{"id":524,"date":"2024-06-22T21:12:46","date_gmt":"2024-06-22T21:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/?page_id=524"},"modified":"2025-05-05T02:57:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T02:57:57","slug":"leave-of-absence-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/leave-of-absence-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Leave of Absence Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--hero-primary horizontal-navigation\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--hero-primary\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper has-horizontal-nav\">\n\n          <div class=\"title-wrapper\">\n\n        \n                      \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title has-stripe\">\n\n    \n      <h1>Leave of Absence Policy<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        \n              <\/div>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--link eyebrow-link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n\n<a\n  class=\"link \"\n  href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/professionalism-reporting\/\"\n    >\n        Professionalism Reporting\n    <\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n    \n      \n              <div class=\"horizontal-nav\">\n                      <div class=\"horizontal-menu-container\">\n              <button class=\"expand-menu\">\n                                  In This Section\n                                <svg class=\"menu\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\"\n                  y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" xml:space=\"preserve\">\n                  <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" d=\"M4,23h3v3H4V23z M4,16h3v3H4V16z M10,23\n                  h21v3H10V23z M10,16h21v3H10V16z M10,9h21v3H10V9z M4,9h3v3H4V9z\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n\n                <svg class=\"close\" 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menu-item-1776\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/syllabi\/\" >Syllabi<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-76\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/academic-information\/degree-requirements\/\" >Degree Requirements<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-169\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-program\/dual-degrees\/\" >Dual Degrees<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2158\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/medical-student-research\/\" target=\"_blank\">Medical Student Research<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-695\">\n      <a 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menu-item-object-custom menu-item-832\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck2.usc.edu\/faculty-affairs\/\" >Faculty Policies<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-833\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/handbook-and-policies\/md-student-policies\/\" >MD Student Policies<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-836\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/access-to-student-records-elentra-medoasis\/\" >Access to Student Records, Med-LE, MedOasis<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-137\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/contact-us\/\" >Contact Us<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <\/ul><!-- m--menu -->\n<\/nav>\n\n            <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text white\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h3><span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong>Policy Statement:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A leave of absence is defined as a period of non-enrollment during which a student is either in a state of remediation of degree requirement(s) or not working on requirements toward completion of the MD degree. A leave of absence from the Keck School of Medicine is approved by either the Student Performance Committee (SPC) or the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee), depending upon the classification of the leave. Permission for a leave of absence is not guaranteed unless the leave is required by law. The maximum cumulative leave permitted is two years (except for MD\/PhD students when fulfilling the requirements of their PhD). Exceptions to the maximum time allowed for a leave is rare and must be approved by the SPC. Failure to return from an approved leave of absence is grounds for administrative withdrawal from the Keck School of Medicine. Students on a leave of absence from the MD curriculum are not permitted to hold any student leadership\/officer positions either in the medical school or that represent the medical school. This includes, but is not limited to, ASSM, class councils, Graduate Student Government, AAMC Organization of Student Representatives, and student interest groups.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Types of Leaves of Absence:<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>There are two types of leaves of absence: voluntary and involuntary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Voluntary Leaves of Absence<\/strong><strong>:<br \/>\n<\/strong>A student may request a leave of absence for any of the following reasons:<\/p>\n<p><strong>HEALTH LEAVE:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>When there is a medical reason for the student to leave the curriculum. Health leaves may also be determined by\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/policy.usc.edu\/student-health-leave-of-absence\/\">university policy<\/a>\u00a0See below for additional information about the USC Health Leave policy and process.