Office of Graduate Affairs

A Personal Leave of Absence (PLOA) can be taken by students who need time away from their studies to address personal matters unrelated to health or academic performance issues. A personal leave allows students to step away from their academic obligations to focus on personal responsibilities, family matters, or other significant non-academic concerns. A PLOA requires an application and approval to both begin and return from leave. Undergraduate students must initiate a request prior to the first day of classes; graduate students must initiate a request two weeks prior to the first day of classes.

• International Students: Except in the case of a health leave of absence, students in F-1 and J-1 status who wish to maintain that status must always enroll in 12 or more credits, with the exception of their final semester. Please contact the International Students and Scholars Office if you are contemplating a leave of absence that is either personal or related to a health leave. 
• Eligibility: This policy applies to all graduate students at Brandeis University except those within the Rabb School of Continuing Studies. This policy does not apply to graduate students within the Rabb School of Continuing Studies. If a full-time Rabb student needs time away from their program, they should contact their Student Advisor for assistance with program completion options. 
• Before Taking a Personal Leave of Absence: It is essential that each student review their current health insurance coverage. If the student is covered by Brandeis insurance, the student should contact the University Health Plan office (1- 800-437-6448) to discuss their leave. Otherwise they should contact the insurance provider under which they are covered. Students who have been enrolled longer than the first 30 days of a semester are automatically covered (assuming coverage was not previously waived) by the Brandeis University Student Health Insurance Plan (www.universityhealthplans.com) when they convert to a personal leave status for the remainder of the plan year. Students who are covered by a family’s employer plan when they convert to a personal leave status may need to apply for continuation of coverage (COBRA) with the family’s plan. Enrollment in COBRA is time sensitive. Each insurance plan may be different, so a consultation with your insurance provider is essential.
• Request to Begin a Personal Leave of Absence: Specific steps need to be followed in order for a student to both obtain a LOA and to return from one. Since the deadline to officially take a personal leave is two weeks prior to the start of the semester, the student should initiate the process earlier than this by consulting with their faculty advisor or director of graduate studies and/or informing their graduate school of their request to take a leave of absence. This meeting will review the process and impacts on their program and advise them on any others with whom they may need to meet. The student must officially apply for a LOA through Workday at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Extenuating circumstances that necessitate a personal leave during an active semester will be reviewed on a case by case basis, and in these cases, students will be withdrawn from their classes.
• Graduate student responsibilities:
  • You understand that unless you return or replace any borrowed University Library materials, you will be charged for them.
  • If you have federal and/or institutional loans, you will complete Student Loan Exit Counseling with Student Financial Services (Questions? sfs@brandeis.edu, 781-736-3700).
  • If you are an international student, you will meet with an ISSO advisor and complete the ISSO Withdrawal/Leave of Absence Acknowledgement Form (Questions? isso@brandeis.edu, 781-736-3480).
  • If you have taken excused absences (EA) or excused incomplete (EI), you must finish all work by agreed-upon deadlines with your faculty.
  • You understand that taking a personal leave does not forestall any ongoing academic review your program may be conducting.
  • You are not eligible to transfer courses or credits taken at other institutions while on a withdrawal or leave of absence status. 
  • You cannot audit courses at Brandeis, conduct or participate in research at Brandeis, or hold a student employee position at Brandeis while on leave.
  • If you are currently maintaining F-1 or J-1 status sponsored by Brandeis, you understand that you must notify the ISSO of your plans to take a leave of absence.
• Petitioning to Return: Students must contact their graduate school to petition to return to Brandeis by July 1 for a fall semester return or by October 15 for a spring semester return. Students will review all the necessary steps and documents and will be in touch with their advisor with any questions.
  • Students in good academic standing may need to finish incomplete while on leave in order to return.
  • If a student would like to return to Brandeis in F-1 or J-1 status sponsored by Brandeis in the future, they understand that prior to doing so, they must notify the ISSO to request a new I-20 or DS 2019.
  • Students will understand that each petition to return is considered on its individual merits.

A Health Leave of Absence (HLOA) can be taken by students who are experiencing health challenges that prevent them from successfully participating in and completing academic responsibilities. To initiate a request for a HLOA, undergraduate students should contact their academic advisor to learn more and begin the process. Graduate students should consult with the assistant/associate dean of student/academic affairs at their graduate school to begin the process.

The amount of time students take for a HLOA will vary depending on the particular circumstances (such as the nature of the situation, treatment recommendations, and time needed to successfully return to an intensive academic environment). Students are encouraged to take sufficient time to address their health-related concerns before petitioning for re-enrollment.

