Cornell students may apply for a Voluntary Leave of Absence (a separation of the student from the university) for Health Reasons (HLOA*). HLOAs are coordinated through Gannett Health Services. An HLOA is recommended when a student’s health condition is judged to significantly impair his or her ability to function successfully or safely as a student.

It is expected that the time a student takes away from the university for the HLOA is used for treatment and recovery. Gannett provides each student with specific expectations for their treatment while they are away on leave. Compliance with the treatment expectations is a primary factor in Gannett’s eventual decision of whether to clear a student to return to Cornell.

In order to both obtain a HLOA and return from one, a student must obtain a health recommendation from Gannett and an administrative approval from the advising office of the student’s school or college, or for graduate students, the dean of the Graduate School.

Potential advantages of a Health Leave over a Personal Leave of Absence

• An HLOA usually qualifies a student for benefits under any tuition reimbursement plan they may have.
• Students who think they may need to take an HLOA during the course of a coming semester may wish to consider purchasing tuition reimbursement insurance before the semester begins.
• For international students, an HLOA may provide a way to remain in the US while maintaining legal status.
• An HLOA sometimes qualifies a student to initiate a leave of absence later in the semester than might normally be permitted for a personal leave.
• The grades a student received during the semester for which the leave was initially granted are usually not calculated in the student’s GPA, and sometimes an HLOA eliminates a semester’s courses completely from the student’s transcript.

How to initiate a Health Leave of Absence

Request an evaluation by a counseling or medical provider for the purpose of pursuing an HLOA.

• If you are already receiving care at Gannett, ask your current CAPS or medical provider, and he or she will work with you to process your request.
• If you are uncertain who your current CAPS or medical provider is, or have questions about the process, email the coordinator of the HLOA committee who will provide a written response within two business days: healthleaves@cornell.edu.

Deadlines for requesting a Health Leave of Absence

• To have an HLOA processed for the current semester, you must have completed an evaluation and all of the necessary paperwork with a Gannett clinician no later than the final Friday of classes of this semester.
  
• Requests for HLOA made after this deadline will only be considered for the following semester.
• Gannett does not make HLOA recommendations retroactively (that is, for a semester prior to the current one).
  
• Gannett does not make HLOA recommendations based solely on evaluations done by non-Gannett clinicians. An evaluation with a Gannett clinician is required.
  

How to return to Cornell from a Health Leave of Absence

Print and follow the directions on the appropriate Student Checklist for Returning from an HLOA processed in Gannett:

• Counseling and Psychological Services (pdf)
• Medical Services (pdf) 

Deadlines for returning from a Health Leave of Absence  

1. You must notify Gannett of your wish to return to Cornell in writing via email: healthleaves@cornell.edu:
   - for proposed fall semester return: no later than June 1
   - for proposed spring semester return: no later than November 1
   
   
2. You must then submit all required documentation to Gannett:
   - for proposed fall semester return: no later than July 1
   - for proposed spring semester return: no later than December 1
   

IF YOU MISS A DEADLINE: Your return from your HLOA will be postponed until a later semester. 

Help from other Cornell offices

If you have questions or concerns related to other aspects of your Cornell experience, please contact the appropriate office:

• International student issues: International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)
• Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): Cornell University Office of Student Health Insurance
• Financial implications: Office of Financial Aid (undergrads only)
  
• On-campus housing: Housing and Dining Contracts Office
• Meal plan: Housing and Dining Contracts Office
  
• Tuition reimbursement insurance: University Bursar Services
• Academic accommodations for a health condition, contact Student Disability Services
• To verify your status as either enrolled or on leave: Office of the University Registrar

Links to HLOA forms and handouts for students

• Request for a Voluntary Leave of Absence for Health Reasons (pdf)
• Authorization for Release of Health Records (pdf)
• Student Checklist for Returning from a HLOA processed in Gannett Counseling and Psychological Services (pdf)
• Student Checklist for Returning from a HLOA processed in Gannett Medical Services (pdf)
• Community Provider Report for Mental Health Concerns (pdf)

* A Health Leave of Absence (HLOA) was previously referred to as a "Medical Leave of Absence" (MLOA).