Planned Educational Leave Guidelines for Graduate Students

1.

Graduate students who have been officially

admitted to, and who are actively pursuing master's degree and/or credential

programs, offered by the University may qualify to absent themselves from

enrollment in the institution for periods up to two academic years and

still maintain the option of continuing student status.

2.

As a consequence of a leave of absence, it

is expected that a student will improve his/her ability to complete the

program.

3.

A planned academic leave does not change

the beginning or ending dates of the seven-year completion of degree requirement

for master's degree candidates.

a.

have been officially admitted to a master's

and/or credential program offered by the University

b.

have a Graduate Approved Program (GAP) on

file in the Office of Graduate Studies,

c.

be in good academic standing, and

d.

have completed acceptable course work toward

the identified objective prior to the effective date of the leave.

1.

A graduate student must request and receive

approval of an educational leave not later than the end of the semester

following his/her last enrollment. If approved, the leave will begin with

the first semester following last enrollment on this campus.

2.

Application forms for planned educational

leaves can be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies.

3.

An applicant must obtain the approval of

his/her advisor and department chair and return the completed application

to the Office of Graduate Studies.

4.

The Office of Graduate Studies will make

the judgment whether applications satisfy the conditions stated in the

policy. If denied, applicants will be notified directly by the Office

of Graduate Studies. If approved, the recommended action will be forwarded

to the Director of Admissions and Records, who will be responsible for

notifying the student of the approval, along with any needed instructions

for re-registration in the University at or prior to the conclusion of

the leave.

5.

It will be the student's responsibility to

contact the Director of Admissions and Records during the first half of

the semester prior to the conclusion of the leave to assure that

the needed registration materials will be activated for the term of re-entry.

Students are also responsible for notifying their major department of

their intent to re-register in a specific term.

If a student fails to register by the semester

of scheduled return, he/she must go through the full procedures for readmission

to the University.

6.

If a student finds that he/she needs to change

the period of the leave, he/she may apply for changes using the procedures

outlined above. Such changes must be requested and approved prior to the

end of classes of the semester before his/her scheduled return. Such changes

will be considered for periods up to the maximum allowed; however, only

in very unusual circumstances will the total length of the leave (original

plus proposed change) be allowed to exceed the maximum of two years.