Medical Withdrawal
Lenoir-Rhyne University understands that medical circumstances may prevent students from completing the semester or require an extended absence from the institution. The Medical Withdrawal process is designed to support students whose medical condition significantly impairs their academic performance, allowing them to withdraw from the semester.
Please note that the university does not offer temporary emergency leaves of absence. Students who must leave campus for documented medical reasons may request a medical withdrawal by following the process outlined below. For students seeking a standard withdrawal from courses or from the university, please refer to the Academic Catalog and the Registrar’s website for detailed instructions.
Considerations Prior to Requests
Before submitting a Medical Withdrawal Request, the following considerations should be reviewed and understood.
Financial Aid
Students are typically expected to complete a certain percentage of the classes they attempt in order to maintain their financial aid status. Students should consult with Financial Aid to determine the likely impact of a medical withdrawal on their ability to remain eligible for aid.
Student Accounts
Students should consult with the Student Accounts to ensure that they do not have an outstanding balance. Students will be responsible for any outstanding balance before returning to the university.
Athletics
Students who are athletes should consult with the assistant athletic director for compliance to determine the impact on their eligibility if they take a medical withdrawal.
Housing
Students who complete a full withdrawal due to an emergency are not eligible to remain in campus housing, including university apartments and university-leased housing. Students must complete the Residence Life check-out process before a medical withdrawal will be processed. Card access is deactivated upon withdrawal. The university cannot hold housing assignments for students who are withdrawn due to an emergency. Adjustments to fees will be made according to the schedule listed in the Academic Catalog.
Refunds
Refunds are pro-rated for tuition; room and board are based on effective date of withdrawal. The date of withdrawal is considered the date the Registrar’s Office is notified once the student has completed the medical withdrawal form, valid documentation is submitted by the treatment provider and the student has completed the Residence Life check-out process (if living in university housing). A refund may take 30 days to process, depending upon student loans/scholarships. Questions regarding refunds should be directed to Student Accounts.
How to Request a Medical Withdrawal
Application Deadline
Requests for medical withdrawal, including all supporting documentation, must be received by the last day of classes (before the start of finals).
Requesting Medical Withdrawal
Students seeking a medical withdrawal should contact the Dean of Students Office by emailing studentlife@lr.edu. Upon request, the office will provide the necessary paperwork, including forms for the student to complete, a treatment provider form to be filled out by their healthcare provider, and detailed information regarding the process for returning to campus in the future.
Request Process & Review
Once Medical Withdrawal Request forms are submitted, the student will receive confirmation from the Office of the Dean of Students that their request is under review by the Medical Withdrawal Committee.
The Medical Withdrawal Committee will review the application and documentation to determine if it meets grounds for the requested medical withdrawal. Staff will contact the student if additional documentation or information is needed.
If approved, the Dean of Students Office will notify the student of approval and also notify the Registrar. The Registrar will process the request and determine the effective date for refund purposes. The Office of the Registrar will then send official notice of withdrawal to campus departments (this may take 2-3 business days).
If not approved, staff in the Dean of Students Office will notify the student of the reason for denial. There is no appeal process for denied requests.
Returning from a Medical Withdrawal
A student must connect with the Dean of Students Office and BEAR Central first; medical/mental health provider must submit “Treatment Provider Report Form: For Students Applying to Return from a Medical Withdrawal” before return decision can be made. To request these forms, student must email studentlife@lr.edu.
Deadlines for Students Applying to Return from a Medical Withdrawal
• Fall: July 1
• Spring: November 1
• Summer: April 1
Questions about returning from a medical withdrawal should be directed to the Dean of Students Office by emailing studentlife@lr.edu.