Student Life

Yes. Students on leave are not required to return by an exact date. We strongly encourage you to take as much time as you need before returning to the College to complete your degree. If you remain away from Haverford for more than 3 years, the Registrar’s Office will convert your leave into a College Leave. This will be done to satisfy the expectations of Pennsylvania state education law, and it will not itself affect your ability to return to the College when you are ready to do so.

Yes. The authority to grant leaves and to specify their type, duration, and terms rests with your advising dean. If you change your mind, please be in touch with your advising dean directly.

Once a leave is processed, students are expected to vacate their on-campus housing. Generally, students are provided 48-72 hours to move out. The Office of Residential Life will help you develop a move-out plan. Students are expected to return their room key prior to departing campus. While on leave, students will not be permitted to visit campus without prior written permission from their advising dean.

No. Only active students are permitted to enroll in a course at Haverford.

Students should consult with their advising dean before enrolling in courses outside of Haverford while taking time away. While many students do enroll in courses during their time away, advising strategies, and leave letters are personalized for each student and their unique needs, strengths and pathways.

Students planning to transfer credit to Haverford can access the form on the Registrar’s website. The form, and the accompanying advising discussion related to classes and transfer credits, need to be completed and approved before beginning classes.

Students who take a leave of absence will maintain their Haverford email account during the duration of their leave. The only exception to this rule is College Leave. Students who are placed on a College Leave through CSSP will retain access to their email account for 28 days after going on leave, after which their account will be suspended until such time as they return to Haverford.

The refund percentage depends upon the date of a student’s withdrawal as certified by the Dean’s Office. A full refund of tuition, fees, room and board will be made the first day of classes each semester. Thereafter, refunds are subject to the refund schedule. More information is available on the Student Accounts webpage.

The date that you decide to take time away from Haverford (withdrawal date) will be listed on your transcript.

Students taking a leave of absence will need to have their SEVIS record on the basis of an authorized early withdrawal. This termination reason indicates that the termination was due to procedural reason and not a violation of status so it does not impact future immigration applications. Students terminated under an authorized early withdrawal have 15 days to depart the US after the date of termination. F-1 students should consult with the International Student Support Office to discuss options and to better understand the implications of their legal status.

Students who need to leave campus in order to attend to unexpected personal or family emergencies or seek specialized care and support should reach out to their advising dean immediately to coordinate appropriate resources and support. Please note that decisions regarding attendance and deadlines fall under the purview of the faculty, but advising deans can request flexibility when appropriate. Given the rigor and demands of the Haverford curriculum, students are not permitted to miss more than two weeks of classes in any given semester. Students navigating personal and health concerns for longer than two weeks should discuss options for taking time away from the college with their advising dean.