Leave of Absence
A student has the option of requesting a leave of absence for one semester in order to advance future plans, assist with a family situation, or some other unforeseen circumstance.
To be eligible for a leave of absence, the student must be in good academic, financial, and conduct standing; and the request must be received prior to the start of the term in which the student plans to take a leave.
To formally request a leave of absence students must submit an application to the Office of the Dean of Students (dos@wooster.edu). In the request, they should specify the reason for the leave and their plans while away from Wooster.
During the time on leave, the student is still considered to be a current Wooster student, but not enrolled in classes during their time away. Their wooster.edu email address will remain active and will be the primary means of contact by the college. During the leave of absence, students, may contact faculty as well as their Class Dean in the Dean of Students Office. Additionally, any financial aid awarded to the student will be reinstated upon their return from leave.
Students must notify the college of their intent to return to campus no later than November 1 to return the following spring semester and April 1 to return the following fall semester.
In the semester preceding their return to the college, students on leaves of absence will be eligible to participate in such procedures as registration for classes and room selection for housing assignments along with students who are regularly enrolled.
Personal Emergency
Students who face personal illness or family emergency should contact their faculty member(s) and the Dean of Students Office. Any arrangements to make up academic work missed during a personal illness or family emergency must be negotiated directly with the individual faculty member(s).
Withdrawal from the College
Withdrawal from the college may occur at any point, during or between semesters. Once withdrawn, students are no longer permitted to participate in the academic and co-curricular activities of the college unless officially readmitted. Students will also lose the meal plan and are required to vacate campus housing immediately (Extensions for travel arrangements may be granted by the Dean of Students’ Office. Once a student is withdrawn from the college, the official Wooster email address is deactivated within 30 business days.
A student withdrawing prior to the 6th week drop date will have grades of “W” recorded for each course. After the 6th week drop date, grades of F will be recorded for all courses. Students may petition the Dean for Curriculum and Academic Engagement for an exception to this policy. Exceptions are approved only in truly extraordinary and extenuating circumstances, and primarily for documented health and medical reasons. If the petition is approved the Fs will be changed to WP (withdrawal passing) or WF (withdrawal failing).
If a student enrolled in any off-campus program is voluntarily or involuntarily withdrawn from that program, that student will be required to apply for readmission to The College of Wooster. The host institution will assign grades based upon their policies.
If the withdrawal occurs prior to the end of the seventh week of the semester, a pro-rated rebate may be made in accordance with the policy outlined in the section on expenses.
Students receiving any financial aid or scholarships should consult with the Financial Aid Office about the potential financial impact of withdrawing. Any adjustment to the student’s tuition will be made in accordance with standing college policies. If a student withdraws without completing the full withdrawal process, they will forfeit their entire enrollment deposit.
In situations where there are unresolved issues related to a student’s behavior/conduct and/or financial obligations to the college, a hold may be placed on the student record at the time of withdrawal.
Policies or practices of the college related to satisfactory academic progress will be considered upon return and may impact financial aid.
Schedule for Charges for Withdrawal
An undergraduate student enrolled full-time who cancels or withdraws from the college for personal or medical reasons, or is suspended or dismissed from the college, will receive a refund of tuition, and if applicable, room and meal plan charges, in accordance with the following schedule:
1st week of a semester………………………………. Refund 90% of the full semester’s charge
2nd week of a semester…………………………….. Refund 80% of the full semester’s charge
3rd week of a semester …………………………….. Refund 70% of the full semester’s charge
4th week of a semester …………………………….. Refund 60% of the full semester’s charge
5th week of a semester …………………………….. Refund 50% of the full semester’s charge
6th week of a semester …………………………….. Refund 40% of the full semester’s charge
7th week of a semester …………………………….. Refund 20% of the full semester’s charge
For the purposes of this policy a week is defined as Wednesday through Tuesday.
Students receiving financial assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, who withdraw during the first sixty percent of the semester (measured in calendar days); will be subject to a “Return of Title IV Funds” calculation to determine the portion of their federal student aid that must be returned to the federal government. Students who withdraw after the sixty percent point are considered to have “earned” all their federal student aid for that semester. The college has adopted this same policy with respect to college-funded aid. State aid reductions may also be required in accordance with each state’s regulations. Consequently, no adjustment to a student’s account will be made until all appropriate financial aid reductions are calculated. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional information about possible loss of aid and for examples of typical calculations. An optional Comprehensive Fee refund insurance plan is available for insuring up to a full refund of fees in the event of a student’s early withdrawal from Wooster because of illness. Information concerning this plan is mailed to all parents prior to the beginning of the academic year.
Voluntary Withdrawal
A student wishing to voluntarily withdraw from the college must meet with a Dean of Students staff member to discuss the withdrawal process and complete the necessary steps. This process includes completion of an exit interview through the Dean of Students office.
Readmission from Voluntary Withdrawal
If a student seeks readmission following a voluntary withdrawal, the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, in consultation with the Dean for Curriculum and Academic Engagement, will review the application and notify the student of their decision.