Oct. 4, 2013
Dear Advisers and Members of the UC Berkeley Community,
I’m delighted to announce that students wishing to attend a semester- or year-length independent (non-EAP) study-abroad program will now have a new student status: Planned Leave for Study Abroad. After filing for this new status, students will no longer be required to cancel their registration for the term abroad, nor file a petition for readmission. Planned Leave for Study Abroad allows students to maintain status and access to campus systems such as Telebears, campus e-mail addresses, Callisto, and others, while they are studying abroad on independent programs.
Instructions for students participating on semester and year-length programs:
Submit Planned Leave of Absence Form to the Berkeley Study Abroad office in 160 Stephens Hall as soon as possible, but no later than the following deadlines:
- for a Spring Semester absence, submit form by October 15;
- for a Fall Semester absence, submit by April 15
Students do not need to file a Planned Leave of Absence if they will be away for summer only. Once the form is submitted, the student’s CARS account will be billed $70.00 for the Planned Leave of Absence fee (same as the readmission fee).
• A Planned Leave of Absence lets the university know that a student intends to be away for at least a semester, either fall and/ or spring, for any non-UC study abroad.
• Currently registered undergraduate students who plan to participate in a recognized and accredited study abroad program for credit and will maintain a full-time course load during the entire term abroad should file for a Planned Leave of Absence.
• With the Planned Leave of Absence, students do not need to file an Application for Readmission for the term following study abroad.
If a student misses the deadline to submit a Planned Leave of Absence Form, the student will not be eligible for Planned Leave and must instead cancel his/her registration through Tele-BEARS for the term abroad and file an Application for Readmission (http://registrar.berkeley.edu/readmission.html) by the stated deadline.
Please share this announcement with staff. And thank you for advising your students regarding this important change.