\u00a0\u00a0<em>Students on a health leave must obtain permission from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee) if they seek to participate in academic and\/or co-curricular activities, including but not limited to, studying for USMLE or other exams, shadowing, and research.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>DUAL DEGREE LEAVE:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>To pursue a joint degree at USC or Caltech* (MD\/MBA, MD\/MPH, *MD\/PhD, MD\/MHA and MD\/BME).\u00a0<em>It is against policy for students to be enrolled in a non-joint degree program without prior approval from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee). Failure to provide appropriate notification will result in the student being considered for dismissal from the Keck School of Medicine<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>RESEARCH LEAVE:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>To pursue a Dean\u2019s Research Scholar year or external research opportunity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>OTHER\/PERSONAL LEAVE:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>For time away, that is not described by the other types of leaves listed above including auxiliary degrees.\u00a0<em>Students may not be employed without obtaining prior approval from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Eligibility for Dual Degree or Research Leave:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To be eligible for a leave of absence for dual degree programs or research , students must meet the following requirements prior to the leave: Be in good academic and professional standing per the<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/good-standing-satisfactory-academic-progress\/\">\u00a0Good Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/good-standing-satisfactory-academic-progress\/\">MD Program Code of Professional Behavior<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Complete and pass all assigned courses by the end of the established curricular phase including completion of all core clerkships.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Students who repeat an academic year and\/ or have a history of either probation or at-risk status may not be permitted to apply for a dual degree program or leave of absence for research, including the dean\u2019s research scholar program.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Have taken and passed the Step 2 CK exam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong>Process for Requesting a Voluntary Leave of Absence:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Students who are considering a leave of absence must:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Submit a Request for Leave of Absence form for consideration by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.<\/li>\n<li>Meet with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for consideration of the request for a leave of absence. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee) will determine if the Leave of Absence is approved or if the request must be reviewed by the Student Performance Committee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol>\n<li>Requests to extend a leave must be submitted in writing to the Office of Student Affairs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Requests for extensions are reviewed by the Student Performance Committee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Involuntary Leaves of Absence:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A student may be placed on an involuntary leave of absence when required by Keck School of Medicine and\/or University policies. Involuntary leaves of absence may include:<\/p>\n<p><strong>ACADEMIC REMEDIATION LEAVE:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>When a student requires time away from the curriculum to remediate curricular content and\/or a USMLE exam. Academic Remediation leaves are dictated by the following policies:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/good-standing-satisfactory-academic-progress\/\">Good Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/technical-standards-policy\/\">Technical Standards<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/academic-probation-policy\/\">Academic Probation<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/medstudent.usc.edu\/home\/faculty-staff-information\/keck-school-of-medicine-md-student-promotion-policy\/\">Promotion<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/medweb.usc.edu\/policies\/repeat_of_the_year.html\">,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/usmle-exam-policy\/\">USMLE Exam Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE<\/strong>:\u00a0 A school-mandated leave to address academic, professionalism, or technical standard deficiencies. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee) or the Student Performance Committee may place a student on an administrative leave. Administrative Leaves are dictated by the following policies:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/md-program-code-of-professional-behavior\/\">MD Program Code of Professional Behavior<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/technical-standards-policy\/\">Technical Standards<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/diversity.usc.edu\/usc-principles-of-community\/\">USC Principles of Community<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/policy.usc.edu\/ethics\/\">Code of Ethics of the University of Southern California<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/policy.usc.edu\/studenthandbook\/\">USC Student Handbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MANDATED HEALTH LEAVE:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/policy.usc.edu\/student-health-leave-of-absence\/\">Mandated Health Leave of Absence (MHLA)<\/a>\u00a0is designed to assist students under the following conditions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The student presents a substantial risk of harm to self or others or has engaged in threatening or violent activities.