The following information is for undergraduate students at Durham or Manchester who are seeking a Health Leave of Absence. Students may qualify for a Health Leave of Absence if they are taking a leave of absence for medical or psychological reasons. Undergraduate Durham or Manchester students leaving for reasons other than health or who do not wish to take a Health Leave of Absence can find more information on the general leave of absence process here.
Graduate students at Durham or Manchester seeking a leave of absence should contact Dovev Levine, Graduate School, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, by email (Dovev.Levine@unh.edu) or by phone (603) 862-2234.
Law School students seeking a leave of absence should contact Brad Hinton, Assistant Registrar, by email (Brad.Hinton@law.unh.edu) or by phone (603) 513-5119.
CPS Online students seeking a leave of absence should contact Nicole Horne, Senior Director of Advising and Student Engagement, by email (Nicole.Horne@unh.edu) or by phone (603) 415-1801.
Process and Policy
During the fall and spring semesters, when classes are in session, students can request for a Health Leave of Absence by contacting Michael Blackman, Dean of Students, by email (Dean.Students@unh.edu) or by phone (603) 862-2053. The Health Leave of Absence process may afford students some additional consideration regarding their grades and/or tuition. However, to qualify for a health leave, students must have documentation from a licensed treatment provider justifying the need to take a leave for health reasons.
If you receive any financial aid, the effective date of your leave of absence may affect your present and/or future financial aid. Please check with Student Accounts by calling (603) 862-2230.
Request Form
Please print and complete the Request Form, and send it to Dr. Blackman via scan/email (Dean.Students@unh.edu) or fax (603) 862-3550, attn.: Michael Blackman. Please note that UNH policy states that students are prohibited from returning until one full semester has elapsed after the semester when a student takes a health leave of absence.
Leave of Absence Supporting Letter
You will also need to request a letter from your treatment provider (physician, therapist, etc.).
Leave of Absence Sample Letter
This letter must:
- be typed on office letterhead stationery or sent from a verified provider office email address;
- indicate the diagnosis and/or specific nature of the health condition and the current status of that diagnosis/condition;
- verify and support the condition as the reason for the leave of absence from UNH.
The letter should be sent to Dean Blackman via scan/email (Dean.Students@unh.edu) or fax (603) 862-3550, attn.: Michael Blackman.
Housing and Residential Life
If you live on campus, you must also complete the housing cancellation process and will need to check out of your residence hall/apartment. Students who are approved for a health leave are offered a partial refund calculated based on the date that they fully move out of housing.
Dining
If you have a meal plan, contact Dining regarding any potential refund.
Insurance and Student Health Benefit Plans
You are responsible for determining how your leave of absence may affect your health insurance coverage. If you have the UNH Student Health Benefits Plan (SHBP), please contact Gregory Turcotte (Gregory.Turcotte@unh.edu) with any questions.
Key Dates and Deadlines
It is important to monitor key academic dates and deadlines when submitting paperwork. Generally, the earlier a student takes a leave, the better their refund and transcript outcomes will be. Please visit the UNH Master Calendar to learn more about key dates, including the first and last day of classes*, course withdrawal deadlines, and more.
To request a Health Leave of Absence after classes end, students must contact their college’s Associate Dean.
* - Students have until the semester's last day of classes to submit paperwork for a Health Leave of Absence.
Returning to UNH from a Health Leave of Absence
Students who wish to return from a Health Leave of Absence must complete a Request Form and send it to Dr. Blackman via scan/email (Dean.Students@unh.edu) or fax (603) 862-3550 attn.: Michael Blackman, along with a Support Letter (see below).
Please note that UNH policy states that students are prohibited from returning until one full semester has elapsed following a Health Leave of Absence. Students may inquire about the possibility of returning early by contacting the Dean of Students. Exceptions may be considered particularly in the case of a student taking the leave early in the semester.
Return from Leave of Absence Support Letter
You must obtain a letter from your healthcare provider who has treated you since your departure. The healthcare provider's information will be reviewed by the Dean of Students.
This letter must:
- be typed on office letterhead stationery or sent from a verified provide office email address;
- describe the extent of your treatment and the provider's assessment of your readiness to resume studies;
- include a description of the current status of your condition;
- describe any special needs you may require upon your arrival on campus.
return from leave of absence samplE LETTER
The letter should be sent to Dr. Blackman via scan/email (Dean.Students@unh.edu) or fax (603) 862-3550 attn.: Michael Blackman.
Housing and Residential Life
If you will require on-campus housing upon your intended return to UNH, contact Housing & Residential Life. If your condition will require any physical modifications to your room/bathroom, you must notify Housing & Residential Life, as well as Student Accessibility Services, at least 12 weeks prior to your intended arrival.
Key Dates and Deadlines
Those wishing to return from a Health Leave of Absence have until the first day of classes to submit their return from Health Leave of Absence request form and letter of support, but we encourage students to send us their paperwork as early as possible. Classes may become unavailable as the semester approaches. Please visit the UNH Master Calendar to learn more about key dates, including the first day of classes, registration dates, and more.
