Leave of Absence and Withdrawal

Voluntary Leaves of Absence and Withdrawal for Cornell Engineering Undergraduate and M.Eng. Students

Cornell Engineering undergraduate and M.Eng. students may wish to voluntarily suspend their studies temporarily or permanently. They can request either a Voluntary Personal Leave of Absence (Non-Health), a Health Leave of Absence, or a Voluntary Withdrawal. There also exists non-voluntary required leave of absences and withdrawals, but information about those are not covered on this webpage.

Duration of Voluntary Leaves of Absence

Voluntary Personal (Non-Health) Leaves are granted for no less than one full semester and no greater than two years. For example, if a student requests an in-semester leave during a fall semester, they must also be on leave for the following full spring semester. In extenuating circumstances, students may petition to return sooner than the minimum one full semester voluntary leave of absence timeframe or extend their leave of absence past the two-year timeframe.

The duration of a Voluntary Health Leave will depend upon the time a student needs for treatment and/or recovery (to be determined by the Health Leaves Coordinator) and will be for no greater than two years. We invite students to review our What to Do While Away on Leave of Absence page.

Please Note: Students will be required to submit an official request to rejoin when attempting to return from any type of leave of absence.

Voluntary Leave of Absence Expiration Schedule

Students who do not return to active status after their voluntary leave of absence by the two-year expiration term will be automatically withdrawn as an active student from Cornell Engineering, and therefore Cornell University, as per the schedule below.

Request to Leave Timing and Effective Dates

• If students wish to take either a Voluntary Personal (Non-Health) Leave of Absence or a Health Leave of Absence during a current term to be effective in that same term (an in-semester leave), they must officially request the leave via our online request form by the last day of the term (see Cornell Engineering’s Dates and Deadlines). The leave will be effective on the date the request is submitted via our online request form.
• If students wish to take either a Voluntary Personal (Non-Health) Leave of Absence or a Health Leave of Absence for a future term prior to the term start, they must officially request the leave via our online request form before the first day of the next term. The effective date will be the day after the end of the last term attended.

Course Grading for In-Semester Leaves

• If students take an in-semester leave prior to the term start or by the Cornell University drop deadline (57th day of a full semester), their courses for the upcoming or current term will be expunged, except if a course’s official end date has already passed. In that case, the grade already given will stand. See Cornell Engineering’s Dates and Deadlines.
• If students take an in-semester leave after the Cornell University drop deadline (57th day of a full semester) and by the last day of the term, courses are dropped with W grades on the transcript for enrolled classes, except if a course’s official end date has already passed. In that case, the grade already given will stand. See Cornell Engineering’s Dates and Deadlines. W grades do not impact a student’s GPA, but may negatively impact a student’s financial aid packaging, international visa status, and/or athletics eligibility.

Voluntary Withdrawal (Permanently Suspend Studies)

Request to Withdraw Timing and Effective Dates

• If students wish to voluntarily withdraw during a current term to be effective in that same term (an in-semester withdrawal), they must officially request the withdrawal via our online request form by the last day of the term (see Cornell Engineering’s Dates and Deadlines). The withdrawal will be effective on the date the request is submitted via our online request form.
• If students wish to voluntarily withdraw for a future term prior to the term start, they must officially request the withdrawal via our online request form before the first day of the next term.  The effective date will be the day after the end of the last term attended.
• A student on a Voluntary Personal (Non-Health) Leave of Absence, or a Voluntary Health Leave of Absence, or a Required (Non-Voluntary) Leave of Absence can choose to instead request a Voluntary Withdrawal.

Course Grading for In-Semester Withdrawals

• If students withdraw prior to the term start or by the Cornell University drop deadline (57th day of a full semester), their courses for the upcoming or current term will be expunged, except if a course’s official end date has already passed. In that case, the grade already given will stand. See Cornell Engineering’s Dates and Deadlines.
• If students withdraw after the Cornell University drop deadline (57th day of a full semester) and by the last day of the term, courses are dropped with W grades on the transcript for enrolled classes, except if a course’s official end date has already passed. In that case, the grade already given will stand.

Official Voluntary Leave of Absence or Withdrawal Request Form

This form is for Engineering B.S. and M.Eng. students only. M.S. and Ph.D. students should contact the Graduate School Registrar’s Office for guidance on leaves and withdrawals.

Once you formally submit this request, it will be dated and time stamped. You will immediately receive an email sent to your official Cornell email address verifying your submission was successful and the date submitted. This date will determine your official last day of attendance for tuition and grading purposes if the leave of absence or withdrawal is during an active term. If the leave of absence or withdrawal is for a future term that has not yet started, your effective date will always be the day after the last date of the term you last attended.

We highly encourage you to speak with the Engineering Advising Office (for unaffiliated B.S. students) or your department Program Coordinator (for affiliated B.S. and M.Eng. students) about your leave of absence or withdrawal plans, prior to submitting this request form.

If you agree with these policies and terms and wish to submit your Voluntary Personal (Non-Health) Leave of Absence, or your Health Leave of Absence, or a Voluntary Withdrawal request, click the link below to access the official request form.