Temporary Separation Information

At Saint Joseph’s University there are many ways for students to temporarily separate from the University:

• Leave of Absence (LOA) (medical or non-medical) - Taking time away from your education for the semester. This request must be submitted before the end of Add/Drop if the student is registered for classes that term.
• Withdraw from all Classes (medical or non-medical) - Currently enrolled in classes, but unable to complete the semester.
• Term Away (medical or non-medical) - Undergraduate students only. Unable to take classes at SJU during a given semester, but able to continue taking courses at a different institution (requires approval for courses elsewhere).

Tuition Appeal for Medical Reasons: In extraordinary circumstances, when a student is unable to attend classes due to a serious medical situation, and as a result, officially withdraws from ALL CLASSES, a Tuition Appeal Form may be submitted to The Office of Student Accounts for review. Medical documentation is required to be submitted to the Office of Student Disability Services (sds@sju.edu) when applying for tuition appeal. See this link for more information about tuition appeals and to access the Tuition Appeal Form.

For more information and to apply for a Temporary Separation click on the link below: 

TEMPORARY SEPARATION APPLICATION

A student returning from a medical temporary separation will have a hold on their account. The student is required to complete the terms for return below two (2) weeks prior to the start of the respective term.

The process to request to return from medical temporary separation is as follows:

1. Students on a medical temporary separation must have a treating medical professional complete the "Return from Medical Leave Form." This form should then be returned to the Office of Student Disability Services at sds@sju.edu or via fax at 610-660-3053 no later than two (2) weeks before the start of classes. IMPORTANT: The Return from Medical Leave Form must be submitted directly by the treating medical professional’s office, accompanied by a cover page on the provider’s official letterhead.
2. Students must also provide a "Plan for Success." The "plan for success" should be submitted around the same time that the doctor provides the return from medical leave form noted above.

The Medical Temporary Separation Review Committee will review both pieces of the student's request outlined above.  Based on the documentation provided, the committee will then make a decision regarding the student's readiness to return and will be in contact with the student regarding the status of their request to return.

The Medical Temporary Separation Review Committee is comprised of:

• Director of Student Disability Services
• Director of Student Health
• Director of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
• Executive Director of Student Support & Well-being

The terms for return may also include, but are not limited to:

• Clearance from the Bursar’s Office
• Clearance from the Office of International Students and Scholars
• Clearance from Community Standards and/or Transfer Registrar’s Form

When a student has completed the process to return to SJU, the student should contact their academic advisor/program director to discuss course planning and acquire the registration PIN for the next semester.

For questions on the return from medical temporary separation process, please contact the Office of Student Support & Well-being at sos@sju.edu or 610-660-1149. 

SJU Extended Absence Notification Process

The Extended Absence Process is a way for students to notify their faculty when they need to be away from classes for more than 3 days due to a health or personal reason.

Students may submit an Extended Absence request when their circumstances prevent them from attending classes for a short period of time. The process allows SJU to notify the student’s faculty of the absence without requiring the student to individually contact each faculty member.

Once a request is submitted, designated Student Life staff will review the information and communicate the extended absence dates to the appropriate faculty members. Students remain responsible for communicating with their faculty about missed work, assignments, exams, and plans for getting back on track.

PLEASE NOTE: An Extended Absence notification does not automatically excuse missed classes or guarantee extensions or make-up opportunities. Faculty will work with the student, consistent with their course policies and expectations, to determine how missed academic work will be addressed.

For absences that are expected to be longer than approximately two weeks, students may need to explore other options, such as a Temporary Separation from the University (i.e. withdraw from all classes).

Extended Absence Request Form