Returning From a Health Leave of Absence: Your 1st Semester Back

Once you return to campus following a Health Leave of Absence, there are people and programs at Cornell available to help you readjust to student life and take care of your health and well-being.

The Health Leaves Coordinator serves as a case manager and support for students who are taking and returning from a leave of absence.

Resources

Students on the Ithaca Campus can reach out to the following resources for information and support related to returning from a Health Leave of Absence.

Cornell Health offers many services to support students' health and well-being while on campus.

  • Medical Services: Cornell Health has a multidisciplinary staff of medical providers, nutritionists, physical therapists, and specialized teams that address common student health concerns like alcohol use, disordered eating, and athlete health, and provide support for students with chronic or serious health conditions.
  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides a wide range of mental health services such as workshops, group counseling, individual counseling, and medication management for students. Students interested in reviewing options for mental health care at CAPS can book an access visit to discuss. More information on CAPS services.

The Office of the Dean of Students includes resource centers, advising units, and affinity groups that focus on student support, advocacy, equity, building a sense of community, and intersectional identity development. You may be interested in consulting one of the following identity resources:

The Learning Strategies Center (LSC) is the central academic support unit for undergraduates at Cornell University. Through academic skills workshops and tutoring, the LSC strives to actively engage students in the learning process and support their efforts to become more successful and independent learners.

Let’s Meditate is a free, guided, mindfulness meditation series sponsored by Cornell Health in collaboration with campus partners. Meditation sessions are held daily Monday-Friday at various campus locations during the fall and spring semesters. No prior experience is needed and all are welcome.

All students can benefit from exploring the great natural beauty of the Cornell campus. Spending a few hours each week in nature can improve mood, cognitive ability, alertness, ability to concentrate, social connection and overall sense of well-being. Visit the Nature Rx website for information about natural areas located near campus.

An orientation session for students returning from a leave of absence is held at the beginning of each semester. The orientation is a great opportunity to meet other students who are returning from leave. During the orientation, students who returned from leave during a previous semester may share their experiences and advice. In addition, attendees receive guidance and resources about talking with friends and faculty about a leave of absence, reestablishing a social network, managing time to accommodate academic and personal needs, asking for help, and preparing for challenges.

The Returning Students Group meets throughout the semester. Meetings are tailored to meet the needs of the participating students, and may involve group discussion, guest speakers, board games, or other activities determined by the group.

Cornell Tech students can reach out to the following resources for information and support related to returning from a Health Leave of Absence:

  • Cornell Tech Health & Wellness provides supportive services to students regarding health matters, including referrals to providers, assistance in navigating immunization requirements and student health insurance, as well as stress reduction, problem solving, and crisis management.
  • Cornell Tech Student & Academic Affairs is a one stop shop for:
    • academic advising and support
    • course registration
    • international student advising
    • student activities
    • student employment on campus
    The team holds daily office hours for students to ask questions and also hosts a variety of events for students.