Information & Requirements

Unlike “stopping-out,” Planned Leave allows students to maintain enrollment eligibility without having to pursue the readmission process. There are many reasons why a student might consider taking a Planned Leave including, but not limited to the following:

  • Internship
  • Research
  • Study opportunities in the United States
  • Military service
  • Mission/Service
  • Medical
  • Family or financial reasons
  • Physical inability to attend on campus classes
  • Academic goal evaluation
  • Career exploration or work
  • COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Planned Leave may not be the best option for a first-term student earning less than a 1.0 GPA. Instead, you could return with a Fresh Start. If this is your first semester at CSU and you are not a transfer student, be sure to review all options with your department Academic Success Coordinator/Academic Advisor before applying for Planned Leave.

If you are considering taking Planned Leave, please review the resources available in full. The deadline to request Planned Leave is 12:00 PM MST (Noon) on the Thursday prior to the start of classes each term.

To be eligible for Planned Leave, a student must be:

  • An undergraduate degree-seeking student (whether enrolled in Resident Instruction (RI) or CSU Online (CE) courses), seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
  • In Good Academic Standing or on Academic Probation 1 or 2.

Additionally, students must meet the following general guidelines:

  • Must have been enrolled as a degree-seeking student for at least one semester prior to requesting Planned Leave.
  • Must have approval of designated departments in specialized cases (refer to Impacts for NCAA D1 Athletes and Impacts for International Students).
  • Must meet all published deadlines and procedures for requesting Planned Leave (refer to Instructions for Requesting Planned Leave).

(Please see Alternative Options to Planned Leave below)

  • Students enrolled as second bachelor’s candidates
  • Graduate Students
  • Dismissed Students
  • Students who missed the published deadline to request Planned Leave
  • Students whose only enrollment at CSU has been as a non-degree student or who were not enrolled in the semester immediately prior to the desired Planned Leave term
  • Students who have been admitted to but have not yet enrolled at CSU
  • Students who already have exhausted their two semesters of Planned Leave
  • Students who intend to stop-out for more than two semesters
  • Students attending an international post-secondary institution or participating in any kind of “for-credit” study, internship, volunteer, research, or work experience outside of the U.S.
  • *Students on Planned Leave can travel or work abroad when the opportunity is non-academic or for non-credit purposes.

Students can be eligible for Planned Leave even if they have taken a University Withdrawal during the semester immediately prior to the Planned Leave semester.

Students who have done a University Withdrawal can request Planned Leave either BEFORE or AFTER completing the University Withdrawal process. In these situations, the official transcript will reflect a semester of University Withdrawal followed by a semester of Planned Leave.

Registration Cancellation does NOT allow for Planned Leave the following semester. Instead, Registration Cancellation reflects as no enrollment history for the term (as if the students did not enroll at all, even if they had enrolled and subsequently were withdrawn with 100% refund).

  • Second Bachelor’s students should contact Admissions for information about seeking readmission after a break in enrollment.
  • Graduate students should refer to the Continuous Registration information link for more information.
  • Dismissed students should work with their Department Advisor/Academic Support Coordinator or the Collaborative for Student Achievement to discuss strategies for academic success and contact Admissions to establish a plan for meeting the requirements to return.
  • Students who missed the published deadline to request Planned Leave should contact Admissions for information regarding the Intent to Return.
  • Students whose only enrollment at CSU has been as a non-degree student or who were not enrolled in the semester immediately prior to the requested Planned Leave term should contact Admissions for information about returning to CSU.
  • Students who want to continue taking classes remotely should contact CSU Online to discuss options for continuing on the path toward graduation. 
  • Students who have been admitted to but have not yet enrolled at CSU should contact Admissions to inquire about deferring admission for one semester or one year.
  • Students who have already exhausted their two semesters of Planned Leave in prior terms should contact Admissions for more information.
  • Students who intend to stop out for more than two semesters should contact Admissions for more information.
  • Students whose extended absence will be due to military service  should contact Adult Learner and Veteran’s Services Office and (if receiving benefits) the Veteran’s Benefits Office.
  • Students attending an international, post-secondary institution or participating in any kind of “for-credit” study, internship, volunteer, research or work experience outside of the U.S. fall under the Study Abroad parameter and should contact the Education Abroad Office to make sure the appropriate steps have been taken to work in coordination with CSU.