Medical Leave

If a student is unable to complete their coursework due to medical reasons, the student may petition for a medical leave of absence by submitting a written petition via completion of the undergraduate student leave form. International students should consult with the International Student Programs Office regarding visa implications prior to submitting the medical leave petition.

To request a leave, a student can take the following steps:

1. Submit the leave form.
2. The student should then meet with either:
   1. The Medical Director of Health Services or designee (for leaves related to medical conditions), or
   2. The Director of Counseling Services or designee (for leaves related to emotional, psychological, or psychiatric conditions).
      
      This meeting is to help the student make plans for their treatment during their leave, to discuss the need for any conditions placed on the leave, and to answer any questions the student has about the leave process. After this meeting, the student should give written consent for the Director to communicate their recommendation to the Deans' office by filling out the release of information and records consent form available on the Student Wellness website.
3. The Dean or designee may then authorize the medical leave.
   
   The duration of a medical leave should be determined primarily by the student's improvement in treatment. In general, however, medical leaves are expected to include at least one full term.
   
   The Institute may impose conditions on return from a medical leave, which may include confirmation from the student's health care provider that the student is following the recommended course of treatment, the student's consent for the provider to discuss the student's condition or progress during the leave with Caltech officials, including representatives of Wellness Services and the Deans' Office, and an independent evaluation of the student's readiness to return by a qualified medical professional. Any conditions of return will be specified at the time of the leave approval.

Student Wellness Services (step 2)

To complete your petition to take leave, you will need the recommendation of either the Clinical Director of Counseling Services (for leaves related to mental health) or the Medical Director of Health Services (for leaves primarily related to physical health). Please complete all the steps below in order after connecting with the Undergraduate Deans' Office.

Step 1: Release of Information and Records Consent Form

Complete the Release of Information and Records Consent Form for Student Wellness Services to coordinate with the Deans' Office. Please send us a secure message with the attachment via the Student Health Portal.

Step 2: Schedule an Appointment

Contact us at (626) 395-8331 and request an appointment with either the Clinical Director of Counseling Services (for leaves related to mental health) or the Medical Director of Health Services (for leaves primarily related to physical health). Same-day appointments are unavailable and appointment slots are limited, so please plan ahead and send the completed form promptly.

It is the expectation that a student on medical leave will focus on receiving treatment to manage the condition(s) that precipitated the leave.

This requires the following steps:

1. Submitting a completed Return from Medical Leave form to the Deans.
2. Signing a release of information form authorizing any treatment providers to communicate with Caltech, including representatives of Health and Counseling Services and the Dean's Office in order to determine the student's readiness to return and recommendations for reasonable accommodations. This form is available on the Student Wellness Services website.
3. Submitting a provider recommendation form to either the Medical Director of Student Health Services or the Clinical Director of Student Counseling Services, or their designee. The student's healthcare provider should fill out this brief form to summarize their work together; to outline any progress the student has made in treatment; and to state any recommendations for returning to the Institute. This form is available on the Student Wellness Services website.
4. After Student Wellness Services has received the provider recommendation form, the student should schedule a meeting with either the Medical Director of Health Services or designee (for leaves related to medical conditions), or the Clinical Director of Counseling Services or designee (for leaves related to emotional, psychological, or psychiatric conditions). In this meeting, the student and the Director will discuss their healthcare provider's recommendations, and will discuss the need for any continued treatment. The student should sign a release of information form allowing the Director to communicate a summary of this meeting to the Dean. This form is available on the Student Wellness Services website.
5. Final approval of the petition is the responsibility of the Dean or designee.

A student returning from a leave for medical reasons will maintain the same academic standing that they had previously-i.e., if on academic probation, the student will remain on probation upon return from leave.

Student Wellness Services (step 2)

To complete your petition to return from leave, you will need the recommendation of the Clinical Director of Counseling Services (for leaves related to mental health) or the Medical Director of Health Services (for leaves primarily related to physical health). Please complete all the steps below in order, 6 weeks prior to your return.

Step 1: Release of Information and Records Consent Form

If you don't have an active Release of Information and Records Consent Form for (1) the deans' office or (2) each provider you were under the care of, please send us a secure message with the attachments via the Student Health Portal.

Step 2: Provider Report Form

Request that each of your providers mails or faxes the completed Provider Report Form to our office. Our mailing address and fax number are provided at the top of the form. These forms should be dated around 6 weeks prior to your start date.

Step 3: Schedule an Appointment

After all forms have been submitted to our office, contact us at (626) 395-8331. Request an appointment with the Clinical Director of Counseling Services (for leaves related to mental health) or the Medical Director of Health Services (for leaves primarily related to physical health). Same-day appointments are unavailable and appointment slots are limited, so please plan ahead and send completed forms promptly.