Statement of Purpose
UNLV recognizes that for various reasons, students may need to interrupt their plan of study temporarily but without entirely withdrawing from the university. Filing a personal leave of absence enables students to return to their studies without the costs of applying for readmission. The university will record personal leaves of absence in the MyUNLV system.
Entities Affected by this Policy
This policy applies to all degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students at UNLV. Students in the Schools of Dental Medicine, Law, and Medicine should contact the Office of the Registrar in those schools for procedures on how to apply for leave.
Who Should Read this Policy
All degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students at UNLV who wish to file a personal leave of absence should read this policy.
Policy
Students may request a leave of absence for various personal reasons, which may include:
- Extreme financial hardship for students or their immediate families.
- Engaging in any activity required or encouraged for members of students' religious faith.
- Serving with a foreign aid service of the Federal Government.
- Professional or career advancement.
- Family reasons. Such as childbirth and childcare needs.
- Any other extraordinary circumstances beyond students' control that would create a substantial hardship for the student and that cannot be addressed by other leave types as described below.
This policy does not apply to leaves of absences taken for:
- Voluntary health withdrawal (see below),
- Military, or
- As a remedial measure afforded pursuant to Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), Board of Regents Handbook (Rev. 302), Title 4, Chapter 8, Section 14 (Policy Against Unlawful Discrimination and Harassment; Complaint Procedure)
Students who must interrupt their studies for health or mental health reasons should refer to the voluntary health withdrawal (VHW) procedures. In addition, per NSHE Procedures and Guidelines Manual (Rev. 91), Chapter 6, Section 14 (Student Military Mobilization/Activation for NSHE Institutions), the Military and Veteran Services Center web site contains information on student leaves of absence for involuntary deployment. Students seeking information about a leave of absence as a remedial measure under the relevant non-discrimination and/or Title IX policies should contact the Title IX Coordinator.
To request a personal leave of absence under this policy, students should follow instructions outlined in the personal leave of absence procedures (below). Students who do not return from the leave of absence within the approved time frame on the approved leave form may be discontinued and may need to reapply for admission and pay any applicable admissions application fees.