SJSU Catalog

Planned Student Educational Leave

A Planned Student Educational Leave permits a student to be absent from regular attendance for one or more terms while maintaining continuing enrollment status. Applicants must have an intention to return to formal study within a specified period and a plan for how the time is to be spent in relation to an educational objective.

The opportunity to apply for such leave is available to all students except those attending their first semester (or a first semester after an absence) and those students in disqualified status. International students are not eligible for a leave of absence while in the United States unless such a leave is documented by an attending physician.

Leave arrangements must be made in advance with the chair of the department in which the student is majoring. Undergraduate students in undeclared status will make leave arrangements with Academic Services in the Student Services Center. Graduate students will make leave arrangements with the graduate program coordinator in their department. International students must go to the International Programs and Services office. The maximum leave is four semesters.

Students who meet the terms of the leave are guaranteed a return to their department even though it is or becomes a program restricting the number of applicants. However, students who return to SJSU in a chancellor-designated impacted major are subject to readmission consideration based on meeting the supplementary admission criteria required of all applicants seeking entrance to those fields of study.

Leave forms and additional information may be secured from the Student Services Center.