Medical Leaves of Absence (MLOA)
About the policy
During your time at Washington University, you may experience life situations, medical conditions, or psychological conditions that significantly impair your ability to function successfully or safely as a student. In these instances, time away from the university for treatment and recovery can often restore your functioning to a level that will enable you to participate fully in academic coursework and the university community.
Students function not just as individuals, but also as connected parts of the university community and environment. When a student becomes impaired to the extent of needing a MLOA, this impairment often impacts that larger community.
The university has a vested interest and a responsibility, both to you and to the larger university community, to establish criteria regarding your eligibility for re-enrollment following a MLOA. The criteria include, but are not limited to, compelling evidence that the condition that precipitated the MLOA has been sufficiently treated and ameliorated to the point where it will no longer adversely affect your safety and functioning. Certain MLOAs initiated as a result of life situations (sexual assault, death of a family member) may not be subject to these criteria.
Student considerations
Both a MLOA and a return from MLOA require a medical recommendation from SHS and an administrative approval from your school of enrollment.
Various schools, colleges, and graduate fields have different polices regarding leaves of absence, including specific restrictions on or requirements for the amount of time a student is to be away on leave and distinct requirements or criteria for re-enrollment following a leave of absence. It is your responsibility to contact the advising office of your school or college, or for graduate students, the dean of the Graduate School , regarding the specific academic requirements or criteria for re-enrollment that will apply to you. It is the school or college that makes the final decisions whether you may return from a MLOA to that particular school or college.
Prior to taking a medical leave of absence, it is essential that you review your current health insurance coverage. Any student granted a medical leave of absence within the first 30 days of school will not be eligible to remain on the student health insurance plan, unless the student was on the insurance plan the prior semester. Students should determine their insurance status and seek other insurance coverage. Students granted a MLOA after the first 30 days of school, will remain on the insurance plan for the current semester. Should you elect to stay on the plan during your medical leave, SHS will then be considered the primary provider for health care, unless you are 50 miles or more away from the University.
Please review the MLOA Insurance Information Form to obtain information
about continuing your insurance plan coverage.
Steps to Take a Medical Leave of Absence
If you are considering taking a medical leave of absence from Washington University:
- For leaves related to physical health, you will need to contact Student Health Services and request a meeting with the Director of SHS (935-9626). For mental health related leaves, you will need to contact Student Health Services and request a meeting with the Chief of Mental Health Services (935-6695).
- Complete and return the form Request for Medical Leave of Absence to the appropriate College Office.
- Once the need for a MLOA has been determined by SHS and the paperwork completed, a recommendation is issued by SHS to your school or college for a MLOA.
You will need to abide by the following deadlines for requesting a MLOA.
- You must complete a meeting with the appropriate SHS official and all of the necessary paperwork no later than the final day of classes in a semester in order for a MLOA to be processed for that semester.
- Requests that are completed after this deadline will only be considered for the subsequent semester.
- SHS does not act retroactively in recommending Medical Leaves of Absence.
If you are currently on a MLOA and considering returning to Washington University:
- Print a copy of the Student Checklist for Returning from a MLOA and follow the directions.
- If you have any questions, call SHS (314-935-6695 for mental health leaves and 314-935-9626 for physical health leaves)
Abide by the following deadline for requesting a return from a MLOA:
- All documentation that is needed to consider your request to return must be submitted to SHS between June 1 and July 1 if you wish to return for the coming Fall semester and between November 1 and December 1 if you wish to return for the coming Spring semester.
- If any of your materials arrive after these deadlines, consideration of your application to return from a MLOA will be postponed until a later semester.
Recommendations for readmission are granted based on readiness to manage a full-time course load (between 12 and 15 credits for undergraduate students). For this reason, recommendations for part-time enrollment or for enrollment during the summer term are not granted.
Below are some relevant forms and handouts connected to the Medical Leave process.
For Student Departing on MLOA:
- Medical Leave of Absence Policy
- Medical Leave of Absence Insurance Information
- Request for Medical Leave of Absence (Dean's Office)
- Request for Medical Leave of Absence (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office)
