Sometimes it becomes necessary to step away from academics for a while. If you need to take a semester off, but intend to return to Monmouth, the best course of action may be to take a Leave of Absence. The advantage to taking a Leave of Absence is that when you return to the University you will not have to re-apply for admission and you can follow the same curriculum that was in place when you left. Students should refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate catalog for University policies related to Leave of Absence. Students who have loans and who are considering a LOA should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss your specific circumstances and understand how a LOA might impact your financial aid.
If you decide to take a Leave of Absence:
- A leave of absence e-FORM must be completed online each semester and submitted electronically to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline date. (Note that although the Registrar’s Office may grant more than one Leave of Absence per year, financial aid recipients may not take a leave that exceeds 180 days in any 12 month period.)
- Consult with the Financial Aid Office prior to applying for a LOA. We will review your academic record to determine whether or not taking a LOA may reduce or exhaust your loan repayment grace period.
- If you have borrowed federal loans, the Financial Aid Office will contact you to complete exit counseling. The counseling is done online and takes approximately 30 minutes, and is intended to remind you of your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower, as well as provide you with the information you will need to manage your loan obligations.
- Prior to your return to the University contact the Financial Aid Office to finalize your financial aid for the semester in which you will return. (Note that failure to return to the University at the end of your approved Leave of Absence may impact your future eligibility for financial aid.)