Information found in this online edition of the 2008-09 catalog is unofficial and for informational purposes only. By authority of the dean of the College, some factual corrections to the printed version may appear here. The official document of record is the printed edition of the 2008-09 Catalog. For more information, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Leave of Absence/Withdrawal/Readmission
Leave Of Absence
Students who wish to leave Lewis & Clark for a period of time must apply for a leave of absence. This process allows both the student and the institution to plan for a return to studies and completion of a degree at Lewis & Clark. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the maximum leave that may be granted is two semesters.
The deadlines for filing a Leave of Absence form are November 1 (for a leave beginning in the spring semester) and April 1 (for a leave beginning in the fall semester).
Students who require a medical leave or other forms of emergency leave may contact the Office of the Dean of Students at any time during the year. Upon approval by the Office of the Dean of Students, such requests for emergency and medical leave will be forwarded to the registrar for processing.
If a leave of absence is granted, General Education requirements as well as major and minor requirements (if a major or minor has been declared) in place at the beginning of the leave will apply when the student returns from the leave. Students who wish to return after a period exceeding that granted in the leave must apply for readmission through the Office of the Registrar, and will be subject to the graduation requirements in effect at the time of their return.
Any academic work completed while on leave might not be transferable to Lewis & Clark unless it has been approved in advance by the Office of the Registrar. Any transfer credits that the student wishes to apply to meet major or minor requirements must also be approved by the department or program chair.
Students who follow the procedure outlined below will be assured reentry to the College of Arts and Sciences at the end of their leave and will be informed whether work done elsewhere will be transferable to Lewis & Clark. Students who do not follow the procedures outlined below, as well as students who fail to return to Lewis & Clark at the end of their approved leave, will be withdrawn. Such students must reapply through the Office of the Registrar if they wish to return to the College of Arts and Sciences.
Requesting A Leave Of Absence
- Obtain a Leave of Absence form from the Office of Academic Advising (Miller 434), the Office of the Registrar, or from one of these offices' websites. Submit the completed form, including a detailed statement of why you are requesting leave, to your faculty advisor.
- Meet with your faculty advisor to discuss the reasons for your request, and whether any academic work you intend to complete while on leave will fit into your overall academic plan. Obtain your advisor's signature indicating this meeting has occurred.
- Return the signed form to the Office of Academic Advising. The staff will confirm that you understand the reentry procedures and have provided all necessary information.
Your signed and submitted form will be sent to the Office of the Registrar. After your form is reviewed by the Offices of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Dean of Students, you will receive an e-mail notification regarding their decision. If you are denied a leave of absence, you may appeal the decision to the Petitions Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee.
The Office of the Registrar contacts students during their leaves, prior to the on-campus registration period, via the students' Lewis & Clark e-mail addresses to confirm the students' intentions to return the next semester. Student must keep the Office of the Registrar apprised of their contact information and must meet all regular deadlines for registration, housing reservations, financial aid applications, and similar matters. Students are also required to contact their faculty advisors prior to registration in order to obtain approval for registration, and must meet with their faculty advisors when they return to campus. Students on leave will register on WebAdvisor during the on-campus registration period.
Before returning to Lewis & Clark, students must provide, if applicable, an official transcript of all academic work completed elsewhere during the leave of absence.
Students who wish to return to Lewis & Clark at a time other than that indicated on the original agreement, but within the two-semester maximum, must inform the Office of the Registrar in advance.
Withdrawal
Semester Withdrawal Students who need to drop all courses after the semester has started will be considered completely withdrawn for that semester. All courses will appear on the transcript with a grade of W (Withdrawal). To preserve the option of returning to the College of Arts and Sciences in a future semester, students must submit a Leave of Absence form to the Office of Academic Advising. Complete withdrawals after the 10th week of the semester require consent from each instructor. Students who fail to officially withdraw from courses they are no longer attending may receive failing grades and become ineligible to reenroll or to transfer to another institution.
Lewis & Clark's policies allow for charges to be prorated based on the date the Office of the Registrar receives written notification of withdrawal. For details, please refer to Policy of Charge Adjustment.
Permanent Withdrawal Students who wish to withdraw from Lewis & Clark permanently must obtain a Withdrawal form from the Office of the Registrar. The completed form, including a detailed statement of why the withdrawal is requested, must be submitted to the Office of the Dean of Students.
Readmission
Students who want to return to Lewis & Clark after having left without taking an official leave of absence or who have been away from the institution for more than two semesters must apply for readmission. Information concerning readmission, including application materials and procedures, is available in the Office of the Registrar. Readmitted students are subject to Lewis & Clark requirements in effect during the year of their return.