A leave of absence (LOA) is defined as a pre-approved leave from the institution that suspends a student's course of academic and/or clinical study or off-site training for a definite period of time, not to exceed 12 months.
A withdrawal (WD) from the program is defined as a formal severance of the student and the institution. If a student wishes to attend the institution, that student would have to re-apply.
Apply For A Leave of Absence or WithdrawalAre you returning from a leave of absence? Complete the Return from Leave of Absence Form.
A leave of absence or withdrawal may be granted for, but not limited to, one of the following reasons:
The program director, Office of Student Affairs, Office of the Provost and the dean approve leave of absence requests.
A student must complete the leave of absence/withdrawal form. It will automatically be routed to the appropriate members of PCOM.
The student, in consultation with all relevant departments, should consider how a leave will affect his or her overall progress in the academic program of the College. The program director, Office of Student Affairs, Office of the Provost and the dean reach a decision after careful consideration is given to personal and professional circumstances. All applications for leave of absence or withdrawal are considered on their individual merits and approved only for extraordinary reasons.
When a student is on a leave of absence they are not considered:
The Financial Aid Office will perform a Return of Title IV Funds calculation to determine if any student loan funds need to be returned to the lender.
Students are advised to consult with the Financial Aid Office regarding their loan payback and other financial matters throughout their decision process.
If you need to address mental health and wellness concerns, please see the available resources on the student counseling services page.
Before the conclusion of the leave of absence, the student must complete a Return from Leave of Absence Form. Once the return is approved, a student can register and resume the degree program. If a leave of absence is due to personal illness, the student's attending physician or other health care provider as specified by the dean must supply a letter attesting to the student's ability to continue in the academic or clinical program, or other training activity. The student's course of study will then be resumed at the point in the curriculum deemed most appropriate by the dean. Criminal background checks (CBC) will be required for any student who returns from a leave of absence when:
A student on a leave of absence who fails to return within the time period specified in the approved leave of absence will be dropped as a student from the College. Any student who is dropped must reapply for admission.
Maximum timeframe for completion of degree from date of matriculation (unless otherwise specified by a program's accreditor) depends on the program. For information about how leave(s) of absence may impact a student's ability to graduate, please review PCOM's maximum timeframe as listed in the PCOM Course Catalog.
Complete the Maximum Timeframe Appeal Form