<\/li>\n<li>The student significantly disrupts activities of the university or university community, and that disruption is deemed to be related to a health condition; or<\/li>\n<li>The student is unable or unwilling to carry out substantial self-care obligations or to participate meaningfully in educational activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong>Process for Involuntary Leave of Absence:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Students placed on a mandated health leave, academic remediation leave, or administrative leave will be notified in writing by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or designee), the Student Performance Committee, and\/or the University (including the USC Health Leave Coordinator). See process for\u00a0<em>USC Health Leave of Absence\u00a0<\/em>for additional information.<\/li>\n<li>Mandated Health Leaves will be determined by the Office of Campus Support and Intervention and the KSOM Technical Standards Committee (TSC).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>The Student Health Leave Coordinator (SHLC) will manage needs (as they relate to being a student) while the student is on a mandated health leave.<\/li>\n<li>When the student requests evaluation for return, the SHLC, in consultation with the Associate Dean (or their designee), will assess the need for a referral to the KSOM TSC. If it is determined that no referral to the TSC is necessary, the Associate Dean (or their designee) will notify all relevant parties of the student\u2019s planned return.<\/li>\n<li>If it is determined that a referral to the TSC is warranted, all relevant and appropriate information will be made available to that committee.<\/li>\n<li>The TSC may determine that the student appears to meet Technical Standards, that no further information is needed and approve the return.<\/li>\n<li>The TSC may determine that there is sufficient evidence that the student does not meet Technical Standards and deny the request to return. If a request to return is denied, a re-evaluation for return may be initiated by the student at intervals deemed appropriate by the TSC.<\/li>\n<li>The TSC may determine that there is insufficient information to make a decision and request a Fitness for Duty assessment. The TSC, upon review of this evaluation and any other pertinent information, will determine if the request to return will be granted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">3. Requests to extend a leave must be submitted in writing to the Office of Student Affairs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Requests for extensions are reviewed by the Student Performance Committee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Returning from a Leave of Absence:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ol>\n<li>Students returning from a\u00a0<strong><em>voluntary leave\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>of absence must submit a\u00a0<strong>Request to Return from a Leave of Absence<\/strong>\u00a0form to the Office of Student Affairs by the deadline indicated. If the request is not received by the deadline stipulated in the original letter granting the leave, an administrative withdrawal may be processed. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee) will determine if the return is approved and will notify the KSOM Registrar.<\/li>\n<li>Students returning from an\u00a0<strong><em>involuntary leave\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>must have approval by the appropriate office and must have satisfied all conditions required of them during the leave of absence.<\/li>\n<li>Return after leave requires that the student meets requirements for progression to the level to which they are returning.<\/li>\n<li>All returning students are held accountable to the current policies of the Keck School of Medicine.<\/li>\n<li>Students are responsible for meeting all deadlines which may occur during the period of leave, e.g., scheduling deadlines, USMLE exam dates, or NRMP deadline dates.<\/li>\n<li>Students must certify that they are capable of meeting the standards set by the Technical Standards in order to return.<\/li>\n<li>Students returning from a leave of absence greater than or equal to 10 months are required to complete clinical refresher sessions and may be assigned additional activities prior to beginning or resuming required clerkships.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Reviewed and Approved: April 16, 2025<\/p>\n<p>Medical Education Curriculum Committee (MECC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n          \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--accordions \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--accordions\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  \n      <ul>\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-1-yLuvqexePG\" aria-controls=\"section-1-1-yLuvqexePG\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Voluntary Leaves of Absence and Process<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-1-yLuvqexePG\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-1-yLuvqexePG\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><strong>Voluntary Leave<br \/>\n<\/strong>A student may request a leave of absence for any of the following reasons:<\/p>\n<p><strong>HEALTH LEAVE:\u00a0 <\/strong>When there is a medical reason for the student to leave the curriculum. Health leaves may also be determined by\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/policy.usc.edu\/student-health-leave-of-absence\/\">university policy<\/a>\u00a0See below for additional information about the USC Health Leave policy and process.