A Leave of Absence (LOA) is defined as a period of time which can be granted to students for circumstances which require the student to be absent from school for five (5) or more consecutive class days (not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days). A student can receive one (1) LOA in a twelve- (12) month period. Requests for additional LOAs will be considered (on a case-by-case basis) based on the nature and gravity of the incident, jury duty and/or military requirements (FMLA 1993), and or prompting the request. Requests for an extension to an approval LOA will also be considered on a case-by case basis. Application for a LOA must be made in advance. Exceptions may be considered if the student can show proper documentation that it was not possible to make the request prior to a leave of absence. If a student fails to return to school at the end of the LOA, the school must treat the LOA as withdrawal. In such an event, the effective date of the withdrawal is the beginning date of the LOA.

The Leave of Absence process should originate with the SWTC Counselor or designee. The student and counselor/designee will develop the specific details of the Leave of Absence with input from the student’s instructor and the Financial Aid Coordinator (as needed). The Chief Operations Officer will approve or deny the LOA request. The student will report to Student Services upon return to classes; Student Services will notify the Instructor, Chief Operations Officer, Counselor/designee and Financial Aid Coordinator of the date of return. The counselor/designee will monitor the LOA return date and will process a student drop for failure to return.

NOTE: This Leave of Absence process does not apply to the SWTC Practical Nursing program. For information specific to the PN program, contact the Practical Nursing Director.

The SWTC Leave of Absence policy can also be found in the SWTC Student Policies and Consumer Information Handbook at www.swtech.edu or in hard copy in the Financial Aid Office, the Chief Operations Officer’s Office, or the Administrative/Business Office.