Taking Care of Ourselves & Each Other

Health & Well-Being

Stanford
Dean of Students
Campus Scenes, 2023. Credit: Micaela Go

ILOA Frequently Asked Questions

Reference frequently asked questions about the ILOA policy.

General Information

Seeking Help for Yourself or Others

Review for an Involuntary Leave of Absence

Decision

Return

Additional Questions

 

What is the difference between a voluntary leave of absence and an involuntary leave of absence?

Students might choose to take a voluntary leave of absence to take time away from academics for a variety of reasons. Voluntary leaves of absence are common; students might choose to take a break from academics to participate in an internship, help manage a family situation, attend to their health, or a number of other reasons. See the following links for more information on voluntary leaves for undergraduate students or for graduate students.

An involuntary leave of absence occurs when the University requires a student to take time away from their academics due to significant concerns about their well-being. Requiring a student to take a leave of absence is very rare and only happens when there is objective evidence indicating a significant risk to the student’s health or safety or the health and safety of others, when a student is significantly unable to care for themselves, and/or when the student’s behavior severely disrupts the University environment. In these situations, the University makes every attempt to offer reasonable accommodations to reduce the risk or disruption before placing the student on an involuntary leave.

Who should students talk to if they are considering taking a leave of absence?

There are many people that students can consult with if considering taking a leave of absence. At minimum, it is important to understand how taking a leave of absence impacts academic plans, housing eligibility, financial aid and required fees, and health insurance.

General Planning and Support

Academic Support

Financial Aid

Housing

Health Insurance 

What are the implications of an involuntary leave of absence?

  • Student status. Students on a leave of absence (both voluntary and involuntary) generally retain their admitted student status; however, they are not registered and therefore do not have the rights and privileges of registered students.
  • Housing. Students assigned to a University residence are subject to the terms of the University Residence Agreement. However, students with medical disabilities (including mental health disabilities) that require University medical services may petition to remain in campus housing for one term while on leave. Students who leave the University before the end of a term may be eligible to receive refunds of portions of their housing charges. Eligibility criteria for housing and refunds are set forth in the Residence Agreement which is found on the Residence Agreement website.
  • Effective date(s) of leave. A student placed on an involuntary leave of absence must leave the University within the timeframe set forth by the Dean of Students. The leave will remain in effect until (1) it is determined after an individualized assessment that the student is able to return to the University with or without reasonable accommodations, and (2) the student has complied with any University requirements applicable to all students returning from a leave and all of the conditions mandated by the Dean of Students and/or the Vice Provost.
  • Notification. At any time during the involuntary leave of absence process, the Dean of Students may notify a student’s parent, guardian, emergency contact, or other individual, consistent with the law, if notification is deemed appropriate.
  • Association with the University while on leave. Unless expressly permitted by the Dean of Students in writing, students on an involuntary leave of absence are not permitted to be present at the University and are not permitted to engage in any University-related activities, including on-campus employment.
  • Coursework taken while on leave. Consistent with Stanford’s policies and procedures, academic credit for work done elsewhere may be allowed towards a Stanford degree. Students should refer to the “Transfer Work” section of the Stanford Bulletin and consult with the Registrar’s Office and their department prior to taking any coursework while on an involuntary leave of absence.
  • SUNet ID privileges. Unless expressly prohibited by the Dean of Students in writing, students on leave generally may retain their SUNet ID privileges, including their Stanford email account.
  • Transcript notation. Students on an involuntary leave of absence will have a notation on their transcript that reads “Leave of Absence.”
  • Tuition and fees. Consistent with Stanford’s policies and procedures, students who leave the University before the end of a term may be eligible to receive refunds of portions of their tuition. See the Registrar’s Tuition Refunds page for a schedule of refunds.
  • Meal Plan. Consistent with Stanford’s policies and procedures, a meal plan refund is based on the date when a student moves out of University residence and is approved under conditions as specified in the Residence Agreement. Students with questions about residential meal plan refunds should contact Stanford Dining.
  • Visa Status. International students (F-1 and J-1 Visa holders) placed on an involuntary leave of absence must speak with a Bechtel International Center advisor regarding their visa status.

Will students be put on an involuntary leave of absence if they seek out counseling/mental health support or tell someone that they are having thoughts of suicide?

If students are struggling to manage their mental health, having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or feeling hopeless or that life is not worth living, the most important thing to us is that they get the help they need. Counseling and mental health resources are available to all Stanford students (including students who are not on Cardinal Care). Asking for help is a sign of strength and maturity, and it is our goal to empower students to make the best choice to keep themselves safe and get connected to care.

Psychological counseling and psychotherapy are confidential, which allows students to discuss their concerns candidly. The Dean of Students Office will generally only receive information from your counselor if you provide your consent through a written release of information. Read more about CAPS confidentiality and disclosures.

Requiring a student to take a leave of absence is very rare and only happens when there is objective evidence indicating a significant risk to the student’s health or safety or the health and safety of others, when a student is significantly unable to care for themselves, and/or when the student’s behavior severely disrupts the University environment. In these situations, the University makes every attempt to offer reasonable accommodations to reduce the risk or disruption before placing the student on an involuntary leave.

In most situations where a student is feeling suicidal, they will either find care and/or accommodations that help them to manage their mental health and stay enrolled, or choose to take a voluntary leave of absence to receive more intensive care.

What can students do if they are concerned about a peer and want to tell someone, but are worried about breaking their trust or getting them in trouble?

Please reach out to someone to share your concerns for your peers, friends, and other students - the most important thing is that they get the help they need. It can be difficult to bring up your concerns to your peers, and there are a number of support people who can help you plan for this conversation or think about other support options who might be able to play a role to help keep them safe.

