Leave of Absence/ Withdrawal
There are two ways for students to separate from the College before graduation: through a Leave of Absence or through a Withdrawal. Students requesting a Leave of Absence or a Withdrawal must complete the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal form available online in the student dashboard, MyOtis.
Important: Please note that when you return from your Leave of Absence or if you decide to apply for readmission and are accepted after withdrawing from the College, there is no guarantee that the program or the curriculum requirements for your program will be the same as when you left the College. Returning students will be offered the programs and curriculum requirements that are currently in place.
Leave of Absence Defined
A Leave of Absence is an anticipated separation from the College of less than one year. A Voluntary Leave of Absence is initiated by the student. An Administrative Leave of Absence is initiated by the Dean of Students (or designee) and is given for medical, personal, or other issues as determined by the Dean of Students. Students who are granted an Administrative Leave of Absence must meet all specific conditions before being allowed to return to the College.
Withdrawal Defined
A Withdrawal is an anticipated separation from the College of more than one year, up to and including a permanent separation. A Voluntary Withdrawal is initiated by the student. An Administrative Withdrawal is initiated by the Dean of Students (or designee) or by the Registrar (or designee) and is given for reasons of non-attendance, poor scholarship, disciplinary conduct, or other issues as determined by the Dean of Students or the Committee on Academic Standing.
Students who are given an Administrative Withdrawal must apply for readmission (if eligible) and must meet all specific conditions before being allowed to return to the College.
How to Qualify for A Leave of Absence
To qualify for a Leave of Absence, students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Students who apply for a Leave of Absence with a cumulative GPA of below 2.0 will be Withdrawn from the College and must apply for readmission when they plan to return.
Leave of Absence/withdrawal and Grades
When a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal is given before the beginning of a semester, students are dropped from their courses, and no grades are recorded for that semester. When a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal is given once the semester has started, students are withdrawn from all courses and receive a grade of “W” in all courses in which they were enrolled. A Leave of Absence/Withdrawal form must be submitted online by the published withdrawal deadline date in order to receive a grade of “W.” Forms received after that date will be subject to the grades in progress at the time the form is submitted but W grades can be given up until the last day of the semester at the discretion of the Dean of Students and the Registrar.
International Students Taking a Leave of Absence/withdrawal
International students on an F-1 visa must meet with a Designated School Official (DSO) and be advised on the effect a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal will have on their visa status. International students on an F1 visa who are approved for Withdrawal are considered out of status and must return home within 15 days.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees will be refunded based on the published refund policy. Housing fees will be refunded based on the published housing refund policy. Financial aid recipients must meet with Student Financial Services to complete the necessary exit interview and be advised on the effect a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal will have on their financial aid eligibility and/or loan repayment.
Students who unofficially withdraw (stop attending without officially completing a leave of absence or withdrawal form) from the College will have their tuition and fees refunded based on the last known date of attendance as reported by the academic departments.
Access to Services and Readmission to The College
Students on Leave of Absence have access to their Otis email account and MyOtis. Students on Leave will also continue to have access to the job board and career counseling services through Career Services. On a case by case basis, students who were accessing Student Counseling Services may have continued access as determined by the Director of Student Counseling Services. Students on Leave do not have access to College facilities and services or computer labs, laboratory equipment, library, or other privileges unless specifically stated above. Students who have withdrawn from the College do not have access to any College facilities, services, or privileges. Students on a Leave of Absence may resume their studies at the beginning of a semester within their approved year, but are strongly encouraged to seek academic and financial aid advisement on the best time to return to the College.
Students on a Leave of Absence must notify the Registration Office at least two months before the beginning of the term in which they plan to return and will be eligible for priority registration based on their class level. They must make sure all holds have been cleared and financial arrangements have been made by published deadlines for that semester.
Students on a Leave of Absence who do not return within one calendar year will be Withdrawn from the College. To resume their studies, such students must apply for readmission and will be readmitted based on the readmission policies in place at that time.
Students who have withdrawn from the College and decide they would like to return must apply for readmission. All specific conditions (if any) must be met before the student can return and readmission will be subject to the readmission policies in place at that time.
Important: When a student returns from Leave of Absence after completing only the Foundation year there is no guarantee of acceptance or continuation in the major of choice. Based on space availability, acceptance to a specific major, area of emphasis or minor is not guaranteed. Students may be subject to academic review by GPA, additional portfolio or other entrance requirements.
Probation and Academic Dismissal
A BFA student is in good standing if the student maintains a term and cumulative GPA of 2.0. If a student’s term or cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. A student will be dismissed from the College if their cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters. First-semester Foundation students may be eligible for Grade Replacement (please refer to the Foundation Grade Replacement policy).
An MFA student is considered in good standing if the student receives a grade of “P” (Pass) or “LP” (Low Pass) in all of their courses each term. If a graduate student receives a grade of “F” during a term, the student will be placed on academic probation. A graduate student will be dismissed from the College if the student has two consecutive semesters on academic probation. If the 2nd semester of probation occurs in the final semester of MFA study and all degree requirements have been met, the determination of academic standing will include the Chair’s review of transcript and portfolio.
The College recognizes that there may be cases of dismissal that require review and merit exception. If dismissed, a student may file a written appeal to the Academic Standing Committee in care of the Registration Office. Factors and supporting documentation that may be considered in an appeal may include but are not limited to the following:
Required:
- Poor academic performance that was the result of circumstances that have been demonstrably corrected or substantially addressed, and should no longer adversely influence the student’s academic performance.
Optional:
- Written documentation from a department representative/advisor arguing convincingly that the student has a strong probability of completing the degree program to which the student would be reinstated.
- Evidence in the academic record of an ability to succeed academically and make timely progress toward completion of a degree program which may include past academic performance.
- A proposed schedule for completion of the degree and a plan to foster academic improvement. Evidence of support from other representatives of the College’s support services in addition to, but not in lieu of, letters from departmental and College advisors. This may include evidence of a confidential nature that the student would prefer not be divulged to the committee as a whole.
Upon receiving a written appeal, the Committee may invite eligible students to appear before the Committee, as necessary. Exceptions to dismissal will be granted only rarely. If readmitted, the student will be placed on probationary status with special requirements. If the student does not meet all the requirements of such continued enrollment, the student will be dismissed from the College.
Readmission to The College
Students who have left the College and wish to re-enroll after a period of absence must apply for readmission. Information on readmission and the Readmission Application is available online at Readmission | Otis College.
Applications should be submitted at least two months prior to the start of the semester in which the student wishes to enroll. Students must also submit official transcripts for any courses attempted at other institutions during the period of absence.
Readmission is contingent upon approval by the Academic Standing Committee, which reviews all applications for readmission and may choose to conduct in-person interviews with readmission candidates, including (but not limited to) those who left the College while on academic probation (term or cumulative grade point average below 2.0), were academically dismissed with the possibility of returning, or were sanctioned at any point by the Student Conduct Committee. Academically dismissed students who are eligible to apply for readmission must complete any and all conditions outlined in their dismissal letters.
Readmission to the College is not guaranteed, nor is there a guarantee of continuation or acceptance in the major of choice. Based on space availability, readmission to a specific major, area of emphasis or minor is not guaranteed. Students may be subject to academic review by GPA, additional portfolio or other entrance requirements. If a student is requesting a different class standing or major, a review of transcripts by the Liberal Arts and Sciences department and the relevant studio department may be necessary to assess transferable credits. A portfolio review by the studio department may also be required to evaluate preparedness for advanced class standing or entrance to the new major.