Leaves of Absence

Students who wish to take a leave of absence or withdraw from the Conservatory should first consult their faculty advisor and complete withdrawal forms obtained from the Office of the Registrar. A leave of absence may be taken for no more than two semesters. Please refer to the "Withdrawals and Refunds" section below for information about tuition refunds.

Students taking a leave of absence or withdrawing from the Conservatory before the end of the sixth week of class may do so without academic penalty. Exceptions to this policy are only given in extreme cases. Students must petition the Academic Affairs Committee to request such an exception.

Students taking a leave of absence in between semesters must submit paperwork by the last day of the first semester of leave; otherwise, the student may be administratively withdrawn and must reapply for admission.

Medical Leaves

Students can request a medical leave of absence from the Conservatory for medical (physical and/or psychological) reasons. Typically, medical leaves of absence are granted for no more than two semesters, but under extenuating circumstances students may request by petition to the Associate Dean for Student Life and the Academic Affairs Committee to extend the medical leave for up to four semesters.

Students requesting a leave of absence for medical reasons are to provide supporting documentation from a medical practitioner and to discuss their request for a leave of absence with the Associate Dean for Student Life. This documentation should note the issue(s) that affects the student's ability to remain at the Conservatory and recommend possible options for treatment. The Associate Dean for Student Life will work with students on their leave and return process in order to facilitate a smooth transition away from and back to the Conservatory. It is the Conservatory's expectation that students on a medical leave be actively engaged in a course of treatment that leads to recovery from the condition that led to the medical leave. Proof of treatment will be required upon readmission.

Short-Term Leaves

Students requesting short-term leaves of absence for professional engagements or medical emergencies--usually two weeks or less in duration--must fill out a short-term leave of absence form. They must obtain signatures from their teachers and advisor before obtaining permission from the Dean. This form is available in the Office of the Registrar and by downloading the Short-Term Leave Form .

Withdrawals and Refunds

Any student who wishes to withdraw from the Conservatory must file a withdrawal form, available from the Office of the Registrar. All financial calculations and official last date of attendance will be determined according to the date of the signature received by the Office of the Registrar on the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form.

If a student has been enrolled for more than 60 percent of the term (for students who received any federal financial aid, grants or loans) or enrolled more than nine weeks of the term (for students not receiving any federal financial aid), the student is not eligible for a refund of tuition and fees.

Calculations of refunds for those students receiving federal financial aid, grants or loans will be done per federal guidelines and returned first to grantors, in accordance with their requirements. Students can visit the Business Office for a summary of the calculations of the return of Title IV funds in reference to their financial aid. This office can review what will need to be returned due to withdrawal or leave of absence.

For those students not receiving federal financial aid, the amount of tuition retained will be 11 percent per week, according to the refund policy. For those receiving a Conservatory scholarship, the amount of scholarship not used will be returned to the scholarship fund and will not be refunded to the student. No refunds will be made to students who are dismissed from the Conservatory for disciplinary reasons.

Should a student or former student fail to pay a debt owed to the Conservatory, permission to register or receive other services or materials may be withheld until the debt is paid. For example, the Conservatory may withhold permission to receive transcripts of grades from any person owing a debt. If the student leaves the Conservatory owing a debt, the student is responsible for paying that debt as well as all costs of collection and a reasonable attorney’s fee. Any disputes over outstanding debts will be referred to the Business Office. The Business Office (or another office on campus to which the Business Office may refer the student) will review the pertinent information, including information the student may wish to present, and will advise the student of its conclusions with respect to the debt.