• International Students: If you wish to remain in the U.S. for medical treatment during your leave of absence, please reach out to the ISSO for guidance. You can be authorized for a Reduced Course Load (carrying no credits) for up to 12 months while maintaining your F-1 status. You must provide medical documentation issued within the past 30 days from your licensed professional who is practicing in the United States, and holds one of the following credentials: medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), or licensed clinical psychologist (LCP). The documentation is usually in the form of a letter and should recommend that you carry no credits as you pursue medical treatment. Please note you must be authorized for a Reduced Course Load in SEVIS prior to your withdrawal from your classes. A student who drops below a full course of study without the prior approval will be considered out of status.
• Eligibility: This policy applies to all graduate students at Brandeis University except those within the Rabb School of Continuing Studies. This policy does not apply to graduate students within the Rabb School of Continuing Studies. If a full-time Rabb student needs time away from their program, they should contact their Student Advisor for assistance with program completion options. 
• Before Taking a Health Leave of Absence: It is essential that each student review their current health insurance coverage. If the student is covered by Brandeis insurance, the student should contact the University Health Plan office (1-833-251-1737) to discuss their leave. Otherwise they should contact the insurance provider under which they are covered. Students who have been enrolled in an academic program longer than the first 30 days of a semester are automatically covered (assuming coverage was not previously waived) for the remainder of the plan year by the Brandeis University Student Health Insurance Plan (www.universityhealthplans.com) when they convert to HLOA status. Students who are covered by a family’s employer plan when they convert to HLOA status may need to apply for continuation of coverage (COBRA) with the family’s plan. Enrollment in COBRA is time sensitive. Each insurance plan may be different, so consulting with your insurance provider before taking a leave is essential.
• Request to Begin a Health Leave of Absence: Specific steps should be followed in order for a student to both obtain a HLOA and to return from one. That said, the following procedures provide for an individualized approach for assessing a student’s eligibility to take and return from a HLOA and are designed to be reasonable and flexible.
  • Students can initiate the process by consulting with their graduate school regarding the request to take a HLOA.
    • In this meeting, the assistant/associate dean will review the HLOA process, any impacts on the program, and advise students on any others with whom they may need to meet, depending on the specific circumstances.
    • Discussion will also include the return process and date for initiating the return (the time frame can be adjusted as needed). If the student wants to extend their HLOA beyond what was already approved, they need to let the school know at least six weeks before the leave is anticipated to end, communicating in writing with the appropriate assistant/associate dean of student/academic affairs.
  • Then the student should officially apply for a HLOA through Workday.
    • If the student is unable to apply through Workday, they should be in touch with their assistant/associate dean to apply on Workday on their behalf.
  • The student’s request must be accompanied by a letter from a licensed health care provider who is familiar with the student’s condition. Acceptable sources include, but are not limited to, the student’s primary care physician, hospital-based physicians and clinicians, Brandeis’ Health Center or Counseling Center’s clinical staff, and private licensed clinicians. The letter must include descriptions of the following:
    • Diagnosis
    • History of the diagnosis (date diagnosed, treatment/management up to current date, etc.)
    • Detailed description of the diagnosis’ current impact on this student relative to participating in an academically rigorous educational setting and a clear recommendation that the student cannot continue their academic program because of the physical and/or mental health condition
    • A recommended treatment plan
    • An estimate regarding the time period for a HLOA
  • The Brandeis Health or Counseling Center’s staff reviews the documentation to determine it meets the above requirements, and makes a recommendation to the relevant graduate school’s assistant/associate dean of in their graduate school.
  • The graduate school then makes the final decision regarding whether to approve or deny the HLOA and notifies the student in writing as to the decision.
  • Once a student has applied for a HLOA and has submitted all appropriate supporting documentation, Brandeis strives to notify the student of a decision within seven to ten business days. The recommended length of the leave will be determined individually, based on each student’s particular situation, as the goal of taking a HLOA is to ensure that the student can later return to campus and be successful in their academic and co-curricular pursuits. If the HLOA is approved, the appropriate graduate school will enact the change of standing.
