Leave of Absence Request
MSM provides a range of student support services to address the medical and mental health needs of students. On occasion, students may experience physical and mental health needs requiring a level of care that exceeds what the University can appropriately provide. In such circumstances, students may take a voluntary leave of absence. For a full description of the leave of absence policy and procedures, please visit the MSM Student Handbook.
MSM recognizes that individual circumstances, which cannot be predicted in advance, may contribute to a situation where an individual student needs to utilize more time to graduate from their academic program. Some of the circumstances that may occur include personal illness or family illness, military leave, or other situations. MSM’s goal is to assist each individual student in achieving their academic goals in a manner that is consistent with their individual values, medical needs, and quality of life, and accommodates, as feasible and reasonable, extenuating circumstances that arise during their education. A leave of absence will not be granted for academic failure. Time spent on leaves of absence is excluded from the matriculation time limit to graduation, specified by each degree program.
What is a Medical Leave of Absence?
A student who must interrupt study temporarily because of physical or psychological illness may request a Medical Leave. The student should contact MSM’s Office of Inclusive Learning and Accessibility Services (OILAS) for information on the process to obtain approval of the request.
The student will be advised to obtain the necessary medical documentation from the medical or mental health professional that has been providing treatment to the student. The student will provide written consent for the release of his/her medical information. The physician shall confirm in writing that a Medical Leave or Withdrawal is warranted due to the student’s health problem. All supporting documentation related to the Medical Leave must be submitted to the OILAS within thirty (30) days of the request (unless the circumstances are unforeseen), and shall be maintained and protected in a confidential and secure manner in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and MSM policies.
Medical Leave may be approved during a student’s degree candidacy contingent upon MSM policy. A Medical LOA will be granted up to one year at a time and reviewed at the end of each academic year. Students may apply for a continuation of Medical Leave beyond one year, but MSM retains the right to impose conditions for students’ return, including but not limited to academic remediation, or to deny further leave. The maximum total time for LOA during matriculation is limited to 2 years.
Considerations Prior to Requesting a Medical Leave of Absence
A student’s health is the most important factor to be weighed when considering a leave of absence. Students are encouraged to seek medical assistance, even if doing so results in taking a leave from classes. Despite this, students considering an MLOA should weigh a number of factors when deciding whether a MLOA is appropriate for their specific situation. The following is a short list of considerations to be weighed:
- Financial Aid: Students should consult with Financial Aid to determine the likely impact of an MLOA on their ability to remain eligible for aid.
- Student Accounts
- Academic Progress: Students may delay their academic plans by taking an MLOA, thus extending the time to graduation.
How To Request a Medical Leave of Absence?
- The student should create an account in Accommodate, our data management system and select Request for Leave.
- The student should complete the LOA Request for Leave Form and the Request for Medical Withdrawal Form (found in Student Resources under forms)
- The student should upload their LOA request for leave form with appropriate signatures, the request for medical withdrawal form, and their supporting medical documentation specifying when the LOA begins and ends, through the Accommodate portal. Students can log in using their MSM credentials. Uploading documents in .pdf file format is most preferred.
What Happens Next?
Once all required documents have been submitted, OILAS will forward all documentation to the Office of Student Affairs. The Office of Student Affairs will review the application and documentation to determine if it meets grounds for the requested leave of absence. Please allow 7 business days for review. Staff will contact the student if additional documentation or information is needed.
The Office of Student Affairs staff will notify the student of approval and any required action and documentation necessary for return.
Returning from a Medical Leave of Absence
- Student uploads a Letter of Clearance from their provider to their Accommodate portal, specifying that the student can resume their studies. Students can log in using their MSM credentials. Uploading documents in .pdf file format is most preferred.
- OILAS will schedule a meeting with the student to guide them through the reintegration to campus process (LOA reintegration form found in Student Resources under forms)
- OILAS will communicate to the Dean of Student Affairs that the student has met the medical requirements to resume his or her studies.
The Office of Student Affairs staff will notify the student of their official return date to campus.
Excused Absence
When requesting an excused absence due to medical reasons, learners should follow these steps:
- Learners must submit a doctor's note to oilas@msm.edu specifying the date(s) of the excused absence
- Learners should also send an email to oilas@msm.edu, with the course names and faculty member name(s) for which the excused absence is requested
- OILAS will forward the request to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for approval.
**ONLY send medical documentation or excused absence request to OILAS, oilas@msm.edu.