Colorado State University
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Policies Related to Student Exit from the Professional Veterinary Medical Program
Effective August 2001(Modified October 2006)
I.
Definitions
A.
Leaves of Absence
Students in the Professional Veterinary Medical (PVM) Program may wish to
leave the Program for personal or medical reasons prior to graduation. Students
in good academic standing who experience significant personal or family
illnesses or emotional crises may qualify for an excused Leave of Absence with
the option of returning within one year to the Program to complete their studies.
Students enrolled in the combined DVM/MS or DVM/PhD Program may qualify
for an excused Leave of Absence for up to two years to conclude their graduate
studies prior to completion of their DVM training.
B.
Modified Curricular Plans
Students who wish to remain enrolled in the Program but who document need for
curricular modification(s), may be granted permission to pursue a modified
curricular plan. Such a plan may allow students to fulfill scholastic requirements
for no more than a single academic year in the PVM Program over a longer
period of time not to exceed two academic years.
C.
Academic Withdrawal
Students who are planning to drop all courses and to leave the PVM Program
unconditionally do not have the option of later returning to resume their studies.
Students who leave the Program without receiving an official approval of the
Leave of Absence from the Dean will receive failing grades in all courses.
II.
Planning Process
A.
All students who intend to leave the PVM program prior to graduation must
attend an interview with the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs.
For students seeking approval for a Leave of Absence (personal or medical leave
or combined DVM/PhD program), this meeting must occur in order to develop a
written “readmission plan” before submitting a written request to the Office of
the Dean.
B.
Students seeking approval of a Leave of Absence must also meet with the
Associate Dean for the PVM Program to discuss possible changes that might
occur in the PVM Program during their absence, and to develop a written
“readmission plan” for completing their studies upon return to the Program.
C.
Students who receive an academic dismissal should refer to the PVM Scholastic
Standards Policy for rights, responsibilities, and procedures.
Modified October 2006
III.
IV.
V.
Documentation
A.
All students who wish to leave the PVM Program prior to graduation or who
request official modification(s) of the curriculum must submit a written request to
the Dean.
B.
Compelling reasons are required to support a request to leave the Program.
Verification may be solicited, for example:
1.
For illness, a letter may be required from the attending physician to
document the nature of the illness.
2.
For emotional crises, a letter may be required by the student or on behalf
of the student from the attending physician, psychologist, or certified
counselor to document the nature of the crisis.
C.
Students seeking approval for a Leave of Absence or official modification(s) of
the curriculum must at the same time submit a written plan documenting their
proposed plan for re-entering or fulfilling the scholastic requirements of the
Program.
D.
Students who have been dismissed from the Program for unsatisfactory academic
performance should refer to the PVM Scholastic Standards Policy for rights,
responsibilities, and procedures.
Approval for Leaves of Absence or Modified Curricular Plans
A.
Approval issued by the Dean for Leaves of Absence or modified curricular plans
is conditioned upon successful completion of the written “readmission plan”
developed in conjunction with the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student
Affairs and/or Associate Dean for the PVM Program. The Dean’s response will
be made within two weeks of receiving the student’s written request.
B.
The student must submit a written request to the Dean for official readmission or
reinstatement in the PVM Program within two weeks of completion of the
“readmission plan.” This letter should declare successful completion of the plan
and be accompanied by written documentation of satisfactory course completion.
Successful completion of the above requirements may be expected to culminate
in a letter of readmission issued by the Dean, which may include additional
conditions for continued good academic standing in the PVM Program.
University Requirements for Leaves of Absence and Academic Withdrawal
Students are advised to refer to the CSU General Catalog and appropriate web sites for
information pertaining to the Offices of the Registrar, Student Enrollment Services, and
Student Financial Services. Specific University requirements must also be met so that
course grades and financial assistance are not affected irreversibly.
Modified October 2006