SCOPE
This policy establishes rights and obligations of students, graduate or undergraduate, enrolled in any degree-granting program at the College and includes requirements that may also impact non-active students’ transcripts and eligibility to return to enrollment.
This policy is meant to be invoked only in extraordinary circumstances, when a student is unable or unwilling to request a voluntary leave of absence or voluntary medical leave of absence.
POLICY STATEMENT
The College recognizes that students may experience situations that significantly limit their ability to function successfully or safely in their role as students. The involuntary leave processes under this Policy may be initiated and a student may be placed on involuntary leave when, based on an individualized assessment, the student’s behavior poses a significant risk of causing harm to oneself or others, or substantially disrupts the learning environment on campus, and no reasonable accommodations can adequately reduce that risk or disruption.
This would include but is not limited to situations involving serious verbal threats or demonstrated inability to avoid conduct that poses significant risk of harm to others or damage to property; a student who is unwilling or unable to carry out substantial self-care obligations and poses a significant risk to their own safety, not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations.
Before an involuntary leave is considered, the student will be made aware of the opportunity to take a voluntary leave or voluntary medical leave.
Ithaca College provides a range of services to support and address the mental and physical health needs of students including assessment, short-term care as appropriate, and referrals. The College’s first concern is for the health and welfare of each individual in our community to enable all of our students to participate fully as members of the College’s academic community.
This Policy and its related procedures do not take the place of disciplinary actions that are in response to violations of the Student Conduct Code, nor do they preclude the removal or dismissal of students from the College as a result of such violations. Students are responsible for understanding the implications of an Involuntary Leave of Absence for housing, financial aid, health insurance, and progress toward the degree.
DEFINITIONS
Leave of Absence – a temporary separation from the college during which a student enrolled in a degree-granting program maintains matriculated status but is not enrolled in classes.
Withdrawal from the College – a separation from the college that is deemed permanent, in which a student is no longer matriculated and must be readmitted in order to resume enrollment in classes.
INVOLUNTARY LEAVE PROCESS
Involuntary Leave Determination
Once the Dean of Students for the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life becomes aware that a student’s behavior may pose a significant risk of causing harm to oneself or others, the following protocols will be initiated and followed, to the extent they are deemed appropriate by the Dean of Students, to reach a determination.
- The Dean of Students, or designee, will notify the student in writing that an involuntary leave is under consideration and the reason(s) why an involuntary leave is under consideration.
- The Dean of Students, or designee will invite the student to meet to discuss the implications of and procedures relating to an involuntary leave of absence. A copy of this policy will be provided to the student.
- If the student still has any questions, concerns or wants to respond to anything that was said during the discussion, the student will be provided an opportunity to respond either in person, via telephone, or in writing.
- Whenever possible and appropriate, the Dean of Students, or designee, will encourage the student to consider taking a voluntary leave of absence, or a voluntary medical leave of absence if appropriate, thereby eliminating the need to complete the process for an involuntary leave.
- The Dean of Students, or designee, will confer with a group comprising one or more of the following individuals or their designees to form an individualized assessment of a student’s present ability to safely function at the campus:
- Dean or Associate Dean of the student's school;
- Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designee)
- Director of Student Health Services;
- Director of Counseling and Psychological Services;
- Director of Student Accessibility Services;
- Director of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs (for on-campus student);
- Director of Public Safety.
- With appropriate authorization, the student’s treatment provider(s) or other health care professionals;
- Other individuals as deemed necessary by the Dean of Students
- During these consultations, members of the above-mentioned group will pay particular attention to the criteria for invoking an involuntary leave, especially whether the student engages in, or is determined to be likely to engage in, behavior that poses a significant risk of causing harm to oneself or others, or of substantially disrupting the learning environment. Consideration will also be given to accommodations that may reasonably be provided that would eliminate the need for the involuntary leave.
- The Dean of Students, or designee, will give significant weight to the opinion of the student’s treatment provider(s) including those including those identified by the student, regarding the student’s ability to function safely as a student at the College with or without reasonable accommodations. The College may require that a student undergo independent psychological and/or physical evaluation by a designated professional if the Dean believes it would be helpful in reaching an informed decision. The student's refusal or failure to undergo such evaluation will not limit the College's right to invoke and apply this policy. If the student refuses or fails to undergo a requested evaluation, a final decision will be made based on the information available at the time.
