2011-2012 - College of Osteopathic Medicine - Touro University ...

the timing of the withdrawal within the academic program. Leaves of absence usuallydo not exceed 9 months. Circumstances necessitating a leave of absence may include,but are not limited to, short or long-term personal illness, military training orobligations, jury duty, maternity and infant care, critical illness or death of animmediate family member, and academic reasons requiring interruption of the normalcourse of study in order to complete remedial work. A student requesting a leave ofabsence for any reason during or at the end of an academic year must adhere to thefollowing general procedure:1. The student must meet personally with the appropriate Associate or AssistantDean or director to discuss the reason for the leave and the effects on his or heracademic progress. A mutual decision is reached after careful consideration isgiven to personal and professional circumstances.2. The student must then complete a Leave of Absence Petition and obtain allrequired signatures of institutional officials, including that of the appropriateCollege Dean or designee. The student is responsible for initiating this process,obtaining the required forms and signatures, and providing the completedpaperwork to the Registrar.3. The Associate Dean of Student Services will send an official letter to the studentand to the program indicating if the leave of absence has been approved ordenied by the respective College Dean or designee.Provided that the leave is approved, the official start date of the leave of absence will bethe original date of receipt of the student's completed Leave of Absence Petition. Anytuition charged or refunded will be in accordance with the College's withdrawal policy.Any changes in the terms of the petition during the leave period should be relayed tothe appropriate College Dean or designee as soon as possible. For leaves of threemonths or more, students must contact the College Dean, Program Director, orapplicable Associate or Assistant Dean at least 6 weeks prior to the expiration of a leaveof absence to plan their reentry into the program. Failure to do so may result inadministrative withdrawal of the student from the university. Reentry of the studentinto the academic program following a leave of absence will occur in coordination withthe Associate Dean of Student Services.The following details some aspects of the policy related to specific types of Leave ofAbsence:2011 – 2012 COM Student Handbook