Barnard College Barnard College
Leaves of Absence and Returns

Types of Leaves of Absence

Personal Leave

Students seeking to take a personal leave (time off, gap year, transferring, etc.) must fill out the Notice of Leave of Absence, which they can obtain after meeting with the College Case Manager. Degree progress and financial aid implications should be considered as part of a decision to leave and return.
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Students Exit Barnard Hall

Medical / Mental Health Leave

Students seeking to take a Medical/Mental Health leave must fill out the Notice of Leave of Absence, which they can obtain after meeting with the College Case Manager. Students will also have to schedule a meeting with the Executive Director of Student Health and Wellness. 

  • Students must submit a completed Medical/Mental Health Leave Request form (contact College Case Manager for form), in addition to a Notice of Leave of Absence form. Note: In order to complete the writable PDF form, please download, save the file and open with Adobe Acrobat. The form must be signed by a medical or mental health professional, who recommends a leave of absence for specific reasons. Students on this leave must demonstrate that they will pursue medical/mental health treatment, as indicated, to address the noted condition during their time away from the College.
  • The Medical/Mental Health Leave Request Forms must be turned in to Primary Health Care Services within 30 days of the date of the student's departure from campus. Students who are unable to meet the 30-day deadline must be in touch in a timely fashion with the College Case Manager; students who do not turn in their forms within the appropriate time frame may delay the process for return, and may be asked to seek return at a later date. Degree progress and financial aid implications should be considered as part of a decision to leave and return.

Required Leave

Students who do not meet the requirements for satisfactory academic progress, or who are not in good academic standing, for two consecutive semesters, may be asked to leave the college for a specified time.

  • The Committee on Programs and Academic Standing meets to review student records twice a year, and the Committee determines the length of leave time and the conditions for return. Good academic standing is defined as maintaining a 2.0 GPA each semester and attempting or earning at least 12 credits each semester; satisfactory academic progress (or SAP) is defined as the above PLUS the evidence that a student is earning the appropriate annual number of credits necessary to achieve their class standing and meet the 122 required credits for graduation.
  • Students who fail to meet these requirements and who are placed on leave may be required to take coursework while on leave. Students on academic leave should remain in contact with the College Case Manager to make arrangements during their leave, and for their return.
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