Goals/Objective:
We propose that the leave of absence policy be revised to clarify its academic intent and
implications that such an interruption will have on a student’s academic progress and financial aid. University of Hawai’i at Hilo and University of Hawai’i at West O‘ahu will be invited to be members of this ad-hoc committee as they will likely adopt similar recommendations at their campuses. The ad-hoc committee will:

• Gather practices from college/schools, including the Graduate Division, regarding how they approve leave of absences and reasons why students take leave.
• Research, review, and recommend revisions to adhere to latest best practices concerning leave of absence (LOA) policies.
• Clarify that the policy is an academic leave of absence policy and that students who take a LOA may not be eligible for financial aid leave under Title IV regulations.
• Addresses the issue of first-time incoming students taking leave before or during their first semester at UH Mānoa by re-inserting language from former LOA policy and connecting the language to the deferred admissions policy.
• Propose implementation procedures that would include workflows to college/school deans’ offices, the Office of the Registrar, Office of Financial Aid Services, Office for the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence, and/or other appropriate offices.

Issue: There is currently a LOA Policy in regard to an academic LOA which is different from a financial aid LOA which requires students to make payments due to not being enrolled in school and other implications. The committee will revisit the policy to look at best practices and address the financial LOA.

Members: 

• June Lee (Chair) – School of Architecture
• Allyson Nuesca Franco – Native Hawaiian Student Services
• Janice Kond – Cashier’s Office
• Jarren Miki – Graduate Division
• Melinda H. Sonoda-Pale – Student Life & Development
• Saveun Nhim – Graduate Student Organization
• Song K. Choi – College of Engineering