\u00a0\u00a0<em><em>Students on a health leave must obtain permission from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee) if they seek to participate in academic and\/or co-curricular activities, including but not limited to, studying for USMLE or other exams, shadowing, and research.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>DUAL DEGREE LEAVE:\u00a0 <\/strong>To pursue a joint degree at USC or Caltech* (MD\/MBA, MD\/MPH, *MD\/PhD).\u00a0<em><em>It is against policy for students to be enrolled in a non-joint degree program without prior approval from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee). Failure to provide appropriate notification will result in the student being considered for dismissal from the Keck School of Medicine.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>RESEARCH LEAVE:\u00a0 <\/strong>To pursue a Dean\u2019s Research year or external research opportunity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>OTHER\/PERSONAL LEAVE:\u00a0 <\/strong>For time away, that is not described by the other types of leaves listed above including auxiliary degrees.\u00a0<em>Students may not be employed without obtaining prior approval from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee).<\/em><\/p>\n<p>To be eligible for a leave of absence for dual degree programs or Dean\u2019s Research Scholars program, students must meet the following requirements prior to the leave:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good academic and professional standing per the<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/good-standing-satisfactory-academic-progress\/\"> Good Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/good-standing-satisfactory-academic-progress\/\">MD Program Code of Professional Behavior<\/a><\/li>\n<li>All core clerkships completed, and<\/li>\n<li>Have taken the Step 2 CK exam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Final approval is determined by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (or their designee).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Process for Requesting a Voluntary Leave of Absence<br \/>\n<\/strong>Students who are considering a leave of absence must:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Submit a Request for Leave of Absence form for consideration by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.<\/li>\n<li>Meet with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for consideration of the request for a leave of absence. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee) will determine if the Leave of Absence is approved or if the request must be reviewed by the Student Performance Committee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-2-yLuvqexePG\" aria-controls=\"section-1-2-yLuvqexePG\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Involuntary Leaves of Absence and Process<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-2-yLuvqexePG\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-2-yLuvqexePG\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>A student may be placed on an involuntary leave of absence when required by Keck School of Medicine and\/or University policies. Involuntary leaves of absence may include:<\/p>\n<p><strong>ACADEMIC REMEDIATION LEAVE:\u00a0 <\/strong>When a student requires time away from the curriculum to remediate curricular content and\/or a USMLE exam. Academic Remediation leaves are dictated by the following policies:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/good-standing-satisfactory-academic-progress\/\">Good Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/technical-standards-policy\/\">Technical Standards<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/academic-probation-policy\/\">Academic Probation<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/medstudent.usc.edu\/home\/faculty-staff-information\/keck-school-of-medicine-md-student-promotion-policy\/\">Promotion<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/medweb.usc.edu\/policies\/repeat_of_the_year.html\">,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/usmle-exam-policy\/\">USMLE Exam Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE<\/strong>:\u00a0 A school-mandated leave to address academic, professionalism, or technical standard deficiencies. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee) or the Student Performance Committee may place a student on an administrative leave. Administrative Leaves are dictated by the following policies: <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/md-program-code-of-professional-behavior\/\">MD Program Code of Professional Behavior<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/md-student-portal\/technical-standards-policy\/\">Technical Standards<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/diversity.usc.edu\/usc-principles-of-community\/\">USC Principles of Community<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/policy.usc.edu\/ethics\/\">Code of Ethics of the University of Southern California<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/policy.usc.edu\/studenthandbook\/\">USC Student Handbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MANDATED HEALTH LEAVE:\u00a0 <\/strong>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/policy.usc.edu\/student-health-leave-of-absence\/\">Mandated Health Leave of Absence (MHLA)<\/a>is designed to assist students under the following conditions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The student presents a substantial risk of harm to self or others or has engaged in threatening or violent activities;<\/li>\n<li>The student significantly disrupts activities of the university or university community, and that disruption is deemed to be related to a health condition; or<\/li>\n<li>The student is unable or unwilling to carry out substantial self-care obligations or to participate meaningfully in educational activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Process for Involuntary Leaves<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Students placed on an involuntary leave for a mandated health leave, academic remediation leave, or administrative leave will be notified in writing by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or designee), the Student Performance Committee, and\/or the University (including the USC Health Leave Coordinator). See process for\u00a0<em>USC Health Leave of Absence <\/em>for additional information.