Leave of Absence and Withdrawal
Students interested in withdrawing from all of their courses after the withdrawal deadline should consult with their academic advisor or a staff member in the Office of the Dean of Students. Staff will assist students to better understand their options and alternatives while also providing access to important University resources. Students wishing to request a university withdrawal or course withdrawal should consult the Academic Catalog and the Registrar’s website.
Following the academic deadline for dropping courses with a “W,” Elon allows students to withdraw from all of their current courses only for specific purposes. Below, we have summarized important information related to each of a student’s withdrawal options once the academic deadline has past.
A Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) allows a student to take leave from all of their current courses (or defer enrollment in an upcoming semester) for reasons related to their physical or mental health. While on leave, students remain eligible to register for future classes, maintain their ability to register for housing, and maintain their online access to important Elon services such as email and OnTrack. The deadline for completing a medical leave of absence is five days before reading day for each term.
Returning from Leave: Students seeking to return from leave must follow the guidelines outlined on the Return from Leave of Absence website.
A Personal Leave of Absence (PLOA) allows a student to take a leave from all of their current courses (or defer enrollment in an upcoming semester) for any personal/professional reason. While on leave, students remain eligible to register for future classes, maintain their ability to register for housing, and maintain their online access to important Elon services such as email and OnTrack. The deadline for completing a personal leave of absence is the course withdrawal deadline for the term.
Returning from Leave: Students seeking to return from leave must follow the guidelines outlined on the Return from Leave of Absence website.
Permanent Withdrawal for Medical Reasons
A Medical Withdrawal allows a student to withdraw from all of their current courses and all future courses without consideration of whether they will return to the University. When a student completes a medical withdrawal, it is assumed they will not be returning to the University. As a result, students approved for a medical withdrawal are unable to register for classes and will no longer have online access to important Elon services such as email or OnTrack.
Returning from Withdrawal: Students seeking to return after withdrawing for medical reasons must participate in the Readmission Application process outlined on the Admissions Website.
Retroactive Medical Withdrawal
A Retroactive Medical Withdrawal allows a student to be withdrawn for health reasons from an academic term the student recently completed. Retroactive Medical Withdrawals may be considered when there are documented medical or mental health circumstances that have substantially impacted a student’s ability to successfully meet their academic requirements and receive credit for the term.
Returning from Leave of Absence
Students wishing to return to Elon after completing a Leave of Absence for Medical or Hardship reasons must submit a request and provide appropriate documentation to support their return.