Medical Leave of Absence

How to navigate health concerns impacting academics

Sometimes, students may need to take time off from their studies for health reasons. This could mean missing a few classes, or taking a longer medical leave of absence.

We are here to help you understand your options, request a leave if needed, and complete the process to return to your studies after a medical leave of absence.

Leniency for short-term illness

For short-term or mild illnesses, like a cold or flu, we encourage you to reach out directly to your professors to explain your situation. Ask for help and flexibility with missed assignments or classes.

Please note: At BU, health services staff do not provide notes to excuse students from classes or exams. Students must talk directly with their professors about any missed work or exams due to illness.

Accommodations

If you have an ongoing health concern or illness that requires accommodation, please contact Disability & Access Services (DAS). DAS manages the process of requesting and granting accommodations at BU.

Hospitalizations

If you are hospitalized while taking classes, please notify us as soon as possible. Letting us know about your hospitalization helps us coordinate care and support, including any necessary communication with your family, hospital staff, and other BU departments. Family members or healthcare providers can also call to inform us of a hospitalization and discuss the next steps for care. Contact SHS about a hospitalization by calling during business hours at 617-353-3569, or by sending us a general message in PatientConnect.

A hospitalization doesn’t change your enrollment status at BU, but being away for a longer amount of time can increase your workload and make it difficult to catch up when you return. If this happens, you might consider reducing your course load (by dropping a class or switching to part-time status), applying for a medically reduced course load through Disability & Access Services, or taking a leave of absence or withdrawal.

Medical Leave of Absence

Taking a Leave

A medical leave of absence is a temporary break from classes that can last the rest of the semester, or longer if needed. It’s different from missing a few days of class due to illness or hospitalization.

If you have a student visa, contact ISSO to speak with an advisor before submitting leave of absence paperwork. Taking a leave of absence can have significant implications for your visa, so it’s important to first discuss your options with ISSO.

How to request a medical leave of absence:

The medical leave of absence process is managed by the University Service Center and other academic departments. These offices can advise you about special considerations such as a medical review, requesting an exception to housing or tuition refund schedules, appeals of financial aid policies, etc.

Undergraduate students must contact the University Service Center to speak with staff regarding leave paperwork. Graduate and non-degree students (including MET and Summer Term) must contact their academic advisor or dean to arrange their leave.

Returning from a Leave

University policy requires that students who take a medical leave of absence complete several steps prior to re-enrolling, including a medical review process through SHS. This ensures that students have support in place to succeed academically when they return.

The medical review process is just one step toward returning from a medical leave of absence. Please review the University Service Center’s planning checklists to understand the full process, required steps, and deadlines to return from a medical leave of absence.

Medical Review Process

Students are required to complete a medical review when returning from a medical leave of absence and in other circumstances relating to their health and academic enrollment.

All medical review documents must be submitted by the 1st of each month to be considered in that month’s review process. Once you’ve submitted your documentation and completed any required appointments, the Medical Review Committee will review your information. The Committee meets monthly and will send you an email response by the end of the month.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the medical review process, call us as soon as possible at (617) 353-3569.

Steps of the Medical Review Process:

• General Authorization Form
  Complete the Authorization to Use or Disclose Health Information – Medical Review, which asks for information about you and your healthcare provider(s). For Purpose, check the box that says “Medical Review process”. For Health Information Requested, check the box “Summary of Treatment”. For Release of Sensitive Information, check the boxes that apply to your medical leave of absence. Submit the form to SHS via secure email at SHSecure@bu.edu or via fax at 617-353-1128.
• Student Report
  Log into Patient Connect to complete a report about your time on leave and what treatment you received.
  • Log into Patient Connect
  • On the left-hand side, select Messages
  • Select New Message
  • Select Medical Leave Review
  • Select Student Report
  • Describe in detail your time on leave and what form of treatment you received
  • Select Send
• Community Provider Report
  Give the Community Provider Report Form to each healthcare provider with whom you were in treatment while on leave and request that they complete it. Your healthcare provider(s) can either return the completed form to you to submit, or fax it to Student Health Services at 617-353-1128.
• Appointment with a SHS Provider
  You may be asked to speak or meet with a healthcare provider at Student Health Services as part of the return from leave process. We will let you know if this step is needed.

FAQs