Study Away During or After Leave

In some cases, students are encouraged to pursue academic courses or employment during a medical leave of absence as a means of determining their readiness to return to Mount Holyoke.

A student who wishes to obtain permissions to transfer credit back to Mount Holyoke does not need to obtain medical clearance. If the student has been formally withdrawn, she must apply for readmission through the Office of the Dean of the College. If she has not been withdrawn, she would have the official transcript of her work away sent to the Mount Holyoke Registrar’s Office and complete any necessary permission forms.

Students on medical leave who wish to take an approved academic leave or study abroad immediately following the medical leave must first obtain clearance from the director of College Health Services or the director of Counseling Services, as if they were returning to Mount Holyoke, and then submit the appropriate form to apply for an academic leave.

Non-Academic Leave: Grades and Credit Transfer
Students who take courses while on non-academic leave of absence are not guaranteed credit for such work, but may, upon their return, contact the Registrar’s Office regarding the credit approval process. For courses taken outside the U.S. while on non-academic leave, the Registrar’s Office will consult, if need be, with the Center for Global Initiatives to determine whether the host program or university is one that is ordinarily approved by the College. Final decisions regarding credit transfer rest with the Academic Administrative Board.

If you will be petitioning for credit after a non-academic leave, be sure to bring all your work back to MHC with you (papers, syllabi, reading lists, etc.). If there are further questions about the content or level of a course, these materials may be critical to decisions about credit transfer.

For general information about credit transfer, see How to Know How Much Credit you will Receive under the section on Academic Leaves.