Where extunuating personal, family, or medical circumstances negatively affect a student's ability to suceed at MSU, they may persue a leave of absence (LOA) which permits students to temporarily withdraw from the University and their studies of the current semester so they may address the issues that led to the need for leave.   

Leave of Absence Policy

 

Graduate students must contact the Dean of the Graduate School to request a Leave application

What Circumstances Qualify for a Leave of Absence?

Students may request a Leave of Absence if they:

  • Experience a significant mental or physical illness, injury, or other extraordinary circumstance that significantly limits their capacity to function successfully or safely in their role as a student (this extraordinary circumstance may include the birth/adoption of a child)
  • Experience a family emergency such as severe illness or death within their immediate family including an individual whose close association with the student is the equivalent of a family relationship.

Leave of Absence Procedure

  1. Extenuating circumstance occurs, affecting student's ability to perform academically or function successfully at the University 
  2. Student should call the Office of the Dean of Students (406-994-2826) and ask to schedule an on-call appointment to discuss a Leave of Absence
  3. Student meets with a dean to begin the LOA process and access the application
  4. Student submits Leave of Absence application and supporting documentation 
  5. Within 4-6 weeks of submitting the complete application and required documentation, the student will receive a decision letter containing their outcomes (either approved or denied) and details of their Leave of Absence 
    1. Denials may be appealed within 5 business days of the decision letter delivery date (more information below)
  6. If and when a student choses to return to MSU after a Leave of Absence, they will need to follow the re-entry steps (detailed below)

 

Students should be prepared that if they are granted a Leave of Absence, there may be additional implications that they should be aware of, including grades, finances, scholarships, academic progress, and resources. These impacts can be discussed in their meeting with our office staff.

 

Returning from a Leave of Absence 

Students requesting to return to the University following a Leave of Absence shall do the following:

  1. Complete the University Intent to Register form available at https://www.montana.edu/registrar/Returning.html at least 30 days before the start of the semester in which they intend to return.
  2. Review their Leave of Absence decision letter, follow the reentry steps detailed in the letter, and fill out the reentry form linked in the letter.
  3. Once the student's reentryform is filled out, the Office of the Dean of Students will reach out to schedule a reentry meeting

Appealing a Denial 

Students may appeal a denial of a leave of absence, or the denial of a request to return to campus following a leave of absence approved with a determined re-entry plan within five business days of receiving the decision of the Dean of Students. The decision can be submitted in writing to the Vice President of Student Success (VPSS). The written request for appeal must specify the particular substantive and/or procedural basis for the appeal and must be made on grounds other than general dissatisfaction with the decision of the Dean of Students.

After reviewing the matter fully, the VPSS will issue a written decision affirming, modifying, reversing, or remanding the decision, along with the basis for the decision. The VPSS’s decision shall be the final decision of the University.