During a number of our discussions with students, two concerns were
raised about the University’s policy regarding leaves of absence: first, policies
were not consistent across the four undergraduate schools; and second,
that there is a stigma associated with taking a leave of absence. After
reviewing the policies for leaves of absence in the four undergraduate
schools, we concluded that while the underlying policies are the same, the
way they are described on school websites and in other materials was different.
For example, the material describing the undergraduate leave of absence
policy for the Wharton School stated that it was at least a semester
while the College’s website stated that leaves were generally for an entire
year. In reality, student leaves of absence in both schools are generally for
a full academic year with students exiting and re-entering at the same point
in the academic year. All student leaves from the University are recorded in
University records without specifying a reason. Students’ reasons for taking
a leave vary from launching an entrepreneurial venture to working on a
political campaign to health reasons (their own or those of a relative). Taking
a leave of absence is far more common than most students believe with
5% of the class that graduated in 2013 (125 of 2,521 traditional undergraduates)
and 4.5% of students graduating with a PhD that same year (19 of
426) having taken a leave of at least one semester. Almost all Penn students
who take a leave of absence return and complete their degrees.
During a number of our discussions with students, two concerns wereraised about the University’s policy regarding leaves of absence: first, policieswere not consistent across the four undergraduate schools; and second,that there is a stigma associated with taking a leave of absence. Afterreviewing the policies for leaves of absence in the four undergraduateschools, we concluded that while the underlying policies are the same, theway they are described on school websites and in other materials was different.For example, the material describing the undergraduate leave of absencepolicy for the Wharton School stated that it was at least a semesterwhile the College’s website stated that leaves were generally for an entireyear. In reality, student leaves of absence in both schools are generally fora full academic year with students exiting and re-entering at the same pointin the academic year. All student leaves from the University are recorded inUniversity records without specifying a reason. Students’ reasons for takinga leave vary from launching an entrepreneurial venture to working on apolitical campaign to health reasons (their own or those of a relative). Takinga leave of absence is far more common than most students believe with5% of the class that graduated in 2013 (125 of 2,521 traditional undergraduates)and 4.5% of students graduating with a PhD that same year (19 of426) having taken a leave of at least one semester. Almost all Penn studentswho take a leave of absence return and complete their degrees.
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