Leave of Absence for Financial Aid
Approved Leave of Absence Within 180 Days
If you have financial aid loans and are on an approved leave of absence with plans to return within 180 days, follow these procedures:
- Apply for an approved leave of absence for your student loans by filling out the "Financial Aid Leave of Absence Form."
- If the form is approved by the Financial Aid Office, your in-school loan deferment will continue without interruption.
- If your leave starts within a semester and you have taken out student loans, your loans will not be returned to the lender, and you can keep your disbursement.
- You are expected to take incompletes in your classes and make up the classwork within 180 days.
- Once you complete your coursework within 180 days and pass your classes, you will be eligible for a new student loan disbursement for the following consecutive semester.
Approved Leave of Absence Beyond 180 Days
If your approved leave of absence extends beyond 180 days, the following will apply:
- Your loans will enter repayment and separate from the school as soon as your leave begins. You will receive a 6-month grace period to make loan payments on loans taken out from HUC-JIR. Loans from other institutions will also go into repayment, and you will need to arrange a payment plan, forbearance, or hardship deferment with your lender.
- If your leave starts within a semester and you received a federal student loan disbursement, a return of funds calculation will be performed. This calculation compares the number of days you attended classes with the total number of days in the semester. If you leave after completing 60% of your classes, your student loans will not be refunded to the lender. If you have completed less than 60% of your classes, the calculation will determine how much of your loan funds kept by the college to cover tuition will be returned to your lender. You will owe the college for the amount sent back.
- Upon returning from your leave, you will receive an automatic school deferment if you are registered for at least half-time enrollment status.