Help available for injured students
Students who are seriously injured while they are registered for classes have the option of taking time away from school for recovery with the aid of Utah State University’s leave-of-absence policy.
“Most injuries that would qualify for a leave-of-absence involve car accidents, but many of them happen during the winter months and involve sports like snowboarding, sledding and skiing,” Terri Jones, a nurse at the Student Health and Wellness Center, said. “Old Main Hill is a particularly dangerous area during the winter. We get a lot of those.”
There has been a recent increase in serious injuries among USU Students.
“Very recently, there have been about five serious car accidents that I know of,” said Maren Forsberg, a matriculation assistant who oversees the leave-of-absence processes for USU.
Car accidents are not the only contributor for students taking a leave-of-abscence, Forsberg said, students who have contracted illnesses from traveling or illnesses that they were born with may take medical leave as well.
Students have also attempted to take a leave-of-absence to get refunds for classes dropped past the refunded drop date. Every so often, a student will ask for a refund after dropping a class too late in the semester, Forsberg said, and does not have a valid reason for a refund to be given.
“Tuition refunds can be granted in true circumstances beyond the students’ control, like a death in the family or a critical injury,” Bill Jensen, associate registrar, said. “It may not be a full refund, because the student has used university resources, but we can analyze the circumstance and grant a greater refund, whether it be 50, 70, 90 or 100 percent.”
Jensen said the leave-of-absence policy is currently under review. Students who qualify for a leave-of-absence may maintain their admission status, as well.
Jimmy Moore, director of admissions, said campus policies are designed to be student-friendly when it comes to extenuating circumstances students might encounter.
“In my experience, a small number [of] students have been in car accidents, for example, and needed to take some time away for recovery. We’ve been more than gracious to work with those students in deferring their admission status,” Moore said. “With a leave-of-absence, a student can leave the institution for medical reasons, and once they return, they can return without having to re-apply; we just reactivate their admissions for however long they need. It may greatly benefit the student to provide a statement from their doctor describing the injury and time frame of recovery.”
In many cases, a leave-of-absence does not go through the Admissions Office.
“As far as the Admissions Office goes, it doesn’t affect a lot of students. Usually those concerned with a leave-of-absence have something to do with scholarships and such.
“I’ve personally heard of maybe three or four cases. Most cases have to do with scholarships,” Moore said.
The Financial Aid Office is closely related to the Admissions Office in regards to the policy.
“In many of the occasions, students who apply for a leave-of-absence have issues with scholarships, and the Admissions and Financial Aid Offices have been very friendly and understanding toward those students. We have a very clean system for students in these offices.”
-dmullen@cc.usu.edu