Withdrawal, Leave of Absence, and Reinstatement
Students who wish to withdraw from the University or take a leave of absence must submit their requests in writing. Students who are absent for one or more semesters without officially taking a leave of absence jeopardize their privilege to return; mere absence from class does not reduce financial obligations or guarantee that final grades will not be recorded.
Requests for leave of absence must be submitted by undergraduate degree candidates to the University Service Center. Metropolitan College part-time and nondegree students submit them to the dean’s office of Metropolitan College or the University Registrar. All other students submit their requests to the dean’s office in their school or college of enrollment.
A withdrawal or leave of absence, if approved, is effective on the day a signed request is received in the appropriate office; tuition and fees are canceled in accordance with the University’s refund schedule, which is published by the University Registrar and is available on its website.
Approval of a leave of absence request does not guarantee that a student will remain able to complete degree requirements within the time frame required by the school or college. Individual schools and colleges may have additional stipulations regarding leaves of absence and withdrawals, so students should review the appropriate school or college website and/or inquire with academic advising staff.
Leaves of Absence for Medical Reasons
Sometimes a student may need to interrupt their studies for medical reasons. The University can assist a student who is deciding whether to take a medical leave and advise them about the steps necessary for a successful return. A student’s request for a leave of absence for medical reasons must be reviewed by Student Health Services or its designee. Boston University also reserves the right to require an involuntary medical leave of absence if it determines that a student’s continued enrollment would create a significant risk to the health and safety of the student or others.
A student seeking to re-enroll after a medical leave must demonstrate to the University that the student’s health permits the successful completion of studies. Documentation needed to support this finding will be determined by Student Health Services or its designee, but will generally include information from the student’s clinician as well as an assessment by Student Health Services or its designee. The decision whether to permit a student to re-enroll is within the sole discretion of the University.
