P. Academic Leave & Exceptions

Academic Leave

Students, in good standing, are permitted to take a leave of absence from the Program by submitting a letter of intent to the advisor and DGS. The advisor and DGS, with input from the Division Chair, will then review the letter, determine approval, and notify the student. If needed, all faculty members will be consulted. All students who take a leave of absence will be subject to any new HSRP Program requirements that have been developed during the time of the leave. Leaves of absence are granted for up to one year. The student will need to resubmit the general application and residency form for the term they wish to re-matriculate into the Program.⁸ All faculty will review and decide upon readmittance. No other portions of the application will be required to be resubmitted.

Academic Exception Petition

Academic exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis and should not be considered a precedent. Deviations from normal progress are highly discouraged, but the program recognizes that there are extenuating academic and personal circumstances. Petitions for exceptions to the Satisfactory Progress guidelines laid out by the SAS Division shall be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and the Chair of the SAS Division. The DGS and Chair will review the petition in consultation with the student’s advisor. They may grant extensions to normal progress requirements for students who face circumstances as noted in university regulations, including significant responsibilities with respect to elder or dependent care obligations, disability or chronic illness, or circumstances beyond one’s personal control. Where warranted, the petition should provide good evidence of plans and ability to return to conformance with the Satisfactory Progress and to acceptably complete the program.

In the event of a leave or exception request, the following procedures apply to all petitions:

1. The specific requirement/rule/expectation pertinent to the petition must be identified.
2. Detailed information regarding the reason for the exception must be provided in writing.
3. The student’s academic advisor must provide written support for the petition.
4. Necessary accompanying documentation will be required at the discretion of the advisor, DGS, and Chair.

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⁸ In the case of an international student, they and the advisor have a responsibility to consult with UW–Madison’s office of International Student Services and fully understand the Visa implications.