Leaves of Absence and Returns

This information applies only to continuing students. Entering first-year or transfer students should refer to the Admissions website and contact your Admissions rep if you have questions.

Barnard students who are considering taking a leave of absence should work with Dean Rebecca Grabiner, who serves as the College's Case Manager, as well as Senior Class Dean. Here is some general information about leaves of absence, but for specific questions, contact Dean Grabiner: schedule an appointment or email leavesandreturns@barnard.edu.

• Leave of Absence
  • If a situation or opportunity arises in which a student, in conversation with their adviser, the Case Manager, and/or the Dean for Academic Planning and Class Advising, decides that they would like to take a leave of absence from a semester of coursework and for an extended time, the student may opt for a general Leave of Absence, or a Medical/Mental Health Leave of Absence, depending on the nature of the leave.
  • The student must make an appointment with the Case Manager or the Dean for Academic Planning and Class Advising to discuss their specific situation and to review the terms of a leave of absence. Degree progress and financial aid implications should be considered as part of a decision to withdraw.
• Required leave 
  • Please note: General Leaves or Medical/Mental Health Leaves are not the same as a required leave, in which a student is required to leave the college for a year or a semester due to lack of satisfactory academic progress.
  • Students required to leave due to academic performance are notified of their separation from the college by the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing, and have slightly different requirements for return. All leaves of absence are noted by the College in a student's permanent educational record. The date of the leave will occur in the transcript if the leave occurred during a semester in progress. The leave begins on the date the student last attended class.