In rare instances, MIT may deem it necessary to mandate a Medical Leave when a student is unable to participate in campus life due to medical issues. No student will be required to take a Medical Leave without an individualized assessment and consideration of reasonable modifications or accommodations which, if accepted by the student, would be expected to enable the student to participate in campus life. Among accommodations the Institute will consider are whether the student may safely complete their course work and/or research while living off campus and/or whether they might succeed with a reduced course load.
Circumstances in which MIT might consider a student for a mandated Medical Leave include, but are not limited to, situations in which a student’s medical condition causes them to exhibit behavior that:
- Harms, threatens to harm, or seriously endangers any person, including themselves, or that demonstrates an inability to care for themselves;
- Significantly or repeatedly disrupts the educational, residential, and other activities of MIT; or
- Demonstrates an inability to engage in a medically recommended level of treatment while maintaining participation in daily activities at MIT.
The decision to mandate a Medical Leave will be made jointly by the Vice President and Dean for Student Life and the Vice Chancellor. They will consider information and recommendations provided by medical professionals, MIT staff/administrators, and the student using an individualized approach free of generalizations and stereotypes. They will provide the decision to mandate a Medical Leave to the student in writing. The decision will explain the rationale supporting the decision, the details of the leave, and any conditions the student is expected to satisfy prior to requesting to return.
A student who disagrees with the Institute’s decision to mandate a Medical Leave may submit an appeal, or review request, to the Chancellor, but the leave decision will remain in effect while the appeal is pending. The Chancellor must receive the appeal within seven working days of the decision to mandate leave, unless the Chancellor agrees to accept a late review request due to exceptional circumstances. The student must make the request in writing and include detailed information describing the rationale for the request to overturn or modify the leave decision. The Chancellor may meet with the student if deemed appropriate, review all pertinent materials associated with the leave decision, and consult with others who may have useful information. The Chancellor may affirm, overturn, or modify the leave decision within ten working days from the date of receipt of the request, although this period may be extended due to staff availability or unusual circumstances. The Chancellor’s decision will be communicated to the student in writing and shall be final.