Involuntary Leaves of Absence

On this page:

• Reasons for Involuntary Leave of Absence
• Length of Involuntary Leave of Absence

Under certain circumstances, a student may be placed on an involuntary leave of absence. An involuntary leave of absence is not a disciplinary sanction. However, an incident that gives rise to a leave of absence, whether voluntary or involuntary, may subsequently be the basis for disciplinary action. A student who prefers to take a voluntary leave of absence for medical reasons rather than to be placed on an involuntary leave of absence for medical reasons is ordinarily allowed to do so, although all requirements of the involuntary leave of absence remain. Transcripts do not distinguish between voluntary and involuntary leaves of absence.   

The decision to place a student on an involuntary leave of absence for unfulfilled school requirements and/or failure to register and enroll is made by the Dean for Academic Programs. The decision to place a student on involuntary leave for any other reason is made by the Dean of Students in consultation with the chair of the Administrative Board or such other person as the Dean designates and other officers of the University, as appropriate. Students are notified in writing that they have been placed on involuntary leave. Depending on which Dean made the original decision, a student may petition that dean (the Harvard Griffin GSAS Dean of Students or Dean for Academic Programs) for reconsideration within five (5) calendar days. They may appeal a reconsideration decision to the Dean of the School within five (5) calendar days of notification of that decision.  

An involuntary leave of absence may be required for the following reasons: 

1. Medical circumstances 
   1. If (i) the student’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of any person or has seriously disrupted others in the student’s residential community or academic environment; and (ii) either the student’s threatening, self-destructive or disruptive behavior is determined to be the result of a medical condition, or the student has refused to cooperate with efforts by the Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) or other clinicians to determine the cause of the behavior.  

   2. The student is not cleared to return to enrollment and/or residence at the Harvard Griffin GSAS following either: (i) a hospitalization or emergency room visit that raises serious concerns about the student’s health or well-being; or (ii) other circumstances that raise serious concerns about the student’s health or well-being and reasonably call into question their ability to function as a student in the Harvard Griffin GSAS environment. For more information about the process of clearance to return to enrollment and/or residence after a hospitalization or emergency room visit, see the Clearance for Return policy. 

      The decision to place a student on an involuntary leave of absence for health-related reasons is made in consultation with HUHS (which may consider information from the student’s current and/or former health care providers, if made available by the student) after an individualized assessment of all of the pertinent factors such as: the nature of the student’s conduct; the nature, duration and severity of the risk; the likelihood of potential injury; and whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices, or procedures will mitigate the risk such as a reduced course load or course modifications. However, reasonable modifications do not include changes that would fundamentally alter the academic program or unduly burden Harvard Griffin GSAS resources or staffing capabilities or, with respect to the required level of care or monitoring, that would exceed the standard of care that a university health service can be expected to provide.  

2. Failure to adhere to the terms of an agreement to engage in treatment  

   The student’s continued enrollment and/or residence is conditioned on the student’s agreement to meet the expectations set forth in an agreement to engage in treatment, such as following the recommendations of the student’s treatment team, and the student has failed to adhere to the terms of that agreement.    

3. Alleged criminal behavior  

   The student has been arrested on allegations of serious criminal behavior or has been charged with such behavior by law enforcement authorities. 

4. Risk to the community  

   The student has allegedly violated a Harvard Griffin GSAS disciplinary rule, and his or her presence on campus poses a significant risk to safety or to the educational environment of the community. 

5. Indebtedness  

   The student’s term bill is unpaid, and the student has not made arrangements acceptable to the School to address the issue. 

6. Immunization 

   Failure to provide medical documentation of required immunizations. 

7. Unfulfilled school requirements 

   The student has not met an academic or other School requirement including, without limitation, attending class or participating in required activities, and has not taken steps acceptable to the School to meet the requirement. 

8. Failure to register and enroll 

   Either the student has not registered as required at the beginning of each term or by the seventh Monday of the term they have failed to: 

   1. register for a minimum required course load  
   2. withdraw from their academic program 

   3. have an approved application for non-resident status (traveling, leave, study at another Harvard school).

      NOTE: Students who fail to register, withdraw, or submit an application for non-resident status for a second consecutive term will be withdrawn on the seventh Monday of that term. 

Length of Involuntary Leaves of Absence 

Students who do not successfully petition to return from an involuntary leave of absence within two years ordinarily will be withdrawn from Harvard Griffin GSAS.