Health Absences

There are two types of absences: Short Term Leave and Semester Withdrawal. Read the following and decide which is best for you and your circumstances.

Short Term Leave: If a student will be absent from class for five consecutive days but less than two weeks, due to medical or mental health reasons, the student may request a Short Term Leave. If your diagnosis is mental health-related, a request for a Wellness short term leave should be directed to the Counseling Center. 

Semester Withdrawal: If a student will be absent from class for greater than two weeks, due to medical or mental health reasons, the student may request a semester withdrawal.

Please note short term leaves are not available for half-semester courses. Students taking half-semester courses will need to apply for a semester withdrawal.

Steps To Request a Short Term Leave 

Steps 2  through 5  take place within the Student Health Portal. Questions about the Student Health Portal can be directed to our reception team at studenthealthservices@kean.edu or (908) 737-4880.

1. Print or download the Short Term Leave Provider Form and give it to your healthcare provider to fill out. Requests will not be processed unless the Provider Form is complete.
2. Upload the completed Provider Form in the Document Upload area of the Student Health Portal. 
   • Select Short Term Leave Documents: Student Health Svcs.
3. Send a new message to the Certified Medical Assistant, Medical Records Coordinator or the Professional Services Specialist in the Messages area. Include the following information in the message: 
   • In the Subject write Short Term Leave 
   • Your full name and Kean University ID number.
   • Clearly state you are requesting a Short Term Leave. 
4. Forms will be added to your Student Health Portal; Complete the leave form in the My Forms area.
5. Confirmation that your request has been processed will be sent in the Messages area in the Student Health Portal.

All documents will be reviewed and processed after they have been uploaded and the appropriate form has been completed in the Student Health Portal. Allow three to five business days for a response regarding the determination of a request.

You may check on the status of your request by sending a new message to the Certified Medical Assistant, Medical Records Coordinator or the Professional Services Specialist in the Messages area of the Student Health Portal.

Once a determination is made, the Kean Wellness Center will notify you via email and notify your instructors of the absence. This process should not be a substitute for student communication with his or her instructors. 

A Semester Withdrawal is required if a student will be absent for two (2) weeks or longer. In this case, the student will be withdrawn from all classes for the current semester. The student will receive a "W" grade on their transcript for the semester. The withdrawal or “W” grade is not counted in the cumulative grade point average.

Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their department chairperson or director to discuss any impact to their anticipated timeline toward degree completion prior to submitting this request.  

Requests for a semester withdrawal should be made no later than 4 months after the end of the impacted semester.

Steps To Request a Semester Withdrawal

1. Download the Semester Withdrawal Request Form and the Semester Withdrawal Provider Form. 
   • The student is required to fill out the request form.
   • Your healthcare provider must fill out the provider form completely.
2. Once both forms are completed, upload both forms to your  Student Health Portal.
   • Upload the completed forms in the Document Upload area of the Student Health Portal under Semester Withdrawal Documents.
3. Once both documents have been uploaded you will receive a message in your health portal within 3-5 business days stating the documents have been received. 
4. The Withdrawal Committee will review your request and contact you via email to schedule a meeting prior to a final decision if necessary.

Please note the Withdrawal Committee meets the first Monday of every month. All new requests will be reviewed at that time. 

Financial Impact of Semester Withdrawal 

A semester withdrawal does not automatically guarantee a refund or a deletion of a balance due. Refunds are processed according to the deadline dates on the Academic Calendar provided by the Office of the Registrar. Kean Wellness Center does not process refunds, please reach out to the Office of Student Accounting for any financial questions or concerns. Students who experience a health or wellness issue during the last few weeks of a semester should review the Incomplete Grade policy in the current Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog.