Any student requesting a leave of absence must submit a written and signed request stating the reasons that justify the leave, and the date requested for the LOA at the Registrar’s office. The request must be submitted in advance, unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from doing so. The Associate Dean of Student Affairs and the Counselor will interview the student for a complete evaluation of the request, and to submit a written report to the Dean of Academic Affairs, the corresponding Associate Dean, and the President/Dean.
In order to consider a leave of absence, certain requirements must be met. The student (a) shall complete all courses of the previous academic semester and/or current clerkships, (b) shall fulfill all financial and administrative obligations with the School, including returning all borrowed library resources, (c) shall complete his/her academic records, and (d) shall not have been subjected to academic dismissal.
The student must return on the date that the leave of absence expires and resume his/her academic program at the point where the LOA began. During a LOA, no additional charges will be made to the student, nor will additional Title IV assistance be granted. Students must complete the coursework enrolled when the leave was granted to be eligible to receive a subsequent disbursement. If the student does not return on the expiration date to continue studies, he/she will be administratively dismissed.
A student that is absent without authorization and who has not complied with the aforementioned requirements will be administratively dismissed from the School.
Any student in Biomedical Sciences who is absent more than 15% of lectures, laboratory sessions or other mandatory didactic activities will be dismissed from the course and will receive an “F” grade. During clinical clerkships, students may not be absent more than 10% of the clerkship period.
A student convicted of a felony or moral depravity will be immediately dismissed from the School. This decision is not subject to appeal.
Students who do not complete the registration process on the due date, do not file a request for a leave of absence, and/or do not return after leave of absence, will receive an administrative dismissal. Should the student wish to resume his/her academic program will be required to request readmission.
San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (SJB) welcomes applications from prior students. Students interested in returning to the SJB medical curriculum will be permitted to pre-register for the semester for which they are readmitted, provided that their withdrawal was due to a medical or other approved leave of absence. A student who is dismissed for academic reasons or because of professional disqualification is not eligible to apply for readmission. The SJB will not consider readmission of any candidate who has been admitted on two (2) previous occasions.
SJBSM reserves the right to impose additional conditions and refuse consideration if the relevant time limit for completing the corresponding program is not met.
Procedures for requesting readmission (other than academic dismissal)
- Students whose period of withdrawal is greater than two (2) years must reapply as a first-year student through the Admissions Office.
- All students must graduate within the maximum chronological time established by six years after initial matriculation.
Required steps and documents for readmission
- Write a letter to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs by March 1st of the year in which the student wishes to register. Click here to expand the required contents for the letter
- Request for readmission.
- State the reasons for student's previous academic withdraw and difficulties.
- Outline in detail all professional and academic activities conducted since leaving medical school, in particular those that might contribute to successfully returning to the medical school.
- Discuss the resolution of any personal problems that may, in the past, have affected medical school performance.
- Describe how medical school would be managed, if readmitted, including study habits, learning methods, and examination preparation applications.
- Complete Readmission Application Form
- Submit a copy of an official academic transcript if the coursework was completed during the time away from medical school.
- A money order or certified check for $100.00, payable to the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine. This amount is non-refundable.
Evaluation Process
The letter requesting readmission, as well as any supporting documents submitted will be presented to the Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee and to the Admission Committee. The latter Committees have the option of requesting that the student be called and complete a personal interview.
- The Student Evaluation and Promotions Committee will review each written request considering the students’ entire records, including any additional supporting documents submitted. Based on the information provided, the Committee may recommend readmission without conditions, readmission with certain conditions, denial of readmission until further proof of readiness can be established, or denial of readmission.
- Acceptance for readmission will depend on the availability of space.
- Applications for readmission will be kept on file and will be considered in the order received, as positions become available.
All students returning from a Withdrawal must re-test to their ability to meet the Technical Standards with or without reasonable accommodation.
Readmission Decision
The Chair of the Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee will notify the students in writing of the Committee’s decision.
If granted readmission, the student will be required to adhere to any changes in policy and/or curriculum that occurred during their absence.
Students approved for readmission will be re-enrolled in any courses that were graded “W” or “F” at the time of withdrawal. Failed courses will be repeated in their entirety. Both grades will remain on the transcript along with any subsequent grades. The Student Evaluation and Promotions Committee will determine how much of the coursework needs to be repeated to meet the program's requirements. The decision will be made based on recommendations from the corresponding Deans and institutional policies.
