Responsible Executive
VP Student Affairs
Review Cycle
Annual. February 2026.
References
Purpose and Scope
Requiring a student to take a leave of absence is rare and only happens when current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence indicates to the President or Designee(s) at Tompkins Cortland Community College that there is a significant risk to the student’s health or safety, or the health or safety of others in the Campus community, or the student’s behavior severely disrupts the College environment, where no reasonable accommodations can adequately reduce that risk or disruption.
Policy Statement
Consistent with Tompkins Cortland’s Nondiscrimination Policy, the College prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of any type of disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable Federal and/or State law in the administration of programs and activities.
The College offers a range of resources, support services, and accommodations to address the physical and mental health needs of students. However, on rare occasions, a student’s needs may require a level of services that exceeds that which the institution can appropriately provide.
Where current knowledge about the individual’s medical condition and/or the best available objective evidence indicates that a student poses a significant risk to their own safety not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations, or the health and safety of others in the Campus community, or where a student’s behavior severely disrupts the College environment and the student does not take a voluntary leave of absence, the President or Designee has the authority to place a student on an involuntary leave of absence, after appropriate procedural due process has occurred according to this policy.
Before placing any student on an involuntary leave of absence, the institution will conduct an individualized assessment, in consultation with the Office of Access and Equity Services, to determine if there are reasonable accommodations that would permit the student to continue to participate in the College environment without taking a leave of absence.
The President or Designee may be notified about a student who may meet the criteria for an involuntary leave of absence from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, the student, the student’s academic advisor, Residential Life staff, an academic department, or a member of the College’s CARE team. If the President or Designee deems it appropriate, the process and procedures under this policy can be initiated.
Resolution
2024-2025-29
History
Initial
Policy Reference Number
SA-06-BOT