2022–2023 CATALOG AND STUDENT HANDBOOK ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES 159 Medical Leave of Absence and Medical Withdrawal Policy A. Medical Leave Medical Leave is intended for accepted students who need to take time away from Rasmussen University for health reasons and who, for medical reasons, are unable to complete the quarter in which they are currently enrolled. Medical Leave is also available for students who are primary caregivers for someone who is experiencing a health or medical issue, which has resulted in their inability to complete the term in which they are currently enrolled. Each Medical Leave can be up to one quarter and may be extended through the following quarter/term. No approved medical leave may extend for more than two consecutive quarters or up to a maximum of six months in total length excluding break weeks. At the end of the approved leave, the student must return on the next start date based on their term cycle and program of enrollment. During a student’s enrollment, there is no limit to the total number of non-consecutive quarters/terms that a student may apply for and accumulate medical leave. Qualified students with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) who are seeking academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, or other support services should refer to our Accommodations Policy. Temporary medical conditions are not considered a disability under the ADA unless they are severe enough to result in a substantial limitation of one or more major life activities. Such a determination is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the duration or expected duration of the impairment, and the extent to which it actually limits a major life activity of the individual. If you believe that your medical condition may qualify as a disability under the ADA and require support services or other accommodations, please contact the Accommodations Coordinator at your campus. Students who are placed on a Medical Leave of Absence are treated as a drop/ withdrawal for Financial Aid purposes because students who take a leave of absence are generally unable to resume coursework at the same point in their academic studies upon their return as certain scheduling adjustments may be required. If the student received federal financial aid funding for the term in which the student withdrew, a calculation of the amount of aid earned for that term will be performed along with a calculation of the student’s tuition obligation for the same period. As a result of these calculations, the student may have a tuition balance, may have unearned federal aid funds that must be returned by the University or student, or may have a tuition refund due. These calculations will be performed according to federal guidelines and institutional policy, and the student will be notified of the outcome. If a tuition refund is due to the student, it will be returned to the student. Refunds will be paid to the appropriate funding agency within 45 days, and the student will be billed for any remaining unpaid balance. See the University Refund Policy. Students with federal financial aid, federal loan obligations, or military tuition assistance must contact their lenders and the military financial aid specialist to ascertain their loan repayment status or repayment of tuition assistance during the Medical Leave. Students who received federal student loans at any point during their enrollment at the University will receive further information regarding their loan obligations and repayment in an exit interview provided by the University within 30 days of the student’s withdrawal date. Students who return from a Medical Leave of Absence will have their federal financial aid reinstated, but the funding package may be different from the term in which the student withdrew due to changes in student eligibility. B. Medical Withdrawal Students who do not return to Rasmussen University following their Medical Leave will be withdrawn with a status of Medical Leave Withdrawal. C. Applying for Medical Leave of Absence To apply for a Medical Leave, the student must obtain the Medical Leave Request Form from their Advisor. The student cannot remain enrolled in the quarter/term in which the leave begins. Important note: If the student is currently enrolled for the quarter/term in which their requested leave is to begin, it is their responsibility to drop/withdraw from their classes. D. Returning After Medical Leave of Absence To return from Medical Leave, the student must complete and submit the Medical Leave Return Request Form prior to the first day of the quarter/term in which the student wants to return to complete the reentry process. Additionally, the student must submit a signed note from the student’s professional therapist and/or physician stating the student’s medical situation and that the professional therapist/physician believes the student is able to return to Rasmussen University. A student returning after a Medical Leave of Absence will be returned to their previous program and catalog; students who desire to transfer programs are subject to the Program Transfer Policy. ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ADDENDUM • Students with federal financial aid, federal loan obligations, or military tuition assistance must contact their lenders and the Military Financial Aid Specialist to ascertain their loan repayment status or repayment of tuition assistance during the Military Leave. • Students who received federal student loans at any point during their enrollment at the University will receive further information regarding their loan obligations and repayment in an exit interview provided by the University within 30 days of the student’s withdrawal date. • In the event the student discontinues their program, any supplies or textbooks issued to and paid for by the student become the property of the student. Electronic resources, access to which the student paid for as part of the Course Technology and Resource Fee, shall remain accessible to the student as long as the license provided by the publisher/content owner allows. Licenses for electronic resources, which are utilized in most courses at Rasmussen University, are typically active for a length of 180 days to two years, dependent upon the publisher. The remaining amount of the prepaid tuition will be refunded on a prorated basis computed to the date of discontinuance. C. Academic Impact of a Military Leave: • If the student takes Military Leave on or before the close of the drop period the course(s) will be dropped without being recorded on the student’s transcript and tuition will not be charged. • A grade of “WL” will be recorded for each course for which a student was registered if the student takes Military Leave from the University at any time following the course drop period of the quarter. The student will need to repeat any course for which the WL grade was awarded. • If a student completes any Term 1: 5.5-week course(s) but then has to take a Military Leave in Term 2, the letter grades they earned for the Term 1 courses will remain on their transcript. • All academic probations, warnings, and dismissals remain applicable to students who take a Military Leave. If a student is already on probation or is placed on probation while on leave, the conditions of his or her probation are continued to the quarter in which he or she returns to the University. • The standard Rasmussen transfer of credit policies apply for courses taken elsewhere while on leave to any academic work done by the student while on Military Leave from the University. D. Long Term Military Leave for More Than Two Quarters in Length Military service members who are given official orders to deploy for state or federal needs, as well as their spouses, who cannot complete the academic quarter due to the deployment, may withdraw without penalty from any or all classes in which they are enrolled, even if the established deadline for withdrawal has passed. These students are entitled to a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees for the term, subject to applicable laws governing federal or state financial aid programs and allocation or refund as required under those programs. Students in good standing who withdraw under this policy may be readmitted and reenroll into the same program under the catalog that is current at the time of re-enrollment, without penalty or redetermination of admission eligibility, within one year following their release from active military service upon submission of the military orders showing their military deployment has been completed. Programs with specialized admissions requirements are excluded from this policy; students must meet those additional requirements at the time of re-enrollment. E. Short Term Military Leave for Up to Two Quarters in Length Military service members who are given official orders for mandatory training who cannot complete the academic quarter due to military training may withdraw without penalty from any or all classes in which they are enrolled, even if the established deadline for withdrawal has passed. Each leave may be for up to two consecutive quarters. There is no limit to the total number of Military Leaves that a student may accumulate during their enrollment with the University. Students in good standing who withdraw under this short-term (up to two quarters in length) leave policy reenroll at the start of the next term/quarter after the military training is complete and will be allowed to return into the same program under the catalog that the student was enrolled in prior to the military leave. The student will be charged the same tuition rate as their original program or the new tuition rate, whichever is lower. The student must contact their Advisor at least one week prior to the first day of the quarter/term in which the student wants to return to complete the reentry process and submit the military orders showing their military training has been completed. If the student reenrolls after more than one quarter, they will reenroll under the catalog and tuition rate that is current at the time of re-enrollment, without penalty or redetermination of admission eligibility, within one year following their release from military training. Programs with specialized admissions requirements are excluded from this policy; students must meet those additional requirements at the time of re-enrollment.
