Readmission Requirements for Medical Leaves

If a student must leave Barry for medical reasons, he or she must take sufficient time away (normally six months to one year) to adequately address the issues that necessitated the leave.  During this absence, the university expects the student to undergo professional health-care treatment as the primary method of resolving the problems.  Failure to seek ongoing treatment of a kind appropriate to the health problems will raise serious doubt as to the student’s readiness to resume student status, and in such cases the university may withhold admission until such time that appropriate treatment has been received.

A student on medical leave, who wishes to return, must initiate a request for readmission by writing a letter to the Dean of Students, or his designee, detailing what has been accomplished during the absence.  The student’s letter and a supporting letter from an appropriate health-care professional are the basis upon which the vice president for Student Services, or his designee, makes the judgment that the health circumstances causing the student to leave have been adequately addressed and that there is a reasonable assurance that the student will be able to resume his/her studies.

The letter from the health-care professional should address at least the following questions:  what were the reasons for the student seeing you, how often did you meet, what gains were made, do you feel the student is able to handle the intellectual, physical and personal demands of being a full-time resident/commuter student, do you feel the student is ready to return to Barry, and are there any special conditions under which the student should be readmitted  The letter should be directed to the Dean of Students. The information gathered is reviewed by the appropriate health-care professionals at Barry and by the Dean of Students or his/her designee.  The decision to readmit a student from a health leave-of-absence is a provisional judgment which may be reversed if a student fails to be a responsible member of the Barry community.  When a student is permitted to return, special conditions or requirements may be outlined at the time, and upon return, the student is expected to meet periodically with the vice president or his/her designee. Similarly, it is advisable for the student, during the first term back, to establish a professional relationship with a member of the health and/or counseling center. Note:  The Dean of Students renders a decision for re-admission to the university, not re-admission to individual schools or divisions (majors).  This is the prerogative of respective deans.  Dialogue regarding re-admission to a particular school or division is the responsibility of the individual students.