Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA)
A voluntary medical leave of absence (MLOA) provides students time away from academic studies, for treatment of a physical or mental health condition that impairs a student’s ability to function safely and successfully as an SPS student. The authority to grant an MLOA and permission to return from an MLOA resides with the SPS Associate Dean of Students. Each leave is individualized based on the needs of the student and handled on a case-by-case basis.How to Request an MLOA
Considerations
Deadlines
Students can apply for a voluntary MLOA at any time. However, for an MLOA to take effect during an ongoing quarter, the process must be completed before Friday of week 8 of the quarter. In addition, an MLOA cannot be processed if a student has taken a final exam or final coursework for any of their classes in the given quarter.
A voluntary MLOA lasts at least two full academic quarters. If an MLOA lasts for longer than an academic year, students are expected to adhere to curriculum changes in their program that take place during their absence.
FAQ
Returning from MLOA
SPS welcomes and encourages students to return once they are well enough to engage in the rigors of academic study. Students returning from medical leave of absence should be able to fully and consistently engage in their academic pursuits. This means they will be responsible for adhering to class attendance policies, completing coursework in accordance with established deadlines, and participating respectfully and collaboratively in all learning environments. All Northwestern students are expected to be self-sufficient, able to live safely and independently, care for their basic human needs, and treat other members of the Northwestern community with dignity and respect.
Students with disabilities seeking additional support may want to reach out to AccessibleNU. See also Temporary Medical Conditions and Injuries.
Info required for mental health reinstatement requests:
If you are returning from leave that was related to mental health reasons, your primary mental health provider(s) or treating facility will be required to provide details regarding your treatment and progress since taking a medical leave of absence by submitting this online provider reinstatement form.
Northwestern Medicine Student Health Service will need all clinical documentation from your providers before a recommendation can be submitted to the SPS Student Services team regarding your MLOA request. This may be time-sensitive, so please allow enough time to gather all necessary documents.
Info required for physical health reinstatement requests:
If you are returning from leave that was related to physical health reasons, you will be required to submit a letter of support for reinstatement from your managing physician/providers. The letter or additional documents should include:
- Your diagnosis
- Your course of treatment to date
- Your current condition
- Indication that the medical condition which prevented you from functioning successfully in academic activities has been resolved or sufficiently improved so that you may resume full university activities and any recommendations your treatment provider(s) have for further treatment upon your return to Northwestern.
All relevant documentation should be submitted online through your MyNM patient portal.
Northwestern Medicine Student Health Service will need all documents before recommendations to the SPS Student Services team can be submitted on your behalf. You will not be able to move forward in this process until all clinical documentation is received. This can be a time-sensitive request, so please allow enough time to gather all necessary documents.
Deadlines
The reinstatement request process must be completed at least six weeks prior to the start of the term. See deadlines for each academic term.
Determinations
Reinstatement is based on the student's compliance with the MLOA requirements and their readiness to manage an academic course load and safely function in our community.
The SPS Student Services team will notify the student and other necessary University offices in writing of the determination, and if approved, whether any conditions will apply. If reinstatement is denied, the student may appeal the determination.
Appeals
If reinstatement is denied, the student may appeal the determination to the SPS Student Affairs Petition Committee within three (3) business days of the decision. The appeal can be submitted using the Online Student Affairs Appeal Form on the SPS Forms and Documents page or by contacting spspetitions@northwestern.edu to request an appeal form. The SPS Student Affairs Petition Committee shall review the record and any additional information submitted by the student and render a decision within ten (10) business days of receiving the completed appeal.
FAQ
Other Types of Absence
SPS has the following policies in place regarding other types of absence:
- Students may “stop out” by simply not enrolling in courses for a term. A student who does not enroll remains an active student in their program for up to three consecutive quarters. Upon the third quarter of non-enrollment, students will be discontinued at the end of the registration period.
- Students who are discontinued lose their active status as a student and must submit an Application for Readmission, located on the Forms and Documents page, in order to request to return to their program.
- Students who have not formally begun a program may defer starting it for up to three quarters from their terms of admission by contacting the SPS Office of the Registrar. For example, a student admitted for a fall quarter may defer fall, winter, and spring quarters but must start the program by the summer. Students who do not start their programs within this time must apply for readmission.
