Returning to Sewanee

Below are the steps you need to return.

Applying for reinstatement

1. Review the information on Leaves of Absence, Withdrawals, and Reinstatement.
2. If applying for reinstatement following a suspension or medical leave of absence or other personal withdrawal, you may need to provide documentation as part of your application; see your letter of separation for any specific requirements. You will want to get that documentation together before beginning the reinstatement application, as you will be asked to upload your documentation. Also, be sure your student account is paid in full at the time of application. We will not review applications or requests from students whose accounts are not paid in full.
3. For full consideration, applications for reinstatement and notifications of a return from a standard (non-medical) Leave of Absence (LOA) must be received by November 1 and April 1 for the following semester. This allows students who are approved for reinstatement to register for classes with their cohort. Applications and notifications received after these dates will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a typical cycle taking at least two weeks. No applications for reinstatement or notifications of return from a standard LOA will be considered within ten working days of the start of the next full semester.
4. You may be required to have a conference with one of the deans as part of the process.
5. Be aware that the reinstatement process is entirely separate from the financial aid process. If financial aid is a component of your decision to return to Sewanee, your aid application materials must be submitted and your financial aid determined prior to submitting your reinstatement application. This will allow you and your family ample time to identify any arrangements needed to pay your portion of expenses and ensure you are prepared financially to return to Sewanee. 

Returning from a Medical withdrawal

• I had to take a leave of absence during a semester in order to pursue medical treatment. But now I’m 100% ready to go. What do I need to do? 
  • Complete the Returning to Sewanee After a Leave form and select Medical Withdrawal as the reason for your departure. Note: You will have to provide documentation. Download and complete Medical Documentation for Reinstatement with your health care provider. You will be able to attach those forms to your application or submit them later using this secure form, but no action can be taken until we have the documentation. With any PDF uploaded to your application, be sure your name is clearly part of the file name.
  • Note: You may be approved for a “conditional reinstatement,” meaning that we will need final documentation at a later point, closer to the start of the next semester. For example, we may need to see a physician’s final evaluation. There may be expectations for your return, too, such as continuing your treatment plan here on campus.

Returning from a Personal withdrawal

• I chose to leave Sewanee for my own, non-medical reasons. This may have been during a semester or after a semester was over (like during the summer). How do I come back? 
  • Complete the Returning to Sewanee After a Leave form and select Personal Withdrawal as the reason for your departure. Note: You will be asked to indicate how you have spent your time, and you will want to upload any supporting documentation. (For example, if you say you worked, then provide first and last pay stubs, blacking out your social security number.) With any PDF uploaded to your application, be sure your name is clearly part of the file name.

Returning from a Suspension

• I was suspended from Sewanee for disciplinary, academic, or Honor Code reasons. How do I return?
  • Complete the Returning to Sewanee After a Leave form and select Suspension as the reason for your departure. Note: Your letter of suspension will have indicated any required steps or expectations for reinstatement. You will be asked to upload appropriate documentation. Be thorough, accurate, and complete. If you attended another college or university, you will need to download, complete, and then upload the statement of good standing (one for each college attended). Have this document ready as a PDF before you begin. You'll also attach a screenshot or scan of your schedule (with grades, if available)—though this does not replace the official transcript you must send to the Sewanee Registrar.
  • If you worked while away, and you are required to document it (or just want to prove evidence of how you spent your time), create a single PDF showing your first and last paychecks. You should black out your social security number. Have this document ready as a PDF before you begin.
  • If you completed volunteer work while away, you should prepare documentation in a similar fashion (a single PDF with a letter or other documentation detailing the dates you worked and approximate hours per week). With any PDF uploaded to your application, be sure your name is clearly part of the file name.
  • Note: You may be approved for a “conditional reinstatement,” meaning that we will need final documentation at a later point, closer to the start of the next semester. This will be true, for example, of students who are taking classes but who do not yet have a final transcript or students who were supposed to work six months but at the time of application had worked only five months.

Returning from a leave of absence

• I was approved for a formal Leave of Absence, and now I’m ready to return and resume my studies. What do I need to do?
  • Complete the Returning to Sewanee After a Leave form and select Leave of Absence as the reason for your departure.
  • Note: If you extended your leave of absence without approval from the Dean, or if you will have been away for more than a year, you were re-classified as a non-returning student and you must complete the process for a “personal withdrawal” above.