{"id":787,"date":"2024-09-13T20:21:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T20:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/dean-of-students\/?page_id=787"},"modified":"2026-03-02T20:13:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T20:13:07","slug":"student-leave-of-absence-leave-extension-and-withdraw-from-the-college","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/dean-of-students\/student-leave-of-absence-leave-extension-and-withdraw-from-the-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Leave of Absence, Leave Extension and Withdraw from the College"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students considering a Leave of Absence, or to Withdraw from the College, or who are already on an approved Leave of Absence and needing to request a Leave of Absence Extension MUST<\/strong> complete a mandatory meeting with the Dean of Students office or the Academic Programs and Advising office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a student has met with the appropriate professional staff in either the Dean of Students office or the Academic Programs and Advising office, the applicable eform request to initiate one of the processes will be shared with the student after that meeting. When initiating one of the eforms listed below, students should use their Mac email address. Students must use their legal name for these documents in order for the automated process to work accurately.\u00a0Please note that once you initiate the eform it does begin processing immediately<\/strong>, so please consider when<\/strong> you are initiating your request. Students requesting a Leave of Absence or to Withdraw from the College for a future<\/strong> semester should initiate the process about thirty (30) days prior to the end of a semester; students requesting a Leave of Absence or to Withdraw from the College for a semester already in progress<\/strong> should initiate the process right away. Students participating in a Macalester College Internship for credits, students must indicate that information when completing a request eform, along with the date that the Internship will be completed. Students participating in a Mac Internship and\/or campus work, are encouraged to complete a request after the completion of these commitments.

Once all required fields are completed in the eform and it has been electronically signed and dated, the yellow Finish button in the upper right corner of the eform must be clicked to begin the automated processing. Also, international students must first connect with International Student Programs<\/a> to ensure processes, forms and any other items that may be needed are taken care of accurately and timely prior to meeting with either the Dean of Students office or Academic Programs and Advising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please complete the Leave of Absence OR Withdraw from the College Interest-Request Meeting Form<\/a> to schedule a meeting to discuss a Leave of Absence, Leave Extension or Withdrawing from the College. Once your request is received, you will be connected with the appropriate staff to get a meeting scheduled.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mandatory Meeting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any student interested in taking a Leave of Absence, extending a Leave of Absence already in progress or wanting to Withdraw from the College must<\/strong> meet with professional staff in the Dean of Students office or the Academic Programs & Advising office. To schedule a leave of absence or withdraw from the college meeting, students must submit the Leave of Absence OR Withdraw from the College Interest-Request Meeting Form<\/a><\/strong>. Once a request is received, students will be connected with the appropriate staff to further discuss options for one of the processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student Email While on Leave of Absence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Campus offices will use the student’s Mac email account to send messages and important information. Students should watch their email while on a leave of absence and\/or a leave extension. Students not checking their emails could lead to missed deadlines. Missing deadlines has implications, and could affect your Mac email account. Student emails are deactivated if a student doesn’t enroll and\/or attend classes. It will be helpful to keep the Dean of Student office informed about your plans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions Regarding a Leave of Absence (LOA) <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Do you have questions about how a Leave of Absence may affect you? There are a few things to consider when requesting a Leave of Absence:

*Academics<\/strong> – We encourage students to connect with the Academic Programs & Advising<\/a> office with questions about how a Leave of Absence will impact their transcript, credits for graduation and other academic areas.
*Financial Aid<\/strong> – We encourage students to connect with the Financial Aid<\/a> office with questions about how a Leave of Absence will impact their aid package, scholarships and other financial areas.
*Student Accounts<\/strong> – We encourage students to connect with the Student Accounts<\/a> office with questions about how a Leave of Absence will impact tuition payments, loans, and other student account areas.
*Residential Life<\/strong> – Students who live on campus at the time they are approved for a leave of absence\u00a0will not<\/strong>\u00a0automatically receive a prorated refund of the remaining semester’s room and board\u00a0costs. As outlined in the\u00a0Housing Contract<\/a>, students who take a Leave of Absence will only receive a refund if they have supporting documentation and prove they have an inability to pay the difference due to financial reasons. Students can submit documentation\u00a0to a committee of staff members and\u00a0request a release of contract<\/a>. If that request is approved, the student will be eligible to be refunded some\/or all of the prorated amount. We encourage students to connect with the Residential Life<\/a> office with questions about how a Leave of Absence will impact campus housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The needs of each student are nuanced and thus are considered on an individual basis. The LOA website goes into greater detail regarding the overall process for taking a Leave at Macalester. Here you will find answers to common questions when considering a Leave Of Absence (LoA).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a question that is not listed below, please contact the Dean of Students Office for further assistance at: deanofstudents@macalester.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\n\t

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