Leave of Absence / Time Away from the University
Time Away from the University
A Leave of Absence (herein LOA) is a temporary break from academic enrollment for degree-seeking students who intend to return to studies at Brandeis. Students may choose to take a leave for a number of reasons including but not limited to: personal or health reasons; military service; travel; caregiving; or employment/internship opportunities. The length of the leave is related to the student’s academic standing and the purpose of the leave, and can differ between undergraduate and graduate students.
Taking a leave of absence may have implications on a student’s academic record, financial aid, housing, and/or visa status. The refund policy applies to all students requesting a leave of absence. It is important that students requesting a leave of absence read through corresponding materials and seek guidance as needed. Returns from leave are subject to the conditions established at the inception of the leave.
In addition to leaves initiated by the student, students may be required to take time away from the university for a number of administrative reasons including but not limited to concerns related to academic, financial and/or disciplinary concerns.
Voluntary Leaves of Absence
Personal Leave of Absence: 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 graduate students from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and the International Business School. 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.
Please visit our Time Away From the University website for more details and information on how to begin and return from a leave.
Health Leave of Absence: 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 graduate students at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and the International Business School. 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.
Please visit our Time Away From the University website for more details and information on how to begin and return from a leave.
Pregnancy Accommodation: 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.
[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.
Please visit our Time Away From the University website for more details and information on how to begin and return from a pregnancy accommodation request.
Absence for Military Service (domestic and international): 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.
Other Options for Time Away
- Parental Relief Time Away (Graduate Students):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.
Please visit our Time Away From the University website for more details and information on how to begin and return from Parental Relief.