• Graduate student responsibilities:
  • The student understands that unless they return or replace any borrowed University Library materials, they will be charged for them.
  • If the student has federal and/or institutional loans, they will complete Student Loan Exit Counseling with Student Financial Services (Questions? sfs@brandeis.edu, 781-736-3700).
  • If the student is an international student, they will meet with an ISSO advisor and complete the ISSO Withdrawal/Leave of Absence Acknowledgement Form (Questions? isso@brandeis.edu, 781- 736-3480).
  • If the student has taken excused absences (EA) or excused incompletes (EI), they will complete all the incomplete work by the end of the semester in which they are expected to return.
  • The student understands that taking a health leave does not forestall any ongoing academic review the program may be conducting.
  • The student is not eligible to transfer courses or credits taken at other institutions while on a withdrawal or leave of absence status. 
  • The student cannot audit courses at Brandeis, conduct or participate in research at Brandeis, or hold a student employee position at Brandeis while on leave.
• Petitioning to Return: The student must contact their graduate school to petition to return to Brandeis. Goals for a return date should have been discussed in the initial conversation before taking HLOA, but the deadlines for a fall return is July 1 and for a spring return is October 15.  The student will review all the necessary steps and documents and will be in touch with the school with any questions. The student will then proceed with the return process in Workday. At this point, they can also reach out to their department, faculty advisor or their PI to discuss their plan to return to the program the following semester.
  • If the student wants to extend their HLOA beyond what was already approved, they need to let the school know at least six weeks before the leave is anticipated to end, communicating in writing with the appropriate assistant/associate dean in their graduate school.
  • The student must submit all medical documentation, personal statement and any other necessary materials by July 1 for a fall semester return or by October 15 for a spring semester return. If Brandeis requires more information, we will reach out to the student and all further materials must be submitted by August 1 for a fall semester return and November 15 for a spring semester return. The Workday process interfaces directly with Medicat, a confidential health care platform, for the student to upload their medical documentation. 
  • Medical documentation from (an) appropriate treatment provider(s) must include the information listed below. The student understands this will be reviewed by the appropriate staff within the Health Center and/or the Brandeis Counseling Center, who may request more information or ask to speak directly to the student’s healthcare provider(s), in which case the student will provide a release to do so. The relevant health staff will consult with the return from the health leave committee, which will make a recommendation to the student’s school. 
    • Diagnosis and verification of treatment
    • Documentation of current clinical status 
    • Detailed description of the diagnosis’ current impact on this student relative to participating in an academically rigorous educational setting and a clear recommendation for return or not return. For the purposes of this policy, an “academically rigorous educational setting” refers to one in which regular class attendance is required; students complete academic coursework and assignments on time and to a minimum B- standard, which is typically the lowest passing grade in the graduate schools at Brandeis University; students complete a combination of teaching and research in addition to other degree requirements, such as preparation for qualifying, comprehensive and final examinations; and  laboratory research that may include specific chemical classes, physical hazards, or equipment hazards (as applicable). Policies or practices of the student’s School related to academic progress and standards may also be considered in determining readiness to return. 
    • Effects of any current medication or medical equipment on the educational setting and the student's ability to learn.
    • Academic accommodations recommended by the licensed health care professional.
  • Considering the conversations the student has had with their department, faculty advisor or PI regarding their return, the student’s personal statement answers the following questions:
    • Please reflect on your time away and share your thoughts about your readiness to return to a rigorous academic environment. What are your plans for a successful return to full-time study at Brandeis?
    • What are your goals for your first semester back on campus?  What campus resources do you plan to use?
    • Please share any other information you would like the committee to consider.
  • If the student would like to return to Brandeis in F-1 or J-1 status sponsored by Brandeis in the future, the student understands that prior to doing so, they must notify the ISSO to request a new I-20 or DS 2019.
  • The student understands that each petition to return is considered on its individual merits.

