We look forward to welcoming you back to campus, when you are ready to return and after you have been permitted to return. This website describes the Return ("readmission") process, which most students successfully complete. 

The return process is a supportive process designed to assess your readiness to re-enroll at Swarthmore following a leave of absence and to help ensure that you have good plans in place should you re-enroll. 

The readmission process is not the Admissions process and it is not competitive. The overwhelming majority of students who seek return successfully complete the readmission process. 

STEP 1: Required Leave/Return Form

If you wish to return to Swarthmore following a leave of absence, then you must complete the required Leave/Return e-form to request return. The e-form is available in the student e-forms section of mySwarthmore. In general, we recommend requesting return well before the deadline. 

• Deadline for completing e-form for Fall semester return: July 1. If possible, we recommend requesting return before April 1, given that Fall course registration and housing selection typically occur in April.
• Deadline for completing e-form for Spring semester return: November 15. 

If you need disability accommodations related to completing the return request e-form, you can contact Student Disability Services to explore the disability accommodations process. 

Meeting deadlines is a key expectation of the Return process.

The e-form asks you to describe:

• What you have done while away (for example: tend to health, job experience)
• What led to any difficulties during previous semesters and what you have done to address those difficulties
• What steps you will take to help ensure your success when you return
• Your progress in meeting any conditions of return that were provided to you when you went on a leave of absence. For example, some students on a required academic leave are required to successfully complete courses at another college or university in order to be eligible for return.

Within 5 business days of submitting your Leave/Return Form, you should receive an email that tells you whether or not your return has been approved. After reviewing your Leave/Return Form, Dean Liz Derickson may also email you to advise you on other necessary steps related to your return. If you were advised upon leaving Swarthmore that there were other requirements related to your return, then please also address those in your e-form return request.

You are not permitted to return until you have received formal email notification that you are permitted to return. If you do not receive a follow-up email message in response to your submitted Leave/Return Form within 5 business days, then please contact Dean Derickson via email.

Communication is important. You must regularly read and respond to your Swarthmore email account. If you cannot access the Leave/Return Form, then contact Dean Derickson via email. If you cannot access email, then contact Dean Derickson by phone: call 610-328-8475 and leave a message. 

For an overview of the return process, read the website content below.

Subsequent steps

Class year

If you need to change your class year, email the Registrar's Office (registrar@swarthmore.edu) to make that request. If you are considering completing your degree requirements in a Fall semester, review the December Finisher process website. The college only graduates students in May of each year, and there is not a December graduation.

Course Registration

If your return request is approved, then you should consult with your academic advisor(s) and select courses once advising and registration are underway. See the Registrar's website on Pre-Registration from Away.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

If applicable, you should contact Student Disability Services to request academic, housing, or other disability accommodations.

Financial Aid

If applicable, you should contact the Financial Aid Office.

Health Re-entry

If applicable and advised to do so: contact Counseling and Psychological Services (caps@swarthmore.edu, 610-328-8059) and/or the Director of Student Health and Wellness Services (Casey Anderson, 610-328-8058) to provide documentation. Related consultations are done by phone or Zoom.

Housing

After your return request has been approved, you should contact residential life staff to request housing or to share your intent to live in non-college housing.

I-20

International students and undocumented students should consult with Jennifer Marks-Gold (Assistant Dean and Director of the International Student Center). Be sure to consult with Dean Marks-Gold about any Optional Practical Training considerations related to leaves of absence.

Resolve conduct allegations

If applicable, resolve pending allegations through the student conduct process. Conduct allegations typically must be resolved before a return decision can be reached. If you have questions about student conduct concerns, contact Dean Nathan Miller (nmiller2@swarthmore.edu). 

Resolve Incomplete Grades

If you have unresolved grades of “INC” (Incomplete), "IE" (Incomplete Extension), “IP” (In Progress) or “NR” (Not Recorded) when you apply to return, your return will likely be conditional pending the resolution to those issues. If you have any grades of “INC”, "IE" or “IP” on your academic record, contact appropriate professors to discuss resolution of this issue. All coursework for incomplete or in-progress classes must be submitted to the relevant course professor for review and the grade converted to a letter grade, which can sometimes be "NC" (No Credit) if major work is outstanding. 

Transfer Credit

If you are applying to earn Swarthmore credit for course(s) completed during your time away, contact the Department Chair of any applicable academic department to discuss the courses. On the Swarthmore Registrar's Office website, review the policy on transfer credit and credit earned elsewhere. Prior to being taken, proposed courses at other institutions must be pre-approved by the Swarthmore department where the courses would be taught if they were taught at Swarthmore. 

Logistical Notes

The deadline for students to finish the return process is August 1 for a Fall return and December 1 for a Spring return.

Appeals

If you wish to appeal a return decision, you must provide a written appeal to Vice President for Student Affairs Stephanie Ives  (sives1@swarthmore.edu) or their designee within 5 business days of the decision. Replies to return appeals will be provided within 5 business days. Grounds for appeals are: 

1. New evidence that could affect the return decision that was unavailable at the time of the decision;
2. Procedural errors that had a material impact on the outcome of the return process. 
    

Student Accounts

Students who have not satisfied their financial obligations are not permitted to return to campus, to attend any classes, to live in campus housing, nor have a meal plan. If you have questions about student accounts, you can contact studentsaccounts@swarthmore.edu (Student Accounts Office). Financial eligibility is determined separately from academic eligibility.

Student Health Insurance Plan

All students who are approved for return are enrolled by default in the Swarthmore student health insurance plan (SHIP). Annually, all returning (and continuing, and incoming) students are required to provide the Student Health Center with proof of health insurance coverage. This applies even if your insurance remains the same from last year. Students may waive out of the plan if they meet the College requirements and provide proof of insurance. Additional information can be found on the Student Health and Wellness website.

Study ABROAD

If you are studying abroad through the Swarthmore Global Engagement office, that is not considered a "leave of absence." You must stay in close communication with the Swarthmore Global Engagement office staff as you pursue enrollment in an approved study abroad program or return from study abroad through the Swarthmore Global Engagement office, to be sure that you are meeting important deadlines and following necessary procedures.

Students who are returning from leave must be successfully re-admitted to the college and then complete at least one semester at the college before being approved for a subsequent semester abroad. 

For more details, please see the Student Handbook, and the College Catalog sections on expenses & faculty regulations 8.5.