Time Away & Return

After the decision to go on a leave has been made, a Notice of Departure will be filed by the Office of Academic Support or by the class dean. The NOD will indicate the type of leave the student is taking. A copy of the Notice of Departure will be emailed to students. Once the Registrar processes the NOD in Bionic, Student Accounts, Residential Life and Student Engagement, and Financial Aid will be notified that the student has gone on a leave.

If the student has chosen to take a leave of absence during the semester, their faculty will be notified. Students should reference the Refunds and Withdrawal website the College Withdrawal Policy and the Tuition Withdrawal Schedule. 

Regardless of the type of leave, students are expected to be away for a minimum of one (1) full semester. 

Students are required to participate in one (1) Impactful Time Away Consultation with the Assistant Director of Academic Support prior to or shortly after their departure from campus to discuss their goals for the leave of absence, the impacts time away may have on their progress towards completing their degree, and/or to discuss expectations for return.

While away from the College, students are encouraged to maintain ties with the College community by keeping in regular contact with friends, faculty, deans, and other supports. The Office of Academic Support is available to meet with students throughout the duration of their leaves through Impactful Time Away Consultations.

Students may decide to engage in coursework while away to pursue transfer credit. Students should refer to the Transfer Credit Policy on the Registrar's website and may consult with the Office of Academic Support in a consultation meeting.

Students should do the following as they consider taking coursework at another institution for transfer credit:

• Review the expectations detailed in the Transfer Credit Policy.
• Review courses that are available at institutions local to the student's home that are of interest.
• Reach out to the instructors teaching those courses for a copy of the syllabus.
• Complete the Transfer Credit Approval Application form and wait for approval from the Registrar's office. 
  • If the student is interested in getting a course from another institution applied to their major requirements, they should consult with their major advisors as well.
• Follow the procedures for the enrolling in courses at the other institution as a non-matriculated, guest, or continuing education student. 
• Submit copies of the official transcripts to the Registrar's Office. 

Please note: Students are only allowed to take up to 2 courses per term while away for transfer credit. 

When a student is ready to resume their studies at the College, they will need to apply for re-enrollment and be approved to return. Please follow the instructions on the Return page.

Students thinking about taking a leave of absence or who are currently on leaves of absence are welcome to schedule a meeting with one of the Office of Academic Support RS Mentors. The RS Mentors are students who have taken time away from the College and have successfully returned to their studies. The RS Mentors can share their perspectives with students and can answer questions about the time away and return process.

If students would like to speak to one of the RS Mentors, they can request to meet with one of them during their Impactful Time Away Meetings with an Academic Coach. The Academic Coach may also offer or recommend a meeting with one of the RS Mentors during the Impactful Time Away Meeting, as well. 

Our current RS Mentors:

• Megan McDonald (she/her) is one of the RS Mentors for the Office of Academic Support and a senior. She took a year away between her sophomore and junior year for mental health reasons. Megan was originally an English Lit major, but she switched to Chemistry after her return in her junior year. Outside of being an RS Mentor, Megan also is a member of the XC/track team and works as a writing center tutor. She attributes finding community through the XC/track team and proactively reaching out for help through Academic Support as some of the ways she felt successful in her first semester back at Bryn Mawr. Megan is here to offer the student perspective and support for students thinking about taking a leave, currently on a leave, and returning from leaves of absence. 
• Natalie Eaton (she/her) is one of the RS Mentors for the Office of Academic Support. She is a second semester junior in the fall semester and will be a December 2025 graduate of Bryn Mawr. She took three years away after her first year due to COVID, academic, and mental health related reasons. She is a psychology major and excited to be working with other re-enrolling students. Natalie found success in her time back through the regular meetings with the Office of Academic Support, close contact with her professors, and utilizing other resources on campus like Career and Civic Engagement. She is available to help students who are thinking about taking a leave, that are on leaves, and in their first semester back at the College after a leave.