Students are expected to follow a continuous course of study at the School of Public Health. However, a student who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily may request a leave of absence. There are three types of leave—personal, medical, and parental—all of which are described below. The general policies that apply to all types of leave are:

1. Any student who is contemplating a leave of absence should see the associate dean for student affairs to discuss the necessary application procedures.
2. All leaves of absence must be approved by the associate dean for student affairs. Medical leaves also require the written recommendation of a physician on the staff of Yale Health, as described below.
3. A student may be granted a leave of absence for up to two terms. Any leave approved by the associate dean for student affairs will be for a specified period.
4. International students who apply for a leave of absence should consult with OISS regarding their visa status.
5. A student on leave of absence may complete outstanding work in any course for which an extension has been granted. The student may not, however, fulfill any other degree requirements during the time on leave.
6. A student on leave of absence is not eligible for financial aid, including loans; and in most cases, student loans are not deferred during periods of nonenrollment.
7. A student on leave of absence is not eligible for the use of any University facilities normally available to enrolled students.
8. A student on leave of absence may continue to be enrolled in Yale Health by purchasing coverage through the Student Affiliate Coverage plan. In order to secure continuous coverage from Yale Health, enrollment in this plan must be requested prior to the beginning of the term in which the student will be on leave or, if the leave commences during the term, within thirty days of the date the registrar was informed of the leave. Coverage is not automatic; enrollment forms are available from the Member Services Department of Yale Health, 203.432.0246.
9. A student on leave of absence must notify the associate dean for student affairs in writing of the intention to return at least eight weeks prior to the end of the approved leave. In addition, a returning student who wishes to be considered for financial aid must submit appropriate financial aid applications to the School’s financial aid office to determine eligibility.
10. A student on leave who does not return at the end of the approved leave, and does not request and receive an extension from the associate dean for student affairs, is automatically dismissed from the School.

Personal leave of absence A student who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily because of personal exigencies may request a personal leave of absence. The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is current with degree requirements is eligible for a personal leave after satisfactory completion of at least one term of study. Personal leaves cannot be granted retroactively and normally will not be approved after the tenth day of a term.

To request a personal leave of absence, the student must apply in writing before the beginning of the term for which the leave is requested, explaining the reasons for the proposed leave and stating both the proposed start and end dates of the leave and the address at which the student can be reached during the period of the leave. If the dean finds the student to be eligible, the leave will be approved. In any case, the student will be informed in writing of the action taken. A student who does not apply for a personal leave of absence, or whose application for a personal leave is denied, and who does not register for any term by the registration deadline, will be considered to have withdrawn from the School.

Medical leave of absence A student who must interrupt study temporarily because of illness or injury may be granted a medical leave of absence with the approval of the dean, on the written recommendation of a physician on the staff of Yale Health. For those students who have not elected the Yale Health Plan, Yale Health will work with the student’s primary care provider to provide the recommendation. The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is making satisfactory progress toward degree requirements is eligible for a medical leave any time after matriculation. The final decision concerning a request for a medical leave of absence will be communicated in writing by the dean.

The School of Public Health reserves the right to place a student on a mandatory medical leave of absence when, on recommendation of the director of Yale Health or the chief of the Mental Health and Counseling department, the dean of the School determines that, because of a medical condition, the student is a danger to self or others, the student has seriously disrupted others in the student’s residential or academic communities, or the student has refused to cooperate with efforts deemed necessary by Yale Health and the dean to make such determinations. Each case will be assessed individually based on all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the level of risk presented and the availability of reasonable modifications. Reasonable modifications do not include fundamental alterations to the student’s academic, residential, or other relevant communities or programs; in addition, reasonable modifications do not include those that unduly burden University resources.

An appeal of such a leave must be made in writing to the dean of the School no later than seven days from the effective date of the leave.

An incident that gives rise to voluntary or mandatory leave of absence may also result in subsequent disciplinary action.

A student who is placed on medical leave during any term will have tuition adjusted according to the same schedule used for withdrawals (see Tuition Rebate and Refund Policy). Before re-registering, a student on medical leave must secure written permission to return from a Yale Health physician.

Leave of absence for parental responsibilities A student who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily for reasons of pregnancy, maternity care, or paternity care may be granted a leave of absence for parental responsibilities. The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is making satisfactory progress toward degree requirements is eligible for parental leave any time after matriculation.

Any student planning to have or care for a child is encouraged to meet with the associate dean for student affairs to discuss leaves and other short-term arrangements. For many students, short-term arrangements rather than a leave of absence are possible. Students living in University housing units are encouraged to review their housing contract and the related polices of the Yale Housing Office before applying for a parental leave of absence. Students granted a parental leave may continue to reside in University housing to the end of the academic term for which the leave was first granted, but no longer.