Brandeis University is committed to supporting pregnant and parenting students. The University acknowledges that pregnancy, breastfeeding, lactation, and parental status are protected under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., and other applicable state and federal laws. Under this Policy, there are different stages of pregnancy during which the University can provide support and accommodations. Both undergraduate and graduate students should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity to learn more about these accommodations.

• Accommodations During Pregnancy : While a student is pregnant, they may require certain accommodations to allow them to continue to participate in University programs and activities. These accommodations relate to medical needs or complications associated with the pregnancy. Pregnant students can request these accommodations through Student Accessibility Support (SAS) (access@brandeis.edu; 781-736-3470). There are different types of accommodations available depending on the needs of the individual, including but not limited to those related to academics[1], housing, transportation, parking, and dietary needs. More information on the process for requesting an accommodation can be found on the SAS website. As with disability accommodations, information about pregnant students’ requests for accommodations will be shared with faculty and staff only to the extent necessary in order to provide the reasonable accommodation. Faculty and staff will regard all information associated with such requests as confidential and not to be shared.
• Recovery: Students are entitled to excused absences relating to pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, and/or recovery, for the amount of time deemed medically necessary by their provider. Students will need to provide medical documentation from their medical care providers outlining the amount of time needed for recovery. All medical documentation regarding the pregnancy should go to SAS. Graduate students can work with the Office of Graduate Affairs (graduateaffairs@brandeis.edu 781-736-3546), who will help to coordinate the student’s absences with the appropriate departments on campus. Undergraduate students should work with their academic advisors.
• Return: After taking approved absences due to pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage and/or recovery, students will be allowed to return to their program at Brandeis in the same academic status they held before the leave began. To the extent possible, students will be given the opportunity to make up any work they missed while they were on leave. If a class grade is based on attendance, students will not be penalized for their approved absence. However, depending on the length of the absence and timing in the academic year, in some cases it may not be feasible to complete certain classes. In that situation, a student may need to withdraw from a course or take a leave of absence, but will be reinstated to the status they held before the leave and will be allowed to continue in their program without penalty. What adjustments might be appropriate will vary based on the student's needs and the fundamental requirement of the program and coursework in question. International students should work with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) (isso@brandeis.edu 781-736-3480) to address any visa concerns that may arise in relation to a leave of absence or otherwise taking time away from the University. 
• Accommodations for Nursing Students: Brandeis is committed to supporting students surrounding their needs in regards to nursing and lactation. Students should work with their program or instructors to find mutually convenient times for them to nurse or pump. Students must be given adequate, excused breaks as necessary and should not be penalized for the need to take time away. Generally a woman who is lactating will need two to three breaks during the day, for a period of up to 30 minutes, to express milk. Under certain circumstances, a student may need to provide a doctor’s note if it is medically necessary to pump on a certain schedule.Nursing students have the right to breastfeed in any public or private location where they are otherwise allowed to be. To support members of our community in regards to lactation, the University provides the private lactation spaces listed below. Additionally, departments can create ad hoc lactation spaces as necessary to support those in their community. Ad hoc spaces can be an office or other space temporarily utilized for the purposes of pumping or breastfeeding. The minimum requirements for lactation rooms (ad hoc or permanent) include having a private space with a door that locks, that has an electrical outlet, good lighting and ventilation, with a comfortable chair and a counter or table. There also should be access to a sink and a refrigerator either inside the space or nearby. Bathrooms are not appropriate lactation spaces.
• Lactation Rooms: The following campus locations are dedicated lactation rooms. Individuals must bring their own breast pumps; all rooms have refrigeration, electrical outlets and microwaves for sterilization. Most have sinks nearby.
  • Goldfarb Library Room 69-41A
    • This room is kept locked. To access the room a key can be checked out at the library’s information desk with your Brandeis ID. For reservations, please check the specific Google calendar for the space and book an available time or contact library-lactation@brandeis.edu. You may need to ask for directions after obtaining the key as the room is a little tricky to find. The room can accommodate two individuals at one time. The key should be returned to the information desk after use. The room is equipped with a refrigerator and microwave (for sterilization) with a sink nearby.
  • Leo Gerstenzang Library of Science Room 021
    • This room is kept locked. To access the room, contact graduateaffairs@brandeis.edu.
  • Rabb Graduate Center Room 118
    • This room is kept locked. To access the room a key can be checked out with reservations by contacting Lisa.Pannell@brandeis.edu in the English department. The room is equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave (for sterilization) and numerous electrical outlets with a sink nearby.
• Reporting Concerns: Discrimination against any member of the Brandeis community who is or who is perceived to be pregnant, recovering from childbirth, or nursing is prohibited under Brandeis’ Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment &  Sexual Violence. Anyone with concerns regarding discrimination should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity (oeo@brandeis.edu 781-736-4806). Negative comments related to pregnancy, childbirth recovery, breastfeeding, lactation, or parental status may constitute illegal sex discrimination or harassment. Retaliation against anyone exercising their rights under this policy is prohibited.
  • Students with concerns about an accommodation request that was denied or an approved accommodation that was not properly implemented can file a grievance with the Office of Equal Opportunity (oeo@brandeis.edu 781-736-4806). For more information, please refer to the Accommodations Grievance Process. 

[1] Some examples may include: breaks during class, as needed; rescheduling tests or exams; excusing absences; and developing a plan for making up missed assignments.

The university supports students called to active military service both internationally and domestically. To initiate a request for a leave for military service, undergraduate students should contact their academic advisor to learn more and begin the process. Graduate students should consult with their graduate school to begin the process. Please visit our Veteran Benefits website for more information.

To assist full-time graduate students in balancing academic, teaching, and research responsibilities with parenting demands, Brandeis University provides eligible graduate students with support in the form of Parental Relief immediately after their child’s birth, adoption, or placement in foster care (for a child up to the age of six). Parental Relief permits students to maintain full-time status–along with the same level of guaranteed funding and other benefits––with reasonable adjustments to deadlines, completion of course assignments, examinations, and other academic, research, and teaching requirements for up to twelve consecutive weeks. 

