to make arrangements with the student to submit work for completion of requirements when the student returns. Medical leave is not intended as a device to shield a student from unsatisfactory progress or any other academic irregularity.
Students considering a medical leave are urged to make an appointment with a GradSupport dean to discuss their plans. GradSupport staff can provide advice and counsel, as well as clarify any points of confusion with the policy and procedure outlined here. Students who feel that there are any barriers to taking a medical leave are strongly encouraged to contact their program’s graduate officer or graduate administrator, or the OGE directly.
