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Georgetown University is interested in supporting the success of its students and the safety and welfare of the community. Accordingly, the deans’ offices have looked to the Counseling and Psychiatric Service (CAPS) to make recommendations for medical leaves of absence (MLOA’s) when a student is unable to function in school for mental health reasons and also in those rare situations when the safety of an individual or the community is adversely affected due to a student's mental health issues. In addition, the deans’ offices look to CAPS to advise them as to when a student on an MLOA is functioning well enough to return.
Georgetown students may request a recommendation for an MLOA from CAPS if they experience significant difficulties in functioning that impact their academic performance or safety. It is expected that the time a student takes away from the university for the MLOA will be used for treatment and recovery. CAPS provides each student with specific expectations for treatment while the student is away on leave. Compliance with treatment expectations is a significant factor in the eventual decision as to whether to make a recommendation for a return.
In order to obtain an MLOA and to return from an MLOA, a student must obtain a recommendation from CAPS and an administrative approval from the relevant dean’s office.
In terms of deadlines for requesting an MLOA, a student must have completed an evaluation with a CAPS staff member and all of the necessary paperwork no later than the final day of classes in a semester in order for an MLOA to be processed for that semester. Requests for MLOA’s made after this deadline will only be considered for the following semester. CAPS does not recommend MLOA’s retroactively, nor are recommendations based solely on evaluations done by non-CAPS providers.
Materials required for a return from MLOA:
- Release of Information:
- Please see our instructions on how to properly fill it out.
- This is used to allow CAPS to share information with your local community treatment providers (e.g. your therapist and/or your psychiatrist) and your Dean.
- Different forms may be required to allow your treatment providers to share information with CAPS (ask them, since form type depends on what state you are in).
- Community Provider Report Form
- To be filled out by your treating clinicians and returned to CAPS.
- Letters of reference need to be written on an employer's letterhead stationery, and must be signed, dated, and list the dates of service, hours per week, attendance record, and the nature and quality of the work. In cases where courses taken elsewhere during the course of the leave have been approved by the dean, please submit an official transcript.
- Submit a brief statement (no more than two pages) describing (1) your experience away from Georgetown including the activities you have undertaken while away, (2) your current understanding of the factors that led to your needing to take a leave, (3) the insights you have gained from your treatment, and (4) how you plan to implement these insights and what you plan to do differently in order to ensure a successful return to Georgetown University.
- Materials can be mailed or faxed to CAPS (contact info). If faxed, please also mail the original to our office.
- Student Checklist for Returning from an MLOA
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