Leave of Absence
Students may request a leave of absence to attend to personal, medical, or academic needs for a short time before returning to the College.
Leaves of absence typically last one or two semesters, though extensions may be requested. The reasons for taking a leave of absence vary widely. For example, students may face a family or medical emergency, wish to pursue temporarily a non-academic experience, or have other personal needs they must address. Leaves of absence should be taken only under such exceptional circumstances. Additional information can be found in the Trinity College Bulletin.
Any student who needs to take a leave of absence will be able to do so regardless of their academic performance and without penalty. Students will not be placed on academic probation as a result of having to leave mid-semester. Transcripts will reflect “leave of absence.”
To begin the leave of absence process, complete and submit a Leave of Absence Request (also available on the Registrar’s Office Forms page) and schedule an appointment with the Dean of Students Office and your academic adviser.
Please contact the Student Accounts Office with any questions regarding billing. Also, if you are receiving any financial aid, contact the Financial Aid Office to see how your leave of absence will impact the aid you have received.
Leave of Absence/Voluntary Withdrawal Timing and Implications Chart
Please review this chart to understand the timing and implications of your Leave of Absence request.
| Before Billing | After Billing but Before Term Begins | After Term Begins but Before Add/Drop Deadline | After Add/Drop Deadline but Before Withdrawal Deadline | After Withdrawal Deadline | After Last Class Day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollments | Dropped | Dropped | Dropped | Withdrawn | Withdrawn, Incomplete (if eligible), or Graded (as usual) | Graded (as usual) |
| Enrollments w/AAC Petition | N/A | N/A | N/A | AAC can retroactively approve Drop instead of Withdrawal if meets criteria (grace period consideration, non-attendance, or unexpected circumstances). | AAC may approve retroactive withdrawal if meets criteria (unexpected circumstances), AAC may approve incomplete if meets criteria (75% of work complete and instructor consent), graded as usual (instructor records the grade that was earned). | Not applicable |
| Transcripts | No Transcript Record LOA notation in prior term. | No Transcript Record LOA notation in prior term. | No Enrollment Transcript Record but Leave of Absence from College notation. | W for each enrollment and Leave of Absence from College notation. | W, IN if meets 75% criteria, or graded as usual for each enrollment and Leave of Absence from College notation. | Graded as usual for each enrollment and Leave of Absence from College notation. |
| Billing | $350 fee | Semester Refund of Tuition per Schedule: First and second week 80% (days 1-14) Third week 60% (days 15-21) Fourth week 40% (days 22-28) Fifth week 20% (days 29-35) After fifth week 0% (after day 35) No refund of Room and Meal charges after term begin |
No Refund for Tuition, Room and Meal charges. | No Refund for Tuition, Room and Meal charges. | No Refund for Tuition, Room and Meal charges. | |
| Financial Aid | No impact | No impact | Financial Aid Package reviewed and may be recalculated. Will not be eligible for some aid sources (e.g., Work-Study). Out of pocket expenses may rise. May not be eligible for additional terms of Trinity College aid. | Financial Aid Package reviewed and may be recalculated. Will not be eligible for some aid sources (e.g., Work-Study). Out of pocket expenses may rise. May not be eligible for additional terms of Trinity College aid. | Financial Aid Package reviewed and may be recalculated. Will not be eligible for some aid sources (e.g., Work-Study). Out of pocket expenses may rise. After 60% point in term, aid not reviewed/recalculated. May not be eligible for additional terms of Trinity College aid. | No change in Financial Aid Package. |
| International Student | Will have to obtain new I-20 and possibly new visa upon return. | Will have to obtain new I-20 and possibly new visa upon return. | Will need to leave the U.S. usually within 14 days of taking a leave. Will have to obtain new I-20 and possibly student visa upon return. | Will need to leave the U.S. usually within 14 days of taking a leave. Will have to obtain new I-20 and possibly student visa upon return. | Will need to leave the U.S. usually within 14 days of taking a leave. Will have to obtain new I-20 and possibly student visa upon return. | Will need to leave the U.S. usually within 14 days of taking a leave. Will have to obtain new I-20 and possibly student visa upon return. |
| Return Date | May be eligible for return next subsequent term or semester. | May be eligible for return next subsequent term or semester. | May be eligible for return next subsequent term or semester. | Unlikely to be eligible to return for subsequent term or semester. | Unlikely to be eligible to return for subsequent term or semester. | Will not be eligible to return for subsequent term or semester. |
| Process | Submit Leave of Absence Request Form on: http://38kv.365dafa6.com/registrar/forms/ | Submit Leave of Absence Request Form on: http://38kv.365dafa6.com/registrar/forms/ | Submit Leave of Absence Request Form on: http://38kv.365dafa6.com/registrar/forms/ | Submit Leave of Absence Request Form and separate Petition to Waive Drop Deadline Form (if meets criteria) on: http://38kv.365dafa6.com/registrar/forms/ | Submit Leave of Absence Request Form and separate Petition to Waive Drop Deadline Form (if meets criteria) on: http://38kv.365dafa6.com/registrar/forms/ | Submit Leave of Absence Request Form on: http://38kv.365dafa6.com/registrar/forms/ |
