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Academic Policy Manual Part II (3rd and 4th Years)
Leaves of Absence

A student admitted to the Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University Chicago is expected to graduate in four academic years. The four academic periods will be consecutive except in the following circumstances: a student is granted an approved leave of absence due to documented health problems or personal tragedy or to pursue approved educational and research experiences outside of the standard four consecutive year medical school curriculum or to prepare for a retake of Part I of the NMBE or Step I of the USMLE. All requests for a leave of absence must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and normally must be approved in advance of the proposed starting date. Normally, a student can have no outstanding F or U grades on his/her transcript prior to the start of the leave. Requests for leaves of absence for other purposes and exceptions to this policy will be considered by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs on a case-by-case basis and will be reviewed by the Committee on Promotions. Leaves of absence will normally be one calendar year in length unless noted otherwise below.

The Academic Policy Manual and graduation requirements in effect for the student's new class will apply to the reinstated student for the balance of his or her academic training at Stritch.

A. Health Related

A request for leave of absence for reasons of physical or mental illness must be submitted by the student in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs together with a letter from a physician which:

• stipulates the existence of a medical condition of such nature that a leave of absence is recommended, and
• specifies that an appropriate course of therapy will be instituted, identifies the supervising physician and indicates that if requested by the school, a progress report authorized by the student will be submitted prior to reinstatement.

Depending on the circumstances, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs may require additional supporting documentation.

Leaves of absence for health related reasons may be approved for periods up to a maximum of one year. Medical Council reserves the right to extend a leave of absence in unusual circumstances upon written request of the student.

The student must submit in writing a formal petition to resume medical training at least four months in advance of the anticipated date of resumption of training. In all cases of approved leave of absence for health related reasons, the student will not be permitted to return to classes unless the physician also has certified in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs that the student is capable of resuming a full course load in the Medical School.

B. Academic

A written request for a leave of absence for periods up to one year may be approved for the following activities:

1. study for an advanced degree in scientific areas related to medicine (e.g. the Dual Degree Program);
2. research activities related to medicine, but not necessarily directed toward an advanced degree;
3. a course of study in specialized areas not available at the Stritch School of Medicine, and not necessarily directed toward an advanced degree;
4. a structured period of study to prepare for a repeat of USMLE 1.

Approval will be given only if the value of the proposed program is considered unique and sufficient to outweigh the disadvantages of interruption of the regular medical curriculum. Decisions for this kind of leave will be made by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs upon receipt of a written proposal submitted by the student. The decision in these cases will also be influenced by logistical constraints associated with translocation of students from one class to the succeeding one.

Students who have been accepted into the M.D./Ph.D. Dual Degree program may request in writing successive one-year leaves of absence. Upon the recommendation of the Dual Degree Advisory Committee, successive one-year leaves of absence will be granted by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in order that the student may complete required graduate school courses and requirements.

The Dual Degree Program Advisory Committee will notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs if a student is not progressing satisfactorily toward completion of the graduate degree. In this case, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs will determine whether the leave of absence granted by the Stritch School of Medicine should be continued or revoked. If the leave is revoked, the student will be expected to either resume medical training toward the M.D. degree or voluntarily withdraw from the Stritch School of Medicine.

C. Other Absences

Prolonged absences beyond the amount normally allowed for discretionary time and regularly scheduled holidays and vacations for reasons other than those stated in sections A and B above will usually not be approved. Specifically, requests to pursue a non-medically related program or unstructured activity, to work, to prepare for the first time taking of Part I or Part II of the NMBE or USMLE exams, self-study, time to consider alternative career options, travel for residency interviews or other activities not related to the completion of the requirements for the M.D. degree will not be approved.

Written requests for leaves of absence for reasons not covered in the Academic Policy Manual will be considered on a case by case basis by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and will be reviewed by the Committee on Promotions.

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine admits students without regard to their race, color, age, sex, religion or national or ethnic origin to all the rights and privileges, programs, and other activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Loyola University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Qualified persons are not subject to discrimination on the basis of handicap or disability.

Material in this manual has been prepared to inform enrolled students of the policies which govern their academic program in the Stritch School of Medicine. The president and officers of Loyola University Chicago reserve the right to change requirements for promotion and graduation announced in the manual, and to change the arrangement, scheduling, credit, or content of courses, the books used, tuition, fees charged and regulations affecting students, and reserve the right to dismiss any student at any time, and to refuse to readmit, should it be deemed to be required in the interest of the student or of the university to do so. Information regarding changes is available at the appropriate office of the Stritch School of Medicine.

Preparation coordinated by the Stritch Office Student Affairs.