Medical Leave of Absence

Leniency, Accomodations, & 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) for help. They manage 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.

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 the Office of Disability and Access Services, or taking a leave of absence or withdrawal.

How to inform SHS of a hospitalization

Call us during business hours at 617-353-3569 or send us a general message in PatientConnect.

Initiating a Medical Leave of Absence

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 initiate a medical leave of absence:

The medical leave of absence process is initiated and 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 Medical Leave of Absence

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 and steps required to return from a medical leave of absence.

When completing the medical review process, all documents must be submitted by the 1st of each month to be considered in that month’s review process.

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

How to Complete the Medical Review with SHS

1. Complete and submit documentation:
   • General Authorization to Disclose Protected Health Information
     • Complete the top portion of the form with your information
     • Write your healthcare provider’s name and number in the area under the next section where it asks for Provider information. If you have more than one provider, please write the name of each one.
     • Check the box next to Purpose that says “Medical Review process.”
     • Check the box “Summary of Treatment” next to Health Information requested.
     • 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
     • On the left-hand side, select Messages
     • Select New Message
     • Select Medical Leave Review
     • Select Student Report
     • Complete this form in detail, describing your time on leave and what form of treatment you received.
     • Select Send
   • Community Provider Report
     • Provide the Community Provider Report Form to each community provider with whom you were in treatment while on leave and request that they complete it.
     • Your healthcare provider can either return the completed form to you to submit, or fax it to Student Health Services at 617-353-1128.
2. Talk with a SHS Provider
   • You may be asked to speak with a healthcare provider as part of the process. We will let you know if this step is needed.
3.  Await Response from the Medical Review Committee
   • 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.

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