Leave of Absence / Stop-Out Policy

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For GRADUATE AND CREDENTIAL STUDENT leave of absence, please go to the Graduate Studies website 

Undergraduate and Second Bachelor Students

What does Stop-Out policy have to do with my request for a leave of absence?

Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate second bachelor's students who need to be absent from the University should first make use of a stop-out semester before seeking to use the leave of absence policy, as explained below.

Important - Are all students elgible for using the Stop-Out policy?

Not eligible for a stop-out semester:

• Academically disqualified students
• Foreign visa students
• Graduate students
• Credential students
• Students who have been on an approved leave of absence for two semesters or more cannot add a stop-out semester at the end of their approved leave period in an effort to extend their period of absence from the university.

 

Stop-Out Policy

• Pertains to Spring and Fall semesters only (Summer Session and Intersession do not count as terms that are a part of the stop‐out policy)
• No form to fill out (can be non-enrolled for one semester)
• Must return to enrolled status in the semester immediately following a stop-out semester
• Registration information will be automatically available for the term following stop-out
• Can be used more than once, but not for two semesters in a row (students are not permitted to use stop-out policy for consecutive semesters)
• Cannot be used the first semester you are admitted to CSUF

Example: (please note: Intersession and Summer Session do not pertain to stop-out policy)

Example of Stop-Out Policy

Spring 2009	Fall 2009	Spring 2010	Fall 2010	Spring 2011	Fall 2011	Spring 2012
Enrolled	On Stop-Out	Must Enroll (or request Leave of Absence)	Enrolled	Enrolled	On Stop-Out	Must Enroll (or request Leave of Absence)

WARNING: If the student does not enroll in the semester immediately following a stop-out semester, the student is discontinued and must apply for readmission to Cal State Fullerton should the student wish to return as a matriculated student.

 

Leave of Absence

If the student has used a stop-out semester, but still needs to be absent from the university, the student can submit a request for a leave of absence if the reason for the request is one of the circumstances listed on the leave of absence request form that follows these instructions. Leave of Absence requests are reviewed and can either be granted or denied.

When submitting a leave of absence request:

• Make sure you first make use of a stop‐out semester (if eligible to use stop‐out, as explained above)
• Make sure the reason for your leave request is one of the reasons listed on the form
• Complete and sign the 'Request for Leave of Absence' form
• Attach documentation as explained below.

 

Documentation for a Leave of Absence request

It is important to provide appropriate documentation for your leave of absence request:

• An attached statement from the student describing the reason for requesting a leave of absence is not considered documentation.
• Documentation must be from a source other than the student to verify the reason for the request (example: verification letter from a health care provider, military orders, study abroad contract, etc).

If your Leave of Absence request is submitted without any documentation, your form will be returned to you without processing. The form can only be resubmitted when appropriate documentation is attached.

Medical Leave of Absence:

• If you intend to submit a Medical Leave of Absence,  you must upload credible medical documentation with your request.  Failure to submit proper medical documentation for a medical request will result in your form being rejected. 
• Medical charts, notes, lab results, x-rays, hospital records, discharge papers, police reports and medically related pictures/images are not sufficient medical documentation  for a medical leave of absence petition.  DO NOT UPLOAD these items.

Two options meet the medical documentation requirement.

1. Students can submit a Medical/Mental Health Professional Form OR
2. Students can submit a letter from student's health care provider*. If a student decides to submit a letter from their health care provider, that letter must include all of the following:
   • Official letterhead including name/title/medical license of attending health care provider with phone number and address of medical or mental health facility
   • General description of the student's medical condition; why/how it prevents them from completing their coursework and verification of the time frame for the leave

PLEASE NOTE: 
Medical/Mental Health Professional Form  is sufficient medical documentation in lieu of a letter from the medical provider.

View samples of sufficient medical documentations/letters

• Sample of documentation from medical provider for Partial Medical Withdrawal
• Sample of documentation from medical provider for Full Medical Withdrawal

Consult with your doctor or counselor about your Medical or Mental Health Withdrawal request and show them this document for clarification. Request appropriate documentation.

Request for Leave of Absence

 

* Note About PDF

If you encounter trouble opening the PDF file above in Internet Explorer right click on the link and select Save Target As... and save the file to your local drive for opening.