Voluntary Leaves of Absence (Granted by Petition)

Students who wish to interrupt their studies at any time before graduation must petition the Administrative Board for a leave of absence. Petition forms are available from, and must be submitted to, the Allston Burr Resident Dean or Resident Dean for Freshmen.

Students whose previous academic and disciplinary record is satisfactory and who have petitioned by the seventh Monday of the term will normally be granted a "leave of absence." Students who petition after the seventh Monday of the term will normally be granted a "leave of absence-late in the term." Students who are not in good standing may be granted a "leave of absence-on probation." Students who petition for a leave of absence after the Thanksgiving holiday in the fall term or after April 15 in the spring term ordinarily will not be allowed to register in the next academic term. No petitions for a leave of absence for any term will ordinarily be considered after the first day of Reading Period for that term.

A student who is granted a leave of absence during the academic year is charged tuition, room rent, the Student Services Fee, and board to the end of the period in which he or she leaves, as indicated on the chart "Students' Financial Obligations in the Event of a Leave of Absence or Requirement to Withdraw" on page 372 and in "Housing Policy" on page 327.

Students who have signed a room contract to live in College housing and subsequently decide to take a leave of absence must notify the Office of Residential Life, University Hall, First Floor South, in writing of their intention not to take up residence. The purpose of this policy is to enable Houses to make unoccupied rooms available to other students as early as possible (for deadlines, see "Housing Policy" on page 327).

All undergraduates going on leave before the end of a term must submit the proper paperwork to their House Office or the Freshman Dean's Office. Cancellation of board charges is contingent upon the submission of the form; failure to do so will result in a continued assessment of board charges until the end of the term in which the leave occurs. A student granted a leave is expected to vacate University property as soon as possible and no later than five business days after the date of the Administrative Board vote granting the leave. The room key must also be turned in to the House Office or Superintendent's Office. Students who are on leave may not store any belongings at the University.

Students leaving after completion of the fall term should consult the section "Full Courses-Divisible and Indivisible" on page 54 and their Allston Burr Resident Dean or their Resident Dean for Freshmen concerning dividing or withdrawing from any full or "hf" courses in which they were enrolled.

Students should file a Change of Address form at Holyoke Center 953, and students with telephones and email accounts are reminded to make appropriate arrangements to settle those accounts before leaving. Students who have competed on an intercollegiate team or intend to compete on one for the first time upon their return should arrange for an "exit interview" with the Associate Director of Athletics in charge of eligibility before leaving Cambridge.

Students receiving scholarship or other financial aid should consult the Financial Aid Office concerning the financial implications of going on leave. Prior to leaving Cambridge those who have borrowed money or received financial aid from Harvard must also have an exit interview at the Financial Aid Office, Byerly Hall 312. Students who receive veteran's educational benefits should report to Holyoke Center 953. Foreign students should consult the International Office concerning their status.

Students going on leave are reminded that all degree candidates, whether currently registered or not, are expected to maintain a satisfactory standard of conduct.

Use of College Services and Facilities

Students are encouraged to consult the Office of Career Services, which may be able to assist them in making plans for their time away from the College. Students who have been granted a leave of absence may at any time consult their Allston Burr Resident Dean or Resident Dean for Freshmen. The services of the Bureau of Study Counsel are fully available to students on leave, so long as these students have medical coverage through the University Health Services.

When any portion of the tuition for a term has been paid, a student's usual access to medical care at the University Health Services extends to the beginning of the next regular term. Students enrolled in the University's Blue Cross/Blue Shield group insurance plan should consult the Student Health Insurance Office in the University Health Services about obtaining insurance coverage while they are not registered in the College.

Libraries and other facilities may normally be used only by students who are currently registered. Students on leave or required to withdraw may not participate in extracurricular activities. Exceptions to this rule must be specifically approved in advance by the Administrative Board.

Course Work Done Out of Residence

Students in good standing (see page 319) who are granted a leave of absence and who wish to enroll in courses given by another institution for Harvard degree credit should consult "Degree Credit for Study Abroad" on page 36. To be granted degree credit for course work done out of residence, a student must apply to the Faculty Committee on Education Abroad before study begins. Any student who has received a bachelor's degree from another institution is not eligible to enroll or reenroll in Harvard College as an undergraduate.

Returning to College

A student in good standing who has been granted a leave of absence may ordinarily return for any term he or she wishes by notifying the Allston Burr Resident Dean (or Resident Dean for Freshmen, for students who were granted a leave during their first term) eight weeks in advance of that term. Ordinarily, freshmen taking a leave of absence at any point during their first term will not be allowed to register before the fall term of the next academic year.

A student who has been granted a "leave of absence-late in the term" or a "leave of absence-on probation" must petition the Administrative Board for permission to register and must provide the Board with evidence that he or she is ready to resume college studies. Such evidence must include a written statement describing how the student's time away has been spent and often includes a substantial period of regular employment at a non-academic job and a suitable letter of recommendation from the employer or employment supervisor. A student who has been granted a leave of absence for medical reasons may be required to consult with a member of the University Health Services and to allow a clinical assessment to be shared with the Administrative Board as part of his or her petition to be allowed to register. The Administrative Board ordinarily will not approve the return of a student for the fall term whose experience in the Harvard Summer School in the previous summer has been unsuccessful or unsatisfactory.

All students intending to return to the College must obtain an Application for Returning Students from the Office of Residential Life, University Hall, First Floor South. These applications are due quite early in the preceding term in order to permit the College to provide housing for as many students as possible (see "Housing Policy" on page 327 and the Academic Calendar for application deadlines and other information).

Students who do not file the Application for Returning Students by the appropriate deadline will be housed on a space-available basis only. Students denied housing on this basis can reestablish eligibility for guaranteed housing by living off campus for two terms while enrolled and by filing a Return to On-Campus Housing form before the appropriate deadline. Students whose leaves have extended beyond two years are not guaranteed on-campus housing upon their return to the College but will be housed on a space-available basis (see "Housing Guidelines" on page 336).

A student who has filed an Application for Returning Students for one term but subsequently decides to return for the following term instead must submit a new application for that following term or request of the College Housing Office, in writing, that the initial application be reactivated.

Students wishing to apply for financial aid must request a financial aid application from Byerly Hall 312 by February 1 for the following fall term and by October 1 for the following spring term. Late applicants cannot be assured aid. In addition, a term bill worksheet should be requested from the Allston Burr Resident Dean or Resident Dean for Freshmen and returned to the Student Receivables Office, Holyoke Center 953, with payment before August 9 for fall term return and before January 17 for spring term return.

Students who have been granted a leave and who have borrowed money through Harvard must submit an annual loan deferment form to the Student Loan Office upon their return to Harvard. Deferment forms may be obtained through either the Student Loan Office or the Financial Aid Office and must be completed and certified by the Registrar immediately following Registration. Failure to file a deferment form upon return will cause payments to be due on loans and could affect future borrowing eligibility.

A student will not be allowed to register in the University again until all previous term-bill and telephone charges have been paid and no loan is in default.

Students who have been away from the College for five or more years must petition the Administrative Board for permission to register. Those planning to return to the College after a period of five or more years will ordinarily not be eligible for scholarship aid from institutional sources. Petitions for readmission after an interval of five or more years must include evidence of financial resources necessary to meet all College expenses.