International Students
International students considering a leave of absence (LOA) or withdrawal should consult with the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) in advance of submitting an LOA/withdrawal request to understand how the LOA or withdrawal will affect their F-1 status, including future eligibility for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Global BFA Students
The Global BFA program represents a partnership between Emerson College and Paris College of Art. Our two institutions work closely with one another to facilitate this program, and as such, any changes to enrollment will need to be reflected in both institutions.
Students who are considering taking a leave or withdrawing, or who have made the decision to do so, should contact Emerson’s Office of Student Success at studentsuccess [at] emerson.edu (studentsuccess[at]emerson[dot]edu) or 617-824-8650 (If dialing from outside the U.S., use 001 prefix) to review important information relating to their academic plan, financial responsibilities, and necessary steps to return to the program (if taking a leave).
Students in the Global BFA Program who wish to take a Leave of Absence or Withdraw from the program may initiate the process with Paris College of Art during the semester they are studying in Paris. Students should contact Alana Manga (alana.manga [at] paris.edu (alana[dot]manga[at]paris[dot]edu)) at Paris College of Art to inform them of the decision and complete PCA’s official leave of absence or withdrawal form. After completing the process with Paris College of Art, students should confirm their intentions by completing a Leave or Withdrawal Request form.
Students in the Global BFA Program should initiate the process through Emerson College if they are attending a semester on the Boston campus, ELA, or Kasteel Well. This can be done by completing the online Leave and Withdrawal form.
Speech@Emerson Students
Before filing for a Leave or Withdrawal, students in the Speech@Emerson program should consult the Speech@Emerson LOA Checklist for program-specific guidance and requirements.
Performing Arts BFA Students
Because classes in the Performing Arts BFA program are capped and carefully sequenced, students wishing to take a Leave should contact the Performing Arts Department prior to filing their paperwork. The timing of a return to the Performing Arts BFA program is dependent on course sequencing and space within the program
New First-Time Students
Twice every academic year, on October 15 and March 1, Emerson is required to report the number of students we have enrolled to the Federal government. For the purposes of this report, we need to have an accurate count of all new, first-time students actively participating in course work.
In order to ensure the College is accurately reporting the number of active students, new First-Time students are not able to submit their own Leave or Withdrawal Request before we’ve reported our enrollment figures to the government. To be clear, this does not mean that a New First Time Student has to wait until after these dates to take their leave. They just need to work with us here at the Office of Student Success, and we can create the request on their behalf.
If a student entering Emerson for the first time decides they do not wish to attend their first semester, and classes have not started yet, they would need to contact their respective Admissions Office to discuss a deferral or withdrawal; undergraduates should email admission [at] emerson.edu (admission[at]emerson[dot]edu), and graduate students should email gradadmission [at] emerson.edu (gradadmission[at]emerson[dot]edu).