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2025-2026 College Catalog

Applying for Leave or Withdrawal

To apply for a leave of absence or to withdrawal from the college, students should visit the Records Office in Room 211 of the Irvine Administration Building. If unable to visit the Records Office, students may email records@marietta.edu to begin the process.

Students residing in a residence hall must move out within 48 hours of withdrawing unless permission to remain longer is granted by the Office of Community Living.

Personal, Health, Military Leave

Leave of Absence or Withdrawal Policy

Each leave is for one semester, renewable for a second semester. With the exception of Military Leave, no leave may extend for more than two consecutive semesters, although there is no limit to the total number of semesters that a student may accumulate.

I. Types of Leaves

  1. Personal Leave: intended for students who wish to take time away from Marietta College to pursue primarily non-academic activities. Students on personal leave may work, participate in an internship, or simply take time off to think about their goals. This leave is intended for students who plan to return to campus within one semester, although the leave may be extended for a second semester.
  2. Health Leave: intended for students who need to take time away from Marietta College for health reasons.
  3. Military Leave: intended for enrolled service members called to active duty (for deployment, training, etc.). Service members will be eligible to resume studies upon completion of their term of service. If deployed after the add/drop period for a given semester has ended, the college will work with the student and their professors to arrange for grades of incomplete, where possible. In cases where an incomplete grade is not possible, a non-punitive grade of “W” will be recorded.

II. Types of Withdrawals

  1. Withdrawal: intended for students who do not plan to return to Marietta College.
  2. Transferring: for students who plan to seek a degree from another institution.
  3. Involuntary Administrative Withdrawal: may be initiated by the Dean of Students for students who are suspended or dismissed due to Student Code of Conduct violations or who pose a direct threat to themself; or may be initiated by the Provost for students who fail to demonstrate a serious academic effort.

III. Policy regarding grades in the event of a leave of absence or withdrawal

  1. A grade of “W” will be recorded for each course for which a student was registered if the student withdraws from the College starting the first day of the semester but before the end of the ninth week of the semester or, for military leave, through the end of the term for courses where an incomplete is not possible (see above).
  2. “WF” will be entered if the student is administratively withdrawn for social misconduct or for failure to demonstrate a serious academic effort.
  3. A grade of “WF” will be recorded for each course for which a student was registered if the student withdraws from the College after Monday of the tenth week of a semester. Under certain circumstances, such as family catastrophe or substantiated health problems, grades of “W” may be recorded after the tenth week at the discretion of the Registrar.
  4. FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE ONLY: An Incomplete (I) may be given when the student has completed a percentage of the course but, for reasons beyond their control, has to take a leave of absence. See Grading System for rules regarding the grades of incomplete.

The usual rules for transferring credit to Marietta College for classes taken elsewhere while on leave will apply to any academic work done by the student while on academic leave, personal leave, medical leave, or while withdrawn from Marietta College.

All academic suspensions and dismissals take precedence over a leave of absence or withdrawal. If a student is already on probation or is placed on probation while on leave, the conditions of probation are continued to the semester in which the student returns to the College.

Returning After a Leave of Absence

To return after a leave of absence, students should contact the Records Office at records@marietta.edu when they are ready to resume enrollment, ideally no later than 30 days prior to the first day of classes. The Records Office will confirm with the following offices that the student is eligible to return and any relevant restrictions: Student Life, Financial Aid Office, and Student Accounts. Additionally, if returning from a Health Leave, the J. Michael Harding Center for Health and Wellness must receive a letter from the student's professional therapist, physician, or both stating the student's health situation and the belief that the student is able to return to Marietta College.