You can share an urgent concern by contacting the Resident Director On-Call (undergraduate students) at 650-504-8022 or the Graduate Life Office Dean On-Call (graduate students) at 650-723-7288 (pager ID 25085). You can also call CAPS at 650-723-3785 to speak confidentially about your concerns with a counselor. If a concern is not urgent but you would still like to consult with a staff member, you can also share your concern using our online form. Please also remember to seek support for yourself!

Students are also encouraged to check out this resource from NAMI on How to Help a Friend.

What is the purpose of an involuntary leave of absence review?

When an involuntary leave of absence is being considered for a student, the student will be notified that the Dean of Students is initiating a review. The purpose of this review is for the Dean of Students to gather information to help inform their decision.

Part of the review includes an opportunity for the student to meet with the Dean of Students to discuss the concerns and talk about support resources. As a result of this meeting, many students will connect to support resources they might not have previously considered or choose to take a voluntary leave of absence.

Does the University provide support to a student being reviewed for an involuntary leave of absence?

All students under review for an involuntary leave of absence will be assigned an ILOA Process Resource for the entirety of the process. The ILOA Process Resource is an administrator outside of the decision-making process with knowledge of Stanford’s involuntary leave of absence process who will serve as a neutral resource for the student. The ILOA Process Resource has knowledge to answer any student questions about the process, from the referral through return to Stanford. They can be reached at iloaprocessresource@stanford.edu.

Why does the Dean of Students Office ask students to share relevant information from treatment providers in the involuntary leave of absence process?

Before placing any student on an involuntary leave of absence, the Dean of Students  will conduct an individualized assessment and consult with treatment providers about the student’s needs and care.

  • Treatment Providers: The Dean of Students gives significant weight to the opinion of the student’s treatment provider(s), including those identified by the student, regarding the student’s ability to function academically and safely at the University with or without reasonable accommodations.
  • Office of Accessible Education (OAE): Consultation with OAE will help the Dean of Students to determine if there are reasonable accommodations that would permit the student to continue to participate in the University community without taking a leave of absence.

How can students request reasonable accommodations or establish eligibility for services with the OAE?

Stanford is committed to providing equal access to all participants in University processes, including students with disabilities. Students with disabilities should contact the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) to request accommodations and learn more about services. Information about the support services OAE provides, types of accommodations offered, and appropriate documentation for accommodations, can be found on the OAE website.

What kinds of accommodations and services are available through the OAE?

The OAE provides a number of accommodations and services that include, but are not limited to, academic accommodations, assistive technology assessments and training, housing accommodations, parking and transportation accommodations, study abroad accommodations, and non-academic requests/facility access. Students should register with the OAE to establish eligibility and begin the interactive process of requesting and receiving accommodations.

Does being under an involuntary leave of absence review mean that students are immediately removed from on-campus housing?

Being under an involuntary leave of absence review does not necessarily mean that a student’s campus housing will change. If, however, there are immediate concerns regarding safety and well-being of the student and/or residential community, it is possible that they may be required to stay in an alternative housing space for the duration of the involuntary leave of absence review process. If this is the case, those expectations will be clearly communicated to the student in the involuntary leave of absence review notice. 

If a student is placed on an involuntary leave of absence, is there an opportunity for an appeal?

Yes, the student may submit an appeal of the involuntary leave of absence decision within one week of receiving the decision of the Dean of Students. The appeal of the decision must be made in writing to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs or the Vice Provost’s designee. The written request for appeal must specify the particular substantive and/or procedural basis for the appeal, and must be made on grounds other than general dissatisfaction with the decision of the Dean of Students. The review by the Vice Provost for Student Affairs or the Vice Provost’s designee will be limited to the following considerations:

  • Were the proper facts and criteria brought to bear on the decision?
  • Is there any new information not previously available to the student that may change the outcome of the decision-making process?
  • Were there any procedural irregularities that materially affected the outcome of the matter to the detriment of the appellant?
  • Given the proper facts, criteria, and procedures, was the decision a reasonable one?

After reviewing the matter fully, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs or the Vice Provost’s designee will issue a written decision affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision to place the student on an involuntary leave of absence. The Vice Provost’s decision shall be final, and no other appeals or grievance procedures are available.

Does being placed on an involuntary leave of absence mean that a student is being permanently removed from the university?

No, students on an involuntary leave of absence generally retain their admitted student status, and the involuntary leave of absence decision defines the conditions that a student must meet in order to re-enroll. Students who are seeking to return from an involuntary leave of absence must also be academically eligible to return and should work with the appropriate support for undergraduate students or graduate students (the academic department and the Graduate Life Office). The involuntary leave of absence process is not intended to be punitive, and does not replace the University’s disciplinary process in response to violations of Stanford’s Fundamental Standard.

Who can a student contact about the process when returning from an involuntary leave of absence?

Students who are seeking to return from an involuntary leave of absence should contact the Dean of Students and the ILOA Process Resource at iloaprocessresource@stanford.edu. Because it can take time for the Dean of Students to verify that a student has sufficiently addressed the issues that led to the leave, students should plan to begin the return process and submit any required documentation no later than six weeks prior to the start of the quarter in which they are seeking to return.

Who can students talk to if they are confused or have more questions about the involuntary leave of absence policy?

The best place to start with questions about the involuntary leave of absence policy is the ILOA Process Resource. This person is an administrator outside of the decision-making process with knowledge of Stanford’s involuntary leave of absence process who serves as a neutral resource with knowledge to answer any student questions about the process from referral through return to Stanford. The ILOA Process Resource can be reached at iloaprocessresource@stanford.edu.