Relay will work with students should they require leaves of absence from Relay due to compelling personal circumstances. For the purposes of this policy, compelling personal circumstances are defined as follows:
- Medical conditions;
- Pregnancy;
- Disability, serious illness, or death of students’ family members should completing a term become unreasonably difficult or impossible as a result;
- Unforeseeable circumstances such as a natural disaster, strike, relocation of a spouse, or nonrenewal or closing of a project/program; and
- Military-service obligations
Students are encouraged to discuss and document plans for a leave of absence with their faculty advisor and SFS as soon as possible, as taking a leave of absence can have implications on certification eligibility, program requirements, and financial obligations to Relay. All general leave of absence processes apply to leaves for compelling personal circumstances. See General Leave of Absence for details.
Relay will support students’ leaves of absences because of compelling personal circumstances for as long as necessary based on the documentation required for requesting leave. Relay will work with students during their leaves to minimize, to the extent possible, students falling behind in coursework.
Once students are ready to return to Relay, the Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation will work with students to address how best to make up missed coursework and/or clinical work and get back on track toward program completion. Please see Returning to Relay for more information on the reenrollment process. Upon returning to Relay, the student might be asked to submit a readiness to return form with their reenrollment paperwork signed and stamped by relevant parties stating that the student is able to return to their coursework at Relay.
Students who take a leave of absence for compelling personal circumstances may not be required to pay for repeated coursework if adequate documentation is provided to Relay prior to their leave. Please see Per-Credit Coursework Fee for more information.
If students have concerns about attendance and/or coursework policy as it relates to their leave of absence for compelling personal circumstances, students should contact the Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation at support@relay.edu. For complaints of medical-condition or pregnancy-related discrimination, please see Student Grievance Policy.
The sections below provide details on specific documentation requirements for leaves of absences for compelling personal circumstances.
Medical or Maternity Leave of Absence
Relay permits students with medical conditions and/or pregnant students and students who have given birth within six months to take a leave of absence if deemed “medically necessary” by a doctor. Students who wish to request a temporary medical or maternity leave of absence or who wish to request accommodations must submit medical documentation with their leave of absence application to demonstrate that temporary leaves or accommodations are medically necessary (e.g., doctor’s note on letterhead or proof that their short-term disability claim was approved). Pregnant students are encouraged to connect with their faculty advisor to fill out a Leave Plan to help plan their course involvement and accommodations throughout the term.
Military Service Leave of Absence
Students whose military obligations make it difficult or impossible to complete their coursework are encouraged to take a military-service leave of absence. Students who wish to request a temporary military-service leave of absence must submit official documentation with their leave of absence application to demonstrate that temporary leaves or accommodations are necessary (e.g., copy of military orders). For the purposes of this policy, military service is defined as (a) deployment, (b) mobilization leading to deployment, or (c) attendance at a military school or college. Students who are requesting military-service leaves of absence are encouraged to connect with their faculty advisors to fill out a Leave Plan to help plan their course involvement and accommodations throughout the term.
Additional Compelling Personal Circumstances Leave of Absence
Students facing the following compelling personal circumstances are able to take a temporary leave of absence from Relay:
- Disability, serious illness, or death of students’ family members, should completing a term become unreasonably difficult or impossible as a result; and
- Unforeseeable circumstances such as a natural disaster, strike, relocation of a spouse, or nonrenewal or closing or a project/program.
Students who wish to request a compelling personal circumstances leave of absence must submit official documentation with their leave of absence application to demonstrate that temporary leaves or accommodations are necessary (e.g., copy of death certificate, documentation of damage from natural disaster). Students who are requesting leaves of absence for compelling personal circumstances are encouraged to connect with their faculty advisors to fill out a Leave Plan to help plan their course involvement and accommodations throughout the term.