Voluntary Medical Withdrawal
Students may choose to apply for a voluntary medical withdrawal if they need to leave school for a period of time to address illness or physical or mental health conditions that significantly impair their ability to function successfully or safely as a member of the university community. Students who are granted voluntary medical withdrawals may be eligible for an additional tuition credit to their student account upon their return to the university. A voluntary medical withdrawal is intended only for serious medical or psychological conditions, which may involve hospitalizations, intensive treatment or other similar conditions or events. In these instances, time away from the university for treatment and recovery can often restore functioning to a level that will enable a student to return to the university and be successful.
Students considering a voluntary medical withdrawal for health-related conditions are encouraged to contact campus Health Services (for physical health issues) or Counseling Services (for mental health issues) to discuss the appropriateness of a voluntary medical withdrawal.
Requests (including required documentation) will be reviewed in a timely fashion and either approved or denied by the appropriate Health Services or Counseling Services staff and the associate dean of Counseling, Health & Wellness, or the associate dean's designee. Medical documentation must be provided to certify the severity of the condition. Requested documentation may include a written recommendation from a university healthcare provider or an appropriately qualified medical or mental health professional from the community.
A student who is returning to the university after an approved voluntary medical withdrawal may be eligible for a tuition credit equal to the amount of adjusted tuition charged for the term/semester the student was unable to complete due to the voluntary medical withdrawal. This credit can only be applied toward tuition charges for the term/semester in which the student returns. In addition, the university allows students enrolled in the JWU Student Health Insurance Plan, who have been granted a voluntary medical withdrawal, to continue such enrollment for a maximum of one term/semester; however, students must complete an enrollment application, available at campus Health Services and/or Counseling Services, and pay separately the current premium for that term to the university’s insurance agency. International students may be able to continue to remain in the United States in compliance with applicable immigration regulations. Please consult with the International Student Services Office.
A student approved for a voluntary medical withdrawal will be notified in writing, at the time of the student's withdrawal, of any conditions that must be satisfied (in addition to the university’s Readmittance Policy) for the student to return to the university. Such conditions will be determined on an individual basis and in accordance with law.
These conditions may include, but are not limited to, documentation or other evidence satisfactory to university Health Services or Counseling Services staff and the associate dean of Counseling, Health & Wellness or the associate dean's designee, that the student is qualified and ready to resume studies and function safely and successfully as member of the university community, with or without reasonable accommodations. To fulfill such requirements, students are typically required to provide medical documentation from their individual treatment providers. The university relies heavily on the information received from the student’s treatment providers. Students will be asked to provide an authorization form to allow Health Services and Counseling Services and the associate dean of Counseling, Health & Wellness or the associate dean's designee to communicate with such treatment providers, university deans, Accessibility Services/Center for Academic Support and other university personnel, where appropriate, regarding the student's return. The university may also require further information from the student if it determines that the information provided by the student’s treatment provider is not sufficient (e.g., if information provided by the treatment provider is incomplete, requires further explanation or clarification, or when there is a disconnect between the medical information provided by the treatment provider and other information in the student’s files) to make a determination that the student is ready to resume studies and function safely and successfully as member of the university community, with or without reasonable accommodations.
In addition, in unusual circumstances (e.g., where the university is concerned about the provider’s credentials), the associate dean of Counseling, Health & Wellness or the associate dean's designee may request that the student undergo an additional assessment to allow the university to make a determination about the student’s return. In those cases, the university will provide the student with a written explanation for such determination.
Students who are out of school on a voluntary medical withdrawal should submit such documentation to the applicable office (Health Services or Counseling Services) at least two weeks prior to their desired return date to allow the university time to evaluate the documentation. The documentation will be evaluated by a designated professional in the Health Services or Counseling Services office, as appropriate, who will provide a recommendation to the associate dean of Counseling, Health & Wellness or the associate dean's designee. The associate dean of Counseling, Health & Wellness or the associate dean's designee will make the final determination of whether the student has satisfied the conditions of reinstatement and inform the student in writing of such determination.
Students with disabilities may be eligible for reasonable accommodations. Students are responsible for communicating their requests for accommodations to Accessibility Services/Center for Academic Support.
Appeal
Students may appeal a decision regarding voluntary medical withdrawals by submitting a request in writing, by hand delivery or certified mail, to the dean of students or the dean's designee. The request must be submitted within 10 days of the date of the decision and must state clearly the basis for the appeal. The appeal will be reviewed upon receipt, and a decision concerning the appeal will be available within a reasonable time. The decision of the appeal officer will be final.