Procedures for Filing for Leave of Absence

The electronic form for filing for leave of absence can be accessed by contacting CASA. Members of the staff are available to talk with students about their plans. The form requires approval from the student's advisor, the housing office, financial aid, student accounts, and a CASA dean. Students taking a leave of absence are responsible for communicating with CASA regarding their plans for the following term.

If CASA is not notified of a student's plans for the term following the leave by the notification deadline, that student will be withdrawn from the College.

Deadlines and Fees

Deadlines for filing for a personal leave of absence is the enrollment notification deadline in November and April. See the corresponding academic calendar for actual deadline date. A change of status from fully enrolled to leave of absence after the opening of the term (the date Hampshire courses begin) will, if approved, lead to the partial or full forfeiture of tuition, room, and board fees. No requests for personal leave will be approved after the Add/Drop Deadline each semester—these requests will be considered a request to withdraw.

Refer to the fee brochure and the student accounts website for the refund schedule. Factors determining the amount of the refund include the date of leave, the type of leave, and the financial aid status of the student. Upon leave, financial aid students may have a part of their aid returned to the programs that assisted them as mandated by the federal return of funds formula. Returns are applied in the following order: federal student and parent loans; federal grants; and college and outside grants and scholarships. Students will be responsible for a balance due created by the return of funds process. Fees associated with withdrawal from exchange will be assessed per the program-specific student agreement. Please refer to the global education office website.

Vacating Student Rooms

Students who go on leave must vacate their on-campus rooms within 48 hours after the date on which the leave is scheduled to begin. All residential keys must be returned to the appropriate area office upon a student's departure. Failure to comply with this policy may result in additional charges commensurate with the amount of time students have taken to vacate their rooms or to make arrangements with the area office to have articles moved to storage.