LEAVE OF ABSENCE

In accordance with applicable financial aid regulations, under certain conditions, such as personal, military service, illness or health, employment, humanitarian or church service, family responsibilities, and financial obligations, students may request an approved Federal Student Aid Leave of Absence (FSA LOA) from the College. Standard College processes an Academic Leave of Absence in the same manner as it does with a Federal Student Aid Leave of Absence, and accordingly, the two are grouped together throughout the catalog as Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence.

An Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence will allow the student’s status to remain as “in school,” making the student eligible for a deferment on student loans during the approved time while not actively registered with the college.

An Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence is a temporary interruption in a student’s program of study. An Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence refers to the specific time period during a program when a student is not in attendance. An Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence, together with any additional leave of absence, must not exceed a total of 180 days in a 12-month period. The 12-month period begins on the first day of the student’s initial Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence. All student requests for an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence must be submitted in writing, be signed, and dated. Standard College will approve the student’s request for an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence in accordance with the college policy and federal regulations for Title IV administration.

Standard College must determine, before it grants an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence, that there is a reasonable expectation that the student will return from the LOA. For Standard College to make this determination, the school must know the reason for requesting the LOA. Students must apply in advance for an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from doing so. For example, if a student were injured in a car accident and needed a few weeks to recover before returning to school, the student would not have been able to request the LOA in advance. In this example, the beginning date of the Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence would be determined by the school to be the date the student was unable to attend school because of the accident.

According to federal law, except in a clock-hour or non-term credit-hour program, a student returning from an FSA approved LOA must resume training at the same point in the academic program that he or she began the LOA. Therefore, the Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence does not apply to the LPN to RN transition Program.

A student granted an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence is not considered to have withdrawn, and no Return of Title IV calculation is required. Upon the student’s return from the leave, the student continues to earn the Title IV aid previously awarded for the period.  If a student does not meet the conditions of the Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence, the student is considered to have ceased attendance and will be considered withdrawn for Financial Aid/Title IV purposes. Standard College is then required, by Federal regulations, to perform a Return of Title IV calculation.

A student who is granted an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence remains in an “in-school” status for Title IV loan repayment purposes. Standard College will not assess any additional institutional charges to a student and will not award any additional Title IV aid while the student is on an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence. A student who is granted an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence remains in an in-school status for Title IV loan repayment purposes. A student, who has exhausted his or her grace period and is unable to begin repayment of a loan, may apply for a deferment or forbearance of payment.

An Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence is not considered a withdrawal unless the student fails to return from the leave of absence.

If a student on an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence fails to return, the student will be considered to have withdrawn, and a return calculation will be performed using the withdrawal date. The withdrawal date is the last date of academic attendance prior to leave of absence. Standard College will report the student’s change in enrollment status to the Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data Service (NSLDS) as of the withdrawal date.

Once a student is withdrawn, he/she no longer is considered “in-school status.” The out-of-school status effective date determines when the grace period begins for loans received and how soon a student must begin repaying loan funds.

Students can initiate a request for an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence from the registrar’s office at Standard College by sending an email to registrar@standardcollege.edu.  The criteria the school will apply in determining whether to approve the application contain the following steps. Students should follow these steps to complete the process:

1. Students in good academic standing, who may need to interrupt their enrollment, due to extenuating circumstances, may receive the Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence application form by contacting the Registrar’s Office at registrar@standardcollege.edu.
2. The student must read and adhere to steps indicated in the application form.
3. The student must state the reason for the request and when they expect to return from the Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence.
4. All requests for an Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence must be submitted in writing, signed, and dated.
5. The student will return the Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence Form to the Office of the Registrar to complete the approval process.
6. The Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence, together with any additional leaves of absence, must not exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period.
7. Except in a clock-hour or non-term credit-hour program, a student returning from a LOA must resume training at the same point in the academic program that he or she began the LOA.
8. The school will explain to the student, prior to granting the LOA, the effects that the student’s failure to return from a LOA may have on the student’s loan repayment terms, including the expiration of the student’s grace period.
9. The school will not assess the student any additional institutional charges, the student’s need may not increase, and therefore, the student is not eligible for any additional Title IV aid.
10. The student will be notified, via email, if the Academic/ FSA Approved Leave of Absence application was approved or denied.

Students don’t have to begin repaying most federal student loans until after they leave college or drop below half-time enrollment. Students do receive a grace period, or a set period of time after they graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, before beginning repayment on the student loan. The grace period gives students time to get financially settled and to select a repayment plan. If a student resumes enrollment on at least a half-time basis before the end of the 6-month grace period or deferment, his/her federal student loan will return to an “in-school” status or deferment, and the student will be eligible for a full 6-month grace period or deferment when the student leaves school or drop below half-time enrollment again.

• Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans have a six-month grace period before payments are due.
• PLUS loans have no grace period. They enter repayment once they are fully disbursed but may be eligible for a deferment. Students should contact the loan servicer for more information.

Circumstances may change a grace period, include the following:

• Active duty military—If you are called to active military duty for more than 30 days before the end of your grace period, you will receive the full six-month grace period when you return from active duty.
• Returning to school before the end of your loan’s grace period—If you reenroll in school at least half-time before the end of your grace period, you will receive the full six-month grace period when you stop attending school or drop below half-time enrollment (other conditions apply).
• Loan consolidation—If you consolidate your loans during your grace period, you will give up the remainder of your grace period and begin repayment after your Direct Consolidation Loan is disbursed (paid out).  Your first bill will be due approximately two months after the Direct Consolidation Loan is disbursed.

What should a student do if he/she is having trouble making the loan payment?

Contact your loan servicer as soon as possible. You may be able to change your repayment plan to one that will allow you to have a longer repayment period or to one that is based on your income. Also ask your loan servicer about your options for a deferment or forbearance or loan consolidation.

What happens if I don’t make my student loan payment? 

If you don’t make your student loan payment or make your payment late, your loan may eventually go into default. If you default on your student loan, the status will be reported to credit bureaus, and your credit rating and future borrowing ability will be harmed. In addition, legal action can be taken to require payment through garnishment of wages and withholding of tax refunds.