Temporary Medical Leaves

Temporary medical leaves are appropriate for health-related situations in which a student needs to take time away from classes to manage a short-term need such as injury rehabilitation, symptoms improved by rest, or for planned procedures associated with relatively short recovery times. Temporary medical leaves may be used when a student is advised by healthcare providers to alter or adapt their participation or attendance in classes (e.g. intermittent attendance or reduced class participation).

Temporary medical leaves do not prohibit a student from attending classes or completing work, and students are responsible for making a plan with faculty to complete all required work that was missed during a leave. In situations where there are significant health and safety concerns, a student may not be approved to reside on campus during a temporary medical leave.

Temporary medical leaves are not appropriate in situations where intensive levels of care are indicated including inpatient, intensive outpatient, or residential settings, nor are they appropriate to manage common illnesses like colds, influenza, etc. unless symptoms are exceptionally severe and persistent. Temporary medical leaves are also not appropriate for situations where health needs are undefined, a plan is not communicated, or where there are no planned connections with campus or community-based healthcare professionals. They also cannot be used to take care of others on campus or at home, or for bereavement. 

A temporary leave beyond ten (10) days will only be granted in extraordinary circumstances at the discretion of the Center for Health and Wellness, ordinarily in consultation with the Dean of Students or their designee. Students taking a temporary medical leave are still responsible for the course content and assignments they missed.

Temporary medical leaves do not change a student’s enrollment status at the College. They are extended, excused absences for the purpose of tending to a new or existing health situation.  

Request a Temporary Medical Leave

To request a temporary medical leave of absence, students can:

1. Complete the Temporary Medical Leave Request Form in their student health portal under the Forms tab on the homepage. The form collects information about the health need(s), the kinds of treatment and/or assistance a student is seeking during their leave, whether they are requesting to be on campus, and when they plan to begin and end their leave. Once complete, the form will be reviewed by a staff member who will reach out to schedule a time to meet to discuss needs and goals. 
2. Email (chw@middlebury.edu) to request a meeting or call to share your needs and goals and complete the form together. 
3. Students who already have a relationship with a nurse practitioner, athletic trainer, or counselor are welcome to make their request by alerting their provider(s).

Approval Process

Center for Health and Wellness staff will perform an individualized assessment to ensure that the temporary medical leave length will meet the student’s health and/or recovery goals. Students should expect to receive an email when their temporary medical leave is approved that includes the anticipated start date, end date, location, an outline of the Medical Return Process (including deadlines), and resources accessible during their leave. We include the Center for Student Success, Dean of Students, and Residential Life on this notice so they know to communicate with your faculty about your excused absences and whether you will be on campus. Leave approval emails do not include details about your personal health or the reason for the leave.

In situations where a longer leave may be indicated and a temporary medical leave is not approved, Center for Health and Wellness staff will review those options with the student, make recommendations, and refer the student to the Center for Student Success to begin longer term leave planning. 

Winter Term Leaves

Note that during Winter Term, due to the condensed nature of the 4-week classes, temporary medical leaves are limited to two to three class days (2-3) and require careful planning and communication between students and faculty. Students who need to miss more than a couple days of classes (equivalent to two weeks in a typical term) should consider opting out of Winter Term via the Center for Student Success. 

Summer Program and Language School Leaves

Students enrolled in summer programs including Language Schools and the Bread Loaf School of English are not eligible for Temporary Medical Leaves and should contact program staff with absence-related requests or needs. 

Return Process 

For Temporary Medical Leaves, the Temporary Medical Leave Medical Return Form (or other access to records requested by the Center for Health and Wellness) must be completed by all treating healthcare providers and returned to the Center for Health and Wellness on day seven (7) of the ten (10) day leave or on a date determined to be appropriate for a student’s specific situation that is listed in their approval email. In some cases, students may be able to work with Center for Health and Wellness staff to grant them access to their off-campus electronic health records in advance or make an individualized plan for assessing their readiness to return in lieu, or in addition, to the Medical Return Form. 

Students who meet with Center for Health and Wellness staff in advance of their Temporary Medical Leave can partner with a campus clinician to try to expedite releases of information, initiate direct contact from the Center to students’ external providers, and grant access to external records through national health record databases. In some cases, this partnership and early communication can replace the need for completing forms. We find that when the Medical Return Process is collaborative, we are able to maximize students’ options to demonstrate readiness to return and minimize administrative burdens on students and their healthcare providers.

Students who are concerned about their ability to have required form(s) completed must contact the Center for Health and Wellness at chw@middlebury.edu before or at the start of their Temporary Medical Leave to begin exploring alternative or supplemental options. Satisfactory and timely responses to any follow-up requests for information from students and/or outside providers from Center for Health and Wellness staff must also be received as part of the Medical Return Process. 

Students who are not approved to return from temporary medical leaves due to unresolved health and/or safety concerns will be referred to the Dean of Students with a recommendation to take a leave of absence for the remainder of the current semester. Taking a leave of absence does affect student status, and Center for Health and Wellness staff may need to communicate with students’ emergency contacts.