• International students: Before taking Parental Relief, international students should consult their ISSO advisor to understand how their specific Parental Relief arrangements may affect their immigration status. Students in F-1 and J-1 status who wish to maintain that status must always enroll in 12 or more credits, with the exception of their final semester. In general, Parental Relief should not impact your immigration status, as long as your program duration remains the same and you do not enroll in fewer than 12 credits; please contact the ISSO for more details.
• Eligibility: The Parental Relief Policy applies to full-time, enrolled Brandeis graduate students who are making satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree. The policy covers students who experience a child birth or the adoption or fostering of a child under the age of six for whom the student has parental responsibilities. Students are eligible for a Parental Relief period for up to twelve consecutive calendar weeks immediately following the child’s birth, adoption, or placement in foster care. If both parents are students, they each are eligible for this relief time and can take it concurrently. Students who give birth are also eligible for pregnancy- and childbirth-related accommodations in the Pregnancy Accommodation policy, and can take Parental Relief concurrently with any Pregnancy Accommodation. 
  • This policy does not apply to graduate students within the Rabb School of Continuing Studies. If a full-time Rabb student needs time away from their program, they should contact their Student Advisor for assistance with program completion options.
• How it Works: During the period of Parental Relief, the student will continue to be enrolled as a full-time student. Because the student remains enrolled full-time and continues to pay tuition, this is not a leave of absence. It is instead a modification of deadlines and academic expectations to support the student’s new parental responsibilities. The student will be able to make reasonable adjustments to completion of course assignments, examinations, and other academic requirements. The student and their advisor will tailor the Parental Relief to the student’s individual circumstances and the timing of the student’s academic responsibilities. In the case of an international student, consideration must be given to the fact that any extension of the program may affect their immigration status and so they must speak with their ISSO advisor in advance.
• Request to Begin Parental Relief : Specific steps need to be followed in order for a student to be able to utilize Parental Relief. First, the student should initiate the process as early as possible by consulting with the assistant/associate dean at their graduate school, their faculty advisor, or the director of graduate studies to inform them of the student’s desire to utilize Parental Relief. This meeting will review the process and impacts on their program, and advise them on others with whom they may need to meet. The meeting with the assistant/associate dean at their graduate school is the official request for Parental Relief.  
  • The student must then consult with their advisor to plan the student’s Parental Relief and how the student will meet academic goals and requirements at the end of the Parental Relief. The student is responsible for ensuring that this consultation takes place, and should also initiate this as early as possible.
  • Once approved and with a plan in place, the Relief period will begin on the date of birth, adoption, or placement in foster care. The student must notify the Assistant Dean within five days of the child’s birth, adoption, or placement in foster care to start the Parental Relief period. 
  • The student must complete the Relief period within twelve consecutive calendar weeks of the birth, fostering or adoption. The student may not divide the time period of Parental Relief for use past this time limit. The total Parental Relief period for each birth or adoption is limited to twelve weeks; this time limit does not change in the event of a multiple birth, fostering or adoption. 
• Following the Parental Relief Period: After the end of the Parental Relief period, students are expected to continue their usual graduate study and progress toward completing their degrees. Faculty are encouraged to remain flexible in their expectations of students who become new parents, so that students can meet the demands of graduate study at the same time that they face new demands in their parental roles. Faculty should turn to their graduate schools for guidance on this flexibility. 
• Additional Information: Nothing in this policy can or should replace communication and cooperation between student and advisor, and the good-faith efforts of both to support the demands resulting from the birth, fostering or adoption of a child. It is the intent of this policy to reinforce the importance of that cooperation, and to provide support to make flexibility possible.
  • Because Parental Relief is not a leave, students making use of this policy retain the same level of access to: library privileges (borrowing rights, carrel, and electronic collections); Brandeis UNET and e-mail; meeting with advisors; health services and health insurance; Brandeis’s facilities; as well as eligibility for student loans and conference travel. 
  • Students who receive guaranteed fellowship funding as part of their graduate program will continue to receive the same level of funding during their Parental Relief. If a student’s guaranteed funding includes funds from a source external to Brandeis and the source does not permit payment during Parental Relief, Brandeis will provide the student with the equivalent amount. Funding received during Parental Relief is part of the total funding package for the student and will not be extended past the promised duration of program funding. Students who are scheduled to act as teaching assistants, course assistants, or teaching fellows during Parental Relief will not be responsible for performing those duties. Responsibility for finding a replacement will rest with the program or department.