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-3-yLuvqexePG\" aria-controls=\"section-1-3-yLuvqexePG\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">USC Health Leave of Absence (Voluntary or Mandated) Process<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-3-yLuvqexePG\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-3-yLuvqexePG\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <ol>\n<li>Students (or their authorized representative) requesting a health leave through the USC Voluntary Health Leave of Absence must first notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (verbally or in writing). The Associate Dean (or their designee) will notify the KSOM Registrar as well as the Student Health Leave Coordinator in the Office of Campus Support and Intervention at UPC.<\/li>\n<li>Mandated Health Leaves will be determined by the Office of Campus Support and Intervention and the KSOM Technical Standards Committee (TSC).<\/li>\n<li>The Student Health Leave Coordinator (SHLC) will manage needs (as they relate to being a student) while the student is on leave. When the student requests evaluation for return, the SHLC, in consultation with the Associate Dean (or their designee), will assess the need for a referral to the KSOM TSC. If it is determined that no referral to the TSC is necessary, the Associate Dean (or their designee) will notify all relevant parties of the student\u2019s planned return.<\/li>\n<li>If it is determined that a referral to the TSC is warranted, all relevant and appropriate information will be made available to that committee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>The TSC may determine that the student appears to meet Technical Standards, that no further information is needed and approve the return.<\/li>\n<li>The TSC may determine that there is sufficient evidence that the student does not meet Technical Standards and deny the request to return. If a request to return is denied, a re-evaluation for return may be initiated by the student at intervals deemed appropriate by the TSC.<\/li>\n<li>The TSC may determine that there is insufficient information to make a decision and request a Fitness for Duty assessment. The TSC, upon review of this evaluation and any other pertinent information, will determine if the request to return will be granted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-4-yLuvqexePG\" aria-controls=\"section-1-4-yLuvqexePG\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Requests for Extensions of Leave of Absence<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-4-yLuvqexePG\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-4-yLuvqexePG\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <ol>\n<li>Requests to extend a leave must be submitted in writing to the Office of Student Affairs.<\/li>\n<li>Requests for extensions are reviewed annually by the Student Performance Committee.<\/li>\n<li>Requests for extensions beyond two years of voluntary leave must be approved by the Student Performance Committee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-5-yLuvqexePG\" aria-controls=\"section-1-5-yLuvqexePG\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Requirements for Returning from a Leave of Absence<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-5-yLuvqexePG\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-5-yLuvqexePG\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <ol>\n<li>Students returning from a\u00a0<strong><em>voluntary leave <\/em><\/strong>of absence must submit a\u00a0<strong>Request to Return from a Leave of Absence<\/strong>\u00a0form to the Office of Student Affairs by the deadline indicated. If the request is not received by the deadline stipulated in the original letter granting the leave, an administrative withdrawal may be processed. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or their designee) will determine if the return is approved and will notify the KSOM Registrar.<\/li>\n<li>Students returning from an\u00a0<strong><em>involuntary leave <\/em><\/strong>must have approval by the appropriate office and must have satisfied all conditions required of them during the leave of absence.<\/li>\n<li>Return after leave requires that the student has met all requirements for progression to the level to which they are returning. All returning students are held accountable to the current policies current Keck School of Medicine.<\/li>\n<li>Students are responsible for meeting all deadlines which may occur during the period of leave, e.g., scheduling deadlines, USMLE exam dates, or NRMP deadline dates.<\/li>\n<li>Students must certify that they are capable of meeting the standards set by the Essential Technical Standards in order to return.<\/li>\n<li>Students returning from a leave of absence greater than or equal to three years may be required to complete additional activities prior to beginning required clerkships.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n          <\/ul>\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text white\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Reviewed and Approved: June 21, 2023<\/p>\n<p>Medical Education Executive Council<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":268,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-524","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.6) - 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