Description
CLA students are expected to enroll continuously and plan thoughtfully, but during the course of the year, a significant number of CLA students leave school. Some students simply stop attending classes without telling anyone in their student community that they are dropping out. Others discuss their desire to leave school with a staff member before making a final decision or taking any action. For all of these students, however, dropping out is an act of great importance and may be an admission of failure or an initial step toward making positive changes in their lives. For whatever reasons students leave the college, advisers have the responsibility to help students turn this experience into one that can contribute to their personal development.
Students who have been out for more than two years or who do not register for a semester without an approved Leave of Absence, not including May or summer terms, are to be held to the requirements in effect upon their readmission. This includes former collegiate, LE, and major requirements. It does not affect the second language requirement.
The Leave of Absence policy does not apply to students who have received Lack Notices.
Policy statement
The following policy statements come from University Senate Policy: “Statement of Standard Undergraduate Academic Policies and Practices” (effective fall semester, 1999) University Senate Policies
“4. Re-admission: The Twin Cities campus does not have a re-admission policy for students who leave school for an extended period.
Undergraduates who have not been granted a “leave of absence” (see #12) and who do not register for a semester (excluding summer session) shall be placed on “Inactive” status. Students shall be sent information regarding both the meaning of Inactive status and the University’s Leave of Absence policy at matriculation. Students on Inactive status will need to contact their college office for approval to regain Active status before registering for another term.
Students in good academic standing at the time they became Inactive should routinely be allowed to return to Active status.”
“12. Leave of Absence (LOA): . . . All colleges shall have a leave of absence policy for students who plan to leave school for semester or more. Students who follow the policy and whose leave is approved in accord with college policy need not apply for re-admission when they return. Colleges may condition re-admission on availability of space in a program, and if so, must caution the student that re-admission will be conditioned upon availability of space.
All students shall be informed, when they request a leave, whether they will be held to old or new program requirements upon their return. If the leave of absence is for more than two academic years (i.e., four semesters), the student must follow new program requirements.”
Meeting with Students Planning to Leave the University
In order to enable students who are leaving school to plan carefully and use the absence constructively, the college requires students to meet with an adviser when they are exiting from a term after the eighth week. Students canceling courses after this date must have electronic approval from their assigned college office.
The adviser should discuss with students the impact of the leave on their educational plans. Often, students struggling with finances, personal issues, or other issues that interfere with their academic work can be well served by taking time off.
- Review students’ probation status.
- Encourage students to make regular contact regarding issues of transfer credits, completing program prerequisites elsewhere, and curricular or program changes that may occur while students are away.
- Encourage students to keep addresses up to date.
- Advise students to call their student community at mid-semester during the term before they will return to discuss advising and registration procedures.
Structuring the Interview
The exit interview should be organized in terms of the past, present, and future.
The student’s experiences in CLA should be discussed to learn the reason behind the decision to leave the college. The adviser and student need to discuss what the student is doing now. It is also important that the student’s past experiences and present plans be related to the future. Existing sources of assistance may be assessed. In this way, the student can see that leaving school need not be an end to intellectual and personal growth, but rather a step in a process that the student can control.
Questions that may be asked during the interview:
Past: Why is the student leaving? What specific problems led to this decision (i.e., personal, academic, financial)? What was positive about the student’s time here? How does the student feel about the University, about CLA?
Present: What is the student going to do now (work, enroll in another school, travel, etc)? Review the transcript, grade reports, tests, etc. Are there any I’s to be considered, any courses to be repeated? Is the student on probation or will s/he be upon return? Do they need to petition retroactively to withdraw from any courses? Have they filled out the Leave of Absence form?
Future possibilities: If the student decides to return to school, what procedures must be followed? What about the possibility of transferring to another school?
Students who are interested in getting counseling assistance may be referred to the University Counseling and Consulting Services (UCCS). In some cases, services are provided (occasionally for a fee) for students after their last registration. If the reasons behind the student’s dropping out of school are financial, the student might be referred to the Office of Student Finance. Students planning to travel abroad after leaving school should be referred to the Learning Abroad Center.
Return procedures
Students returning from an approved Leave of Absence on schedule do not need to apply for readmission (status for the scheduled term of return will be Return from Leave of Absence). If a student does not register for a term and does not have an approved Leave of Absence or does not return from the leave on schedule, the student’s record will be deactivated. Such student must complete an Application for Readmission, available from the Student Information Office or Forms Online, and submit it to the Student Information Office. Students should submit the application at least two months prior to the term they plan to register to allow time for processing, advising, and to register during the queued registration period. However, SIO accepts and processes applications through the end of the second week of the term. Suspended students and students on academic contract must clear their holds (P3 or PC) before submitting the Application for Readmission.
“Inactive” status is indicated on the student administration system (PeopleSoft) Program/Plan panels.
|
Inactive students
|
Status
|
Program Action
|
Action Reason
|
| Approved leave |
Leave of Absence |
Leave of Absence |
|
| Inactive |
Discontinued |
Discontinuation |
Deactivate/non-enrollment |
| Suspended |
Discontinued |
Discontinuation |
Suspension (or 2nd suspension) |
Returning students are expected to submit transcripts of any coursework taken elsewhere during their absence. Students may return before the date specified on the Leave of Absence form by completing the Application for Readmission. As part of the readmission process, the Student Information Office will refer students to their advising office if they were out more than two semesters, or more than two years with an approved Leave of Absence, to discuss degree requirements.
If an adviser determines that it is more advantageous for a student to remain under previous requirements, then Laurel Carroll must be notified by email with a slight explanation, (i.e., the student will complete the degree sooner). These requests are always granted but Laurel needs to keep track of the requests. A returning student with an old Balance Sheet that shows that all of the general education requirements were completed makes the determination easy.
However, the Graduation Under the Quarter System Sunset Policy states that students have until June 30, 2006 to complete all requirements under the quarter system. After that date, exceptions to the policy will be made by the Associate Dean.
Updating APAS for Current LE Requirements
In order for previous U of MN classes and transfer work to be counted for current requirements, one must contact Laurel Carroll and/or Paula Brugge to have the courses evaluated and APAS updated. U of MN Courses fall 1994 and later.
For U of MN-TC courses taken fall 1994 or later, email requests to Laurel Carroll: Laurel.Carroll-1@tc.umn.edu
For U of MN courses taken prior to fall 1994 and/or all transfer work, email Paula Brugge: brugg005@tc.umn.edu
Related policies/information
Bracketing
Academic Probation
Academic Suspension
Second Suspension
Readmission
University Senate Policies
University Counseling and Consulting Services
Learning Abroad Center
International Service and Travel Center
Petitions: Complete Exit
Liberal Education Requirements
Related questions
What happens if a student is suspended?
Suspension will function as an approved Leave of Absence. If the suspended student is readmitted within two years of suspension, they will remain under current requirements.
