Student Leave of Absence Policy

Responsible Unit: Enrollment Services | Executive lead: Provost 
Created: 5/2008 | Reviewed/Revised: 5/2018; 2/1/2023 | Effective: 3/14/2023 
Compliance: 34 CFR 668.22(d), COCA 9.2, NWCCU 2.C.3, CAPTE 5B, ACOTE A.4.1, CODA 4-9 
Approving Body: PPC | Classification: Institution-wide 

Policy:  
All requests for leave of absence must be in writing, signed, dated, and include the reason for the student’s request. The request must be submitted in advance, unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from doing so. There must be a reasonable expectation that the student will return from the leave of absence for the request to be approved. The leave of absence, together with any additional leaves of absence or other time away or consecutive periods of being unenrolled, must not exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period.

Prior to granting the leave of absence the students must receive student loan counseling regarding the effects of failure to return from a leave of absence. 

The student returning from leave of absence must resume training at the same point in the academic program that they began the leave of absence and complete the coursework started prior to the leave of absence. If a student requires remediation or repetition of earlier coursework to prepare to complete coursework started prior to the leave of absence, that academic work is part of the leave of absence. The University will assess no additional institutional charges nor award additional Title IV assistance until the student completes the coursework started prior to the leave of absence. 

A student failing to return from an approved leave of absence is considered to have withdrawn on the day that the student began the approved leave of absence or last date of attendance if excused absence was granted.  

Because of the criteria that must be met, term-based programs can grant approved leave of absence in a very limited number of cases. The University will publicize the leave of absence policy on the authorized public website. 

Definitions: 
Leave of absence is a temporary interruption in a student’s program of study approved by the University during which the student is not in attendance, but is considered enrolled. 

Procedures: 
N/A 

Related documents: 
Student Withdrawal Policy 

Policy Resources

For assistance with policies and procedures contact:

Lori Fulton
lfulton@pnwu.edu