- Following these consultations, the Dean of Students, or designee, will make a final decision regarding the involuntary leave of absence, and must provide written notice of this decision to the student.
ISSUANCE OF INVOLUNTARY LEAVE DETERMINATION
Notice
The Dean of Students, or designee, will provide to the student written notification of the decision on whether to impose an involuntary leave.
If Involuntary Leave is Imposed
If an involuntary leave is imposed, the written notice will include the following:
- The requirements for reenrollment
- The duration of the of the leave
- When the student must leave campus
- Under what conditions the student may enter campus or other college property during their leave
- The procedures for appeal
If Alternative Requirements are Imposed
As an alternative to imposing an involuntary leave of absence the Dean of Students, or designee, may, if it is determined that the threat cannot be sufficiently averted without some intervention, impose other conditions under which the student is allowed to remain at the College.
Such conditions must be determined on an individualized basis and may include, but are not limited to:
- Restrictions on participation in certain activities.
- Regular meetings with school officials
- Complying with a treatment plan
- Regular consultations with health care professionals
- Disclosure of relevant medical records and information
Such requirements will be based on an individualized assessment and the student’s particular situation. A student’s failure to adhere to the imposed conditions or requirements may be grounds to review whether an involuntary leave is appropriate.
APPEAL OF INVOLUNTARY LEAVE DETERMINATION
The decision to impose an involuntary leave of absence or alternative requirements under this section may be appealed by the student by submitting an appeal in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life, or designee, within five business days (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) of receiving the written decision. The appeal must be in writing, delineating the reason(s) why the student believes the decision is inappropriate. The Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life will review the student's appeal and uphold, reverse or alter the decision. The Vice President’s decision will be communicated to the student in writing and shall be considered final.
IMPLICATIONS OF AN INVOLUTNARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Effect of Leave
Once an involuntary leave is imposed, a student must leave campus within the time period set forth in the notification from the Dean of Students, or designee. The requirements of the involuntary leave will remain in effect until the student fulfills the specific requirements for reenrollment outlined by the Dean of Students, or designee.
Duration of Leave
Typically, the duration of an involuntary leave will be no fewer than two (2) semesters, although the length of any involuntary leave will be determined on a case-by-case basis. During the leave, a student may only visit campus as authorized in writing by the Dean of Students (or designee).
Notation on Transcript
An involuntary leave of absence will be noted on a student’s transcript as a regular leave of absence. Pursuant to the policies stated in the Academic Catalog, a student will be administratively withdrawn from the College if they do not successfully re-enroll at the end of the stated duration of their involuntary leave of absence.
Notification to Parent or Guardian
The College reserves the right to notify a parent, guardian, or other person, if notification is deemed appropriate. In addition, the parent, guardian, or other person may be asked to make arrangements for the safe removal of the student from the College.
Financial Obligations
A student on an involuntary leave of absence may still have certain financial obligations. For more information, see "Explanation of Charges" in the Ithaca College Undergraduate Catalog .
RETURNING AFTER AN INVOLUNTARY LEAVE
Request for Return or Reenrollment
A formal request for reenrollment after an involuntary leave of absence must be submitted to the Dean of Students with a copy sent to the Dean of the student's school. The student's reenrollment request will be reviewed by the Dean of Students, or designee, who, with the dean of the student's school, must approve the reenrollment.
When a medical or psychological condition forms the basis of the involuntary leave, the student will be notified in writing of the required procedures for reenrollment. In this circumstance, the Dean of Students, or designee, will consult with the Director of Student Health Services and/or the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services in deciding whether to approve the student's request to re-enroll. Students will be notified in writing of whether the request for reenrollment has been approved. The requirements for reenrollment are determined on a case-by-case basis at the time of the request. Deadlines for return or readmission to College is detailed in subsection 7.2.5.5 Procedure for Return or Readmission to College.
Appeal of the Decision Regarding Reenrollment
A student may appeal a decision denying reenrollment to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life by submitting a written request. The Vice President will review the student's appeal and all necessary additional information and will then render a written decision, which shall be final.
Last Updated: August 25, 2025