Parental Relief Modification

Pregnant students with a documented medical necessity have the option to request academic modifications for up to the equivalent of one quarter. In addition to requesting academic modifications during pregnancy, students may also request academic modifications for up to the equivalent of one quarter to care for a new child. Students in degree-granting graduate programs may also request a one-quarter extension for department, program, and university milestones and requirements due to pregnancy or the demands of parenting a new child, regardless of whether they receive academic modifications or take a parental leave of absence. The details of a particular student's academic modifications will vary and should be arranged in consultation with the Dean of Students' Office and the student's graduate program.

Students requesting parental relief should consult with their department chair and/or Director of Graduate Studies first. Once that occurs, students need to communicate with the Assistant Dean of Students in the Arts & Humanities Dean of Students Office at ahd-dos@uchicago.edu to inform them of their plans. Students then need to complete this written and signed agreement documenting the requested parental relief modifications and/or extensions. After the agreement is signed by all relevant parties, students should submit it to the Dean of Students Office via Parental Relief Request Form.

Please note parental relief modification requests are different than a leave of absence. Pregnant graduate students with a documented medical necessity may choose to take a one-quarter leave of absence while pregnant, and students who become parents during their graduate studies may choose to take another one-quarter leave of absence to care for a new child within twelve months of the birth, adoption, or placement.

Parental relief milestone extensions and academic modifications do not extend a student's eligibility for full-time status beyond the maximum number of years they are permitted to enroll, regardless of when a student matriculated.

Students can read more about parental relief modifications and parental leaves of absence in the University’s Graduate Student Parent Policy.

 

Withdrawal from the University
Arts & Humanities students who wish to voluntarily withdraw from their program should complete a Withdrawal Form. All withdrawals are assumed to be permanent. 

 

 

Additionally, students can be administratively withdrawn from the University via academic progress concerns/lack of good academic standing and/or be administratively withdrawn due to restricted registration holds. Graduate students who are restricted from registering must clear their restrictions by the end of the third week of the quarter or they will be put on an administrative leave of absence in that quarter. At the beginning of the next quarter, if the student has failed to clear all restrictions, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the University by their Dean of Students (unless the student is on a documented non-administrative leave of absence). 
 

 

Individuals wishing to resume studies following a withdrawal must complete the Request for Resumption of Studies form. The Dean of Students and department will review the request, and the student will be notified of the decision. If the student is allowed to return, a reinstatement fee of $250 will be assessed to the student account. Further information is available in the Student Manual. Please note for Master's students -the Division will not consider petitions more than five years beyond matriculation per our divisional policy.