If you’re enrolled in Relay’s AmeriCorps program, taking a leave of absence will impact your membership status. Students may be temporarily suspended from the AmeriCorps program if they plan to return to Relay that same academic year. However, students must be early exited entirely from the AmeriCorps program if they will not return that same academic year. If supporting documentation is provided and a compelling personal circumstances leave is approved, students will be able to earn a portion of their Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (if eligible) upon early exit. Students should mention their AmeriCorps membership when connecting with their advisor and reach out to support@relay.edu with any AmeriCorps-specific questions.
Procedure
To initiate a request for a leave of absence, students should first talk with their advisor to determine if a leave is the right next step for them. The advisor will work with the student to determine how and when to take the leave of absence. Students must discuss the implications of a leave of absence with their school leaders, applicable partner programs (such as Teach For America or New York City Teaching Fellows), and Student Financial Services. There may be significant professional, academic, financial, and when appropriate, certification/licensure-related consequences to suspending enrollment in a Relay program. For details, see Financial Obligations upon Changes to Enrollment.
Once students have confirmed that a leave of absence is the right decision, they must formally submit a leave of absence application to Relay. The effective date will be either the date the student submitted the leave of absence application or the end of the term, depending on what the student indicates on their application. Relay will notify students via email upon approval of their leaves of absence and inform the students of leave and reenrollment procedures. Student Financial Services will follow up with students about how to pay any outstanding Relay tuition and fees, including any tuition balances from pending unearned awards that must be immediately paid back due to the leave and prior to reenrollment. Please see Billing Due Dates and Refunds for more information. Students who return from leaves of absence may also have to pay for coursework they are required to repeat.