Leave of Absence
Students who need to be away from the College for up to two consecutive fall and/or spring semesters (excluding summer and winter) but wish to maintain ties to the College and resume their studies at a later time may take a leave of absence instead of withdrawing from the College. If a student's return is uncertain, or if they will be away for more than two consecutive standard semesters, the student should submit a Withdrawal from the College form to the Registrar's Office. A request for a leave of absence is due no later than the end of the drop/add period for fall and spring semesters. Forms for the Registrar's Office can be found online.
Students who do not return from a leave of absence after two consecutive semesters will be withdrawn from the College. Students who do not submit a leave of absence request and who do not enroll in coursework for fall and/or spring semesters will also be withdrawn from the College. Please see Withdrawal from the College section for the procedure for readmission.
Students returning from a leave of absence should meet with their advisor to get authorized, discuss their schedule, and register for classes by the end of the drop/add period. The student does not need to submit any additional paperwork to resume their studies.
Students should not file a leave of absence form in order to study abroad or at another institution in the United States. Instead, they must file a petition with the Office of the Registrar for approval to study elsewhere.
Leave of absence forms and petitions to study away or abroad are available on the Office of the Registrar website.
Please note that a leave of absence may affect loans. Students that are on an institutionally approved leave of absence are reported as withdrawn to the National Student Clearinghouse as of the date the leave began to signify they are not currently enrolled in classes. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@hood.edu or 301-696-3411 for additional information.