Leave of Absence Policy

Sometimes unexpected life events may require students to request a leave of absence while enrolled at Bethel University. The leave of absence policy is intended to grant students time off due to circumstances beyond their control in order to adjust to these life events. A leave of absence may be considered for the following reasons:

health issues
financial difficulties
family obligations
personal challenges

This policy does not apply to students who wish to study at another institution or take a semester off. To qualify, students must be in good academic and financial standing and must, except in cases of emergency, apply in advance of the time period for which they wish to take a leave of absence.

A student on an approved leave of absence will be considered enrolled at Bethel University and will be eligible for in-school deferment for federal student loans. If a student fails to apply for the leave of absence or the request for the leave is denied, the student will not be considered enrolled at Bethel University and his/her federal studentloans may enter the 6-month grace period prior to repayment.

Students may be considered for a leave of absence under the following conditions:

The student submits a Leave of Absence Request form to the student development office. The form should clearly state the reason(s) for the requested leave of absence, the date the leave of absence is requested and the student’s anticipated re-enrollment date.
A student’s leave of absence(s) may not exceed a total of 180 days in a 12 month period. This 12 month period begins with the first day of the leave of absence.
There must be a reasonable expectation that the student will return from the leave of absence.

If a leave of absence is approved, the following conditions apply:

Bethel University shall not assess the student any additional institutional charges, the student’s need may not increase, and therefore, the student is not eligible for any additional federal student aid.
A student on an approved leave of absence will retain in-school status.
If the student is receiving Title IV student loans and fails to return from the leave of absence at the end of the approved period, the student will be considered to have withdrawn from Bethel University as of the first day in which the leave of absence was granted and the financial aid office will calculate a refund and return funds to the lender.
If the student is a Title IV loan recipient, before final approval of the leave is granted, a financial aid administrator will provide information regarding the effects that the student’s failure to return from a leave of absence may have on the student’s loan repayment terms, including the expiration of the student’s grace period.
Students may request an extension to a leave provided the request is made prior to the end of the leave and the approved leave does not exceed 180 days in a 12-month period.
Students may return early from an approved leave of absence prior to the leave end date.
Failure to return from a leave of absence may impact student loan repayment terms as well as the student’s loan repayment grace period.
Students will not receive disbursements from Title IV federal student loan funds during the leave.
Residential students who are granted a leave of absence must vacate student housing immediately.
Students who take a leave of absence are ineligible to participate in varsity or intramural athletics, student clubs or any Bethel University-sponsored activity or organization.
All outstanding balances must be paid in full prior to a student’s return from a leave of absence.
Students returning from a leave of absence may be required to meet certain conditions prior to returning to classes. These conditions will be provided to the student, in writing, at the time the leave of absence is granted.

Procedure

To request a leave of absence, students must visit the Student Development Office to fill out a Leave of Absence Request form.
Students will submit the completed Leave of Absence Request form and any supporting documentation to the Student Development Office, clearly stating the reason(s) for the leave request.
The Student Development Office will notify the approval committee and process the leave of absence request, notifying students via email within 2 weeks of the decision to approve or deny the request.
Upon receiving written notification that a student has been granted an official leave of absence, the financial aid office will take the following steps:
1. Recalculate the loan period and cost of attendance based on the days of actual enrollment to determine the total amount of financial aid eligibility for the academic year, and if necessary, correct resulting over-awards.
2. Notify the student and the lender(s) of the following:
  1. Student’s last date of attendance;
  2. Beginning and ending dates of the approved leave of absence;
  3. Revised cost of attendance and financial aid eligibility;
  4. Revised loan period, if applicable;
  5. Revised graduation date, if applicable; and
  6. Revised student loan disbursement dates, if applicable.
3. The office of student financial services will promptly return to the lender any loan disbursements received during the approved leave of absence and, if applicable, request that the disbursement be reissued upon the student’s scheduled return to Bethel University.
4. If the student fails to return at the end of the approved leave of absence, the student will be considered withdrawn from Bethel University as of the first day in which the leave of absence was granted, and the financial aid office will perform the following:
  - Loan return calculations
  - Prompt return of federal funds or student loan funds within 45 days of receipt of notification of the student’s failure to return from the leave of absence
  - Attempt to contact the student to complete exit counseling
The financial aid office will have 45 days after the last day of an approved leave of absence to calculate a refund and return funds to the lender.