I.  Justification and Statement of Policy

The College has traditionally recognized the educational and personal rewards that many students receive from a semester or two away from the campus. Health issues, both physical and mental, encountered by students may require that they remain away from the College for more than the usual College vacation periods. Moreover, certain unforeseeable medical issues may occur during the course of the semester, which may impact a student’s ability to meet the academic expectations of a particular course. The College, therefore, encourages students to consider carefully their situations, to clarify their objectives, and to consider whether they should temporarily interrupt their studies at the College and take a medical leave of absence from all courses or withdraw from specific course(s) for medical reason(s). In addition, as more fully set forth below, there may be instances when the college deems it necessary to involuntarily remove students from classes and/or the college for medical reasons. This policy describes how to request a health leave, the procedure for returning after a health leave, and the process by which a student may be placed on an involuntary health leave.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all students.

III. Policy

Students who wish to explore the advantages and disadvantages of medical leaves and course withdrawals should confer with the Director of Student Success to discuss their situations and tentative plans.

Unless expressly permitted in writing by the Office of Student Affairs, students on a medical leave of absence are not permitted to be present at the College and are not permitted to engage in any College-related activities, including on-campus employment.

The primary goal for students on a medical leave of absence is for the student to address the medical condition that caused the leave. Therefore, students may not transfer in classes taken elsewhere while on leave without pre-approval by the Director of Student Success.  

A. Voluntary Health Leave

A student may request a Voluntary Health Leave for physical or mental health reasons if, before or during the course of an academic term, they believe that their health concerns are or will prevent them from meeting the expectations of a student and/or that the demands of college life are interfering with their recovery, treatment, or safety. A student who, in consultation with either the medical or counseling staff at the Student Wellness Center or their personal health care provider, determines that they need to request a Voluntary Health Leave should contact the Director of Student Success to discuss the terms of the leave as determined by the College.

1. Procedure for Obtaining Voluntary Health Leave

Requests for Voluntary Health Leave must be made in writing by the student to the Director of Student Success through completion of the Leave of Absence Request Form and, in cases where the need for leave is not evident, must be supported by the opinion of a licensed health professional. This health professional must be in good standing in their field and must not have an immediate familial relationship with the student. These typically include: physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, counselors, psychologists, or psychiatrists. If extraordinary circumstances exist in which provider documentation is not available, please discuss with the Office of Student Affairs to make a recommendation for how to proceed with the request.

The Director of Student Success will review the request and may share the request and accompanying medical and/or mental health information with other Franklin & Marshall College officials for the purpose of review of the request and facilitation of the administration of the leave (e.g. financial aid, visa implications). A meeting may also be scheduled with the student or their designee (family member, supporter) to review and discuss the request. The student will be notified in writing by the Director of Student Success if the request has been approved or denied, and appropriate offices will be notified.

2. Procedure for  Reinstatement Following Voluntary Health Leave

Students seeking to return following Voluntary Health Leave must submit written documentation from a licensed health professional verifying that the condition that led to the Voluntary Health Leave no longer prevents the student from meeting the expectations of a student. In most cases, this should be the same health professional who provided an opinion regarding the necessity of leave. Submission of an opinion from a different health professional should be explained, and the College reserves the right to contact the student or either health professional with additional questions, if necessary, to confirm the viability of reinstatement.

Application for reinstatement from a Voluntary Health Leave must be made as soon as practicable, once the student is ready and the health professional is able to provide supporting documentation. The College cannot guarantee reinstatement if the application is submitted after the dates specified in the notice approving the leave.

The Director of Student Success will review the request and may share this request and accompanying medical and/or mental health information with other Franklin & Marshall College officials for the purpose of review of the request. A meeting may also be scheduled with the student or their designee (family member, supporter) to review and discuss the request for reinstatement. The student will be notified in writing by the Director of Student Success if the request for reinstatement has been approved or denied.

A student may take a leave of absence for a maximum of three semesters. If a student does not maintain communication with the College for a period of one year, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the institution.

B. Involuntary Health Leave

• • • Students who initiate the Voluntary Health Leave process and become unresponsive to outreach;
    • Students who show evidence that they cannot participate safely or successfully in the academic and/or campus life of the College.

The Office of Student Affairs, in consultation with appropriate medical, psychological, or academic services, may administratively withdraw a student from their courses, change the residential status of a student, and/or place conditions on the student’s current and/or continued enrollment. Involuntary Health Leave will only be imposed following an individualized assessment, when current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence indicates to the Office of Student Affairs that Involuntary Health Leave is necessary in light of the following factors:

• • • the likelihood that potential harm will occur, including a student’s unwillingness or inability to carry out substantial self‐care obligations and/or that the student presents a significant risk to their own safety or the safety of others;
    • the nature, duration, and severity of the risk of harm;
    • whether or not other College policies or procedures may be appropriate to address the behavior;
    • any assertion by the student of a legally protected disability entitled to reasonable accommodation;
    • whether reasonable accommodations can mitigate the risks of allowing the student to remain enrolled;
    • whether the student’s continued presence would pose a substantial impairment of other students’ ability to participate in Franklin & Marshall College’s education programs or activities; and
    • whether the student is able to fulfill the minimum essential academic requirements for students at Franklin & Marshall College.

Consistent with the College’s Nondiscrimination Policy, Franklin & Marshall College prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

Prior to a decision regarding involuntary withdrawal, the Office of Student Affairs will issue a notice to the student in writing that an Involuntary Health Leave is under consideration. The written notice will include the reason or reasons the student is being considered for an involuntary leave, contact information for Student Accessibility Services, which can provide information about accommodations, and a copy of this policy. In the written notice, the student will be encouraged to respond before a decision regarding an Involuntary Health Leave is made and will be given a specific time period within which to do so. The student will also be given the opportunity to request a Voluntary Health Leave under this policy.

The student may be asked to authorize College personnel to obtain information from the student’s healthcare provider or providers regarding issues relevant and appropriate to the consideration of Involuntary Health Leave, when such information is necessary to the College’s individualized assessment and the interactive process. If a student refuses to provide such authorization, the College will proceed with an assessment based on the information available. The Office of Student Affairs may confer with other individuals at the College regarding the need for an Involuntary Health Leave, including faculty members, academic advisors, House Directors, or (with proper authorization) representatives from the College’s health center. Under certain circumstances, the Office of Student Affairs may mandate that the student undergo a psychological or medical assessment to assist in evaluating the student’s ability to participate successfully in college life. If a student refuses to cooperate with an assessment, the College will proceed based on the other information available, including the student’s failure to cooperate.

The decision regarding Involuntary Health Leave and the rationale will be shared in writing with the student. The written notification will include the duration of separation from the College and outline the conditions under which the student may seek to return. Conditions may include completing a readmission application located on the Admissions website. If a student does not maintain communication with the College for a period of one year, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the institution.

A student may appeal the involuntary withdrawal decision in writing and provide supporting documentation.  The appeal must be submitted within one week of the original decision to the VP of Student Affairs, whose decision is the final decision of the College. 

Students who are involuntarily withdrawn will receive ‘W’ grades for the semester. ‘W’ grades denote that the student has been withdrawn from the course, and it does not negatively impact the cumulative GPA for a student.  

Nothing in this policy is intended to amend or replace the Student Code of Conduct, the Sexual Misconduct Policy and Grievance Procedure, or any other College policy regarding student conduct or academic discipline.

IV. Related Documents and Forms

Leave of Absence Request Form

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Policy Maintained by: Office of Student Affairs, Dean of Students
Original Effective Date: February 3, 2026