Student health: medical leaves of absence: mental health

Students can step away to address health or mental health needs without being forced to withdraw or lose their path back to eligible courses and programs.

What the law does ​

• Requires public, private, and independent postsecondary institutions to adopt written voluntary medical-leave policies lasting at least up to one academic year, or longer if the institution chooses.
• Allows medically necessary leave extensions, with institutions permitted to require documentation from a physician or medical provider.
• Bars institutions from requiring or issuing an official withdrawal solely because a student takes medical leave.
• Protects eligible returning students’ access to previously available courses and programs and restores students who left in good academic standing to their program in good standing.
• Requires policies to explain leave-notification procedures and be provided during orientation, posted online, and emailed to students and faculty each term.
• Requires campus medical centers, registrar offices, and campus administrators to provide the policy when students seek relevant health, mental-health, or withdrawal information.

Who it affects ​

• Undergraduate and graduate students at University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges, private postsecondary institutions, and independent institutions of higher education.
• College campuses and their medical centers, registrar offices, and campus administrators.

Context ​

The University of California is covered only if the Regents adopt a resolution making these requirements applicable.