If you are a student in good academic standing, you may file for a Leave of Absence from the College to pursue educational interests at other institutions for the coming semester, year, or for up to three semesters, anytime after you have completed your first semester, and prior to receiving a degree. Beyond three semesters of leave, a leave of absence must be formally renewed.
If you complete nine or more credits in a semester while on leave from the University, the College will count that semester as one of your eight allotted full-time semesters in Charlottesville.
Students who pay the $150.00 leave of absence fee have "on academic leave" entered on their permanent academic record and do have to apply for readmission. All others must apply for readmission at least 30 days prior to final registration for the semester in which they intend to enroll.
Students who enter a degree program at another institution, however, must reapply to the University as transfer students and are not guaranteed acceptance.
Your Association Dean can provide further information and counsel on the various procedures for a leave and the conditions under which you may be readmitted.
Students who wish to take a leave of absence to pursue educational interests at another educational institution in the United States must submit an Application for Leave of Absence.
Students who wish to study abroad in an accredited program or at an accredited foreign university must apply for a leave of absence at the International Studies Office.
While on such an approved leave, a student must register at the University of Virginia as a non-resident and pay a non-resident fee; this indicates that he or she is on an approved leave of absence pursuing educational interests elsewhere.
Students registered for an approved leave may pre-enroll for courses and do not have to apply for readmission to the University, although they must notify their dean’s office or the International Studies Office of when they intend to return.
With the approval of your Association Dean, you may withdraw from the College for personal reasons or, upon the recommendation of the Department of Student Health, for medical reasons (see Medical Withdrawal below).
If you withdraw during the last 10 class days immediately preceding the Final Examination period, you are not permitted to re-enter the College the succeeding semester (see the College calendar for specific dates). You are also not permitted to transfer credit toward your degree in the College.
Students may withdraw from the College before the conclusion of a semester only if they fulfill the following requirements:
Failure to comply with the above regulations will subject a student to suspension from the University by the Vice President for Student Affairs. Any student who withdraws without having obtained permission is recorded as having been suspended with a grade of F recorded for each course.
Students who withdraw from the University voluntarily will have the notation "withdrew (date)" recorded on their permanent academic record and will receive a grade of W in their courses.
Check with the Financial Aid office to determine how your withdrawal will affect your financial aid. A partial refund of tuition and fees is available depending upon when during the semester you withdraw.
Students who withdraw for reasons of health must obtain permission from the Department of Student Health. A grade of W (withdrawal) will be entered for each course in which the student was registered. Subsequent medical clearance from the Department of Student Health is required for readmission.
In very unusual medical circumstances, documented by professional certification, a College student has one semester in which to petition for a retroactive medical withdrawal. If approved, all grades convert to W’s and the student is obliged to be absent for a full semester before resuming full-time study.
A student who is making no real progress in a course, or whose behavior is detracting from the course, may be excluded from that course by the dean with a grade of W or F.
Students have five calendar days following written notification of this exclusion in which to appeal. Until the final disposition of the appeal, the student is considered enrolled in the course. The appeal goes first to the chair of the department and then to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs.
Until the final disposition of the appeal, the student will continue to be enrolled in the course and may continue to attend classes with the approval of the dean and the instructor.
Students may be forced to withdraw from the University for
Students who are forced to withdraw during a given term will have the notation “enforced withdrawal (date)” entered on their permanent academic records following the semester in which the action occurred. A grade of W (withdrawal) or WD (administrative withdrawal) will be entered for each course in which the student was registered.
Students who have been forced to withdraw must apply for readmission to their dean’s office in the same manner as suspended students.