Leave of Absence/ Withdrawal
There are two ways for students to separate from the College before graduation: through a Leave of Absence or through a Withdrawal. Students requesting a Leave of Absence or a Withdrawal must complete the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal form available online in the student dashboard, MyOtis.
Important: Please note that when you return from your Leave of Absence or if you decide
to apply for readmission and are accepted after withdrawing from the College, there
is no guarantee that the program or the curriculum requirements for your program will
be the same as when you left the College. Returning students will be offered the programs
and curriculum requirements that are currently in place.
MFA Fine Arts students planning to return from a leave of absence or withdrawal are
subject to studio space availability.
Leave of Absence Defined
A Leave of Absence is an anticipated separation from the College of less than one year. A Voluntary Leave of Absence is initiated by the student. An Administrative Leave of Absence is initiated by the Dean of Student Affairs (or designee) and is given for medical, personal, or other issues as determined by the Dean of Student Affairs. Students who are granted an Administrative Leave of Absence must meet all specific conditions before being allowed to return to the College.
Withdrawal Defined
A Withdrawal is an anticipated separation from the College of more than one year, up to and including a permanent separation. A Voluntary Withdrawal is initiated by the student. An Administrative Withdrawal is initiated by the Dean of Student Affairs (or designee) or by the Registrar (or designee) and is given for reasons of non-attendance, poor scholarship, disciplinary conduct, or other issues as determined by the Dean of Student Affairs or the Academic Standing Committee.
Students who are given an Administrative Withdrawal must apply for readmission (if eligible) and must meet all specific conditions before being allowed to return to the College.
How to Qualify for A Leave of Absence
To qualify for a Leave of Absence, students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Students who apply for a Leave of Absence with a cumulative GPA of below 2.0 will be Withdrawn from the College and must apply for readmission when they plan to return.
Leave of Absence/Withdrawal and Grades
When a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal is given before the beginning of a semester,
students are dropped from their courses, and no grades are recorded for that semester.
When a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal is given once the semester has started, students
are withdrawn from all courses and receive a grade of “W” in all courses in which
they were enrolled. A Leave of Absence/Withdrawal form must be submitted online by
the published withdrawal deadline date to receive a grade of “W.” Forms received after
that date will be subject to the grades in progress at the time the form is submitted
but W grades can be given up until the last day of the semester at the discretion
of the Dean of Students and the Registrar.
International Students Taking a Leave of Absence/Withdrawal
International students on an F-1 visa must meet with the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) and be advised on the effect a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal will have on their visa status. International students on an F1 visa who are approved for a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal are considered out of status and must return home within 15 days. In specific cases where the reason for the leave of absence is medical in nature, students may be eligible for a Medical Reduced Course Load (RCL). Students approved for RCL are allowed to remain in the U.S. and keep an active SEVIS record and Visa.
Tuition and Fees on Leave of Absence
Tuition and fees will be refunded based on the published refund policy. Housing fees will be refunded based on meal plans purchased for the semester and students will receive a refund based on the number of days they did not use the meal plan, see Meal Plans for more information. Financial aid recipients must meet with the Financial Aid Office to complete the necessary exit interview and be advised on the effect a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal will have on their financial aid eligibility and/or loan repayment.
Students who unofficially withdraw (stop attending without officially completing a leave of absence or withdrawal form) from the College will have their tuition and fees refunded based on the last known date of attendance as reported by the academic departments.
Access to Services and Readmission to The College on Leave of Absence
Students on Leave of Absence have access to their Otis email account and MyOtis. Students on Leave will also continue to have access to the job board and career counseling services through Career Services. On a case-by-case basis, students who were accessing Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) may have continued access as determined by the Director of CAPS. Students on Leave do not have access to College facilities and services or computer labs, laboratory equipment, library, or other privileges unless specifically stated above. Students who have withdrawn from the College do not have access to any College facilities, services, or privileges. Students on a Leave of Absence may resume their studies at the beginning of a semester within their approved year, but are strongly encouraged to seek academic and financial aid advice on the best time to return to the College.
Students on a Leave of Absence must notify the Registration Office at least two months before the beginning of the term in which they plan to return and will be eligible for priority registration based on their class level. They must make sure all holds have been cleared and financial arrangements have been made by published deadlines for that semester.
Students on a Leave of Absence who do not return within one calendar year will be Withdrawn from the College. To resume their studies, such students must apply for readmission and will be readmitted based on the readmission policies in place at that time.
Students who have withdrawn from the College and decide they would like to return must apply for readmission. All specific conditions (if any) must be met before the student can return and readmission will be subject to the readmission policies in place at that time.