PLAN, Manage Your Professional Development as a Graduate Student
During the summer, the Rackham Graduate School has been working with other offices to develop plans for the implementation of the Continuous Enrollment Policy for Ph.D. students. The goal of this planning is to ensure that we will be able to provide a smooth transition when the policy comes into effect in the Fall of 2010. Please note that until the Fall of 2010, all existing policies will remain in effect.
The Graduate School has never had an official leave of absence policy. However from time to time, events occur that make it necessary for a student pursuing a Ph.D. program to interrupt temporarily his or her progress towards a degree. When the continuous enrollment policy comes into effect in the Fall of 2010, students will be able to apply for a temporary leave of absence when personal circumstances make it impossible to continue their active participation in the Ph.D. program
A student on an approved leave of absence suspends work in the Ph.D. program for a defined period of time. At the conclusion of the leave the student resumes progress on the degree where he or she left off; the student’s place in the program is preserved. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss leave requests with their advisors and/or chair or director of graduate studies. Often it may be possible to make flexible arrangements that address the student’s need to attend to life circumstances without taking an official leave.
Leave of Absence for Medical Reasons: A student will be granted a leave for serious health or mental health conditions that prevent continued participation in the program. A leave of absence for medical reasons requires written documentation from a licensed health care provider. A student may receive a leave for up to a year. The leave may be extended for an additional year if the circumstances that required the leave continue.
Leave of Absence for Family Necessity or Dependent Care: A leave of absence will be granted for a student to take care of an emergency that directly affects a family member or domestic partner, or to provide care for a child or dependent incapable of self-care. A family necessity may be a death, serious health condition or financial difficulty that requires a student to suspend study in order to provide assistance to the family member. A student may request a leave up to a full calendar year. The leave may be extended for an additional year if the circumstances that required the leave continue. Further extensions may be requested for exceptional circumstances.
Leave of Absence for Military Service: A student will be granted a leave of absence for the duration of a military service obligation to his or her country of citizenship. A student must provide documentation confirming induction or assignment for active duty.
Leave of Absence for Personal Reasons: After a student has completed at least one full term as a student in good standing, a student will be granted a one semester personal leave of absence for any reason. A Leave for Personal Reasons may be taken only once during the period of Ph.D. study.
Comments on the policy or further questions can be sent to Rackham by directing e-mail to the Dean's Office.
