Leave of Absence Policy
A student may make a formal request for a Leave of Absence (LOA) from the MSBS Program to the MSBS Program Director and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs or their representative. A leave of absence initiated prior to completion of the final exam will result in a grade of “W” (Withdrawal) on the transcript. If the LOA is initiated after the final exam has been completed, final course grades for that semester will be posted, and the LOA will apply to the subsequent semester. To be considered for a leave of absence, the candidate must provide adequate evidence that current conditions warrant such. The Program Director will make all final decisions regarding approval or denial of requests. Prior to return from the leave of absence, the student must show that the conditions or factors that caused the initial request have changed significantly, so that there is a reasonable expectation that the student can perform satisfactorily upon resuming the program. The student may be reviewed by the MSBS-SPC prior to return at the discretion of the Program Director, and the MSBS-SPC may recommend alternative course(s) of action to the Program Director. The student’s prior academic record will remain part of his or her overall academic record and will be recorded on the permanent transcript upon resuming the program.
Leave of Absence (LOA) may only be granted for a maximum of one year duration. An LOA may be denied based on previous leave or extension on coursework. LOA cannot be taken to avoid disciplinary proceedings.
Readmission Policy
A student who is dismissed from the MSBS Program is not eligible for readmission. A student who withdraws from the MSBS Program may be considered for readmission under extenuating circumstances. The applicant must provide sufficient evidence that the conditions or factors leading to the withdrawal have changed significantly, demonstrating a reasonable likelihood of successful performance upon readmission.
At the discretion of the Program Director, the student may be reviewed by the MSBS Student Performance Committee (SPC) prior to readmission. The student’s prior academic record will remain part of the permanent transcript and overall academic record upon readmission.
Appeals
Please refer to the MSBS Student Appeals Policy