AU Leaves of Absence

Urban Teachers and American University have separate leaves of absence policies and procedures. A student requesting an Extended Leave of Absence from Urban Teachers must also request leave from AU, and vice versa, and leave must be approved by both institutions. Students requesting a brief Temporary Pause from the Urban Teachers clinical training program must remain actively enrolled in the Urban Teachers MAT program for the duration of their Urban Teachers-approved Temporary Pause. In such cases, students must connect directly with their instructors to discuss coursework attendance, assignment modifications, or extensions.

Students enrolled in the Urban Teachers MAT should contact their Graduate Program Coordinator to request leave, and all requests must be approved by the Associate Dean. Based on whether or not it seems desirable to guarantee automatic readmission, the Associate Dean of the academic unit will issue a permit for leave. This permit will specify the duration of the leave, not to exceed 2 semesters. Students must request the leave no later than within the first two weeks in the semester in which the temporary leave will begin. All Incomplete course grades must be resolved before leave will be granted, unless permission is granted by the Program Liaison.

Graduate students who take leave during a semester for which they are enrolled must apply with the Office of the Registrar to change their status. They must withdraw from classes for which they are registered. Graduate student financial aid may be affected by any leave from the University. Students should consult with their Graduate Program Coordinator or the University Office of Financial Aid for help in determining the effects of the proposed leave on their graduate career. Students who fail to register and who have not requested and received approval for leave may be administratively separated from the University at the add/drop date of the academic term for which they failed to register. Likewise, students who do not return to the University at the end of the temporary leave will be automatically separated.