CHANGES IN ENROLLMENT STATUS 

Please note: If you would like to submit a Withdrawal/Transfer, Leave of Absence, or Return from Leave form, please click here and complete the appropriate online form. Our staff will process your submitted form within a few business days or be in touch with you with any questions.

If you encounter challenges in filling out the form or have any questions, please email LOA@bentley.edu to communicate your information and the nature of your request so a staff member can assist you.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY  

If a student decides, for whatever reason, that they will not continue attending Bentley, the student must officially withdraw from the University. The official withdrawal process is initiated by students by submitting the online Withdrawal/Transfer form. For any possible returns after a withdrawal from Bentley, a student should contact the Registrar's Office.

Please note: Not attending classes or exams does not affect student status at Bentley and is not an official withdrawal from the University. Withdrawal from individual courses is a different procedure; all students process course withdrawals through WORKDAY or in person at the Registrar's Office.

Students receiving financial assistance should consult with Student Financial Services if they plan to discontinue their studies at Bentley.

International students should be in contact with the Center for International Students and Scholars prior to discontinuing their studies at Bentley.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

A leave of absence is taken when students plan to pause their studies for at least a semester and resume them at a future date. A student may choose to take a leave for any number of reasons. While not actively engaged in coursework at Bentley, these individuals are considered to have a special student status and must be eligible to continue studies at Bentley upon their return. A student begins the formal leave of absence process by submitting the online Leave of Absence form. While on leave, students may not remain enrolled in any courses at Bentley, participate in extracurricular activities at Bentley, or utilize University resources.

A leave of absence from the University for the current semester must be completed by the last day to withdraw from courses. Please refer to the academic calendar for these dates.

Students receiving financial assistance should consult with Student Financial Services if they plan to pause their studies at Bentley. 

International students should be in contact with the Center for International Students and Scholars prior to taking any pause in their plan of study.

If a graduate student is considering a leave of absence, Graduate Academic Advising & Engagement should be contacted to discuss the impact of a leave of absence on academic progression and access to University resources.

Medical Leave 

The University recognizes that students may experience medical situations that significantly limit their ability to function successfully or safely in their role as students. In those situations, students should consider requesting a medical leave of absence which permits students to take a break from University life and their studies so that they may receive treatment and later return to the University. A student begins the medical leave of absence process by submitting the online Leave of Absence form and selecting “Medical Leave of Absence” under “Type of Leave.”

While on medical leave, students are encouraged to focus on treatment as recommended for the physical or psychological health concerns that precipitated their leave. Students on a medical leave may not remain enrolled in any courses or extracurricular activities at Bentley.

Returning from a Leave of Absence 

Students returning from a leave begin the process by submitting the Online Return from Leave form. Please see the below chart for the recommended dates for submitting the Return from Leave form.

* = Students hoping to register for classes at the initial registration periods should submit their Return from Leave form prior to the recommended dates outline above. You can still submit the form after these dates, but class options will likely be more limited depending on when the form is received. Please note housing contract deadlines may fall prior to the dates noted above. Contact the Residential Center for further information.

In addition to submitting the required Return from Leave form, a student who wishes to return to campus after a medical leave must also provide a letter from their treating provider. This letter should be on the provider’s letterhead, outlining the student’s readiness to return to the academic and campus environment. The letter from the treating provider should be received by LOA@bentley.edu at least three weeks before the student’s scheduled return to campus. The Associate Director of Student Support Services will reach out to all students returning from medical leaves to discuss individualized resources available to them upon their return. 

While not required, students returning from a personal leave may request a re-entry meeting with the Associate Director of Student Support Services in order to help assist them with a successful return to campus. 

Please Note: The final day to have a medical leave processed for the current semester is Reading Day. Please refer to the academic calendar for this date.

For students considering a leave of absence and students who are planning for their return from leave, we recommend reviewing the resource "Taking a Leave of Absence: A Guide for College Students." This guide was developed by Boston University and the Ruderman Family Foundation and offers many helpful tools and strategies.