A description of the specific behavioural concerns that informed the decision of the Vice-Provost, Students to place you on a Supportive Leave is included in the letter you received initiating the Leave.  When a student’s behaviour is considered potentially harmful or threatening to the safety of another U of T community member(s) and there is […]

The name and contact information for your Student Case Manager (SCM) will have been included in the letter you received initiating the Leave.  It is likely that your Student Case Manager also reached out to you to offer to meet to review the letter.  Student Case Managers (SCM) are assigned to a student who is […]

When the Vice-Provost, Students receives a request to consider placing a student on a Supportive Leave, one of their first steps is to form a Student Support Team (SST). Your Student Support Teams (SST) consists of individuals that offer expertise and information in specific areas to provide advice to the Vice-Provost, Students on how best […]

Your Student Case Manager and Student Support Team will work with you to ensure that you are fully supported in accessing services and supports, both internal and external to the University, that are appropriate to your individual circumstances.    Examples of supports may include tuition refunds, on-going access to health and wellness services, continuation of health […]

If you have not opted out of the health and dental insurance provided through your student society, the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students will coordinate with your student society to continue your health and dental insurance coverage during your Leave at the University’s expense.  

It is common for students placed on a Leave to also be trespassed from the University campuses. This decision is based on the behaviour that prompted the Vice-Provost, Students to place you on a Leave and the level of concern for the safety of other members of the University community.   If you have been trespassed […]

The initial duration of your Leave will be stated in the letter you received initiating the Leave.    If you wish to request to return to studies before the date stated in your letter, you may do so by speaking with your Student Case Manager and submitting a request to the Vice-Provost, Students.    You are not […]

Yes. You may request that the Provost review the decision of the Vice-Provost, Students to place you on a Leave by making a request in writing, within 10 business days of receiving the letter initiating the Leave. If needed, you may request an extension on the time limit to request a review by Provost. The […]

If, after their review, the Provost decides to continue your Leave, you may appeal the decision of the Provost. This appeal is heard by the Senior Chair or the Associate Chair of the Discipline Appeals Board of the University Tribunal, or their delegate. The Senior Chair and Associate Chair are legally qualified and are appointed […]

One of the guiding principles of the Supportive Leaves Policy is that “students have personal autonomy regarding their health and wellness and are encouraged to seek the help they may need” (I.A.3). As part of this respect for autonomy, students have the ability to request a Voluntary Leave of Absence, under either a Divisional process […]

When you decide that it is the right time for you to return to your studies, your Student Case Manager will be available to support you throughout the process. The return to studies expectations and process are outlined in the letter that you received initiating the Leave.  Step 1: Submit a request to return to […]

The return to studies process often involves a psychiatrist risk assessment, or equivalent, as well as a review of other relevant information about a student’s readiness and intent to re-engage with their studies. The risk assessment is arranged and paid for by the University.  If you are asked to complete a psychiatric risk assessment, the […]

The Policy has accountability measures written into it to help ensure that it is being applied consistently, fairly, and only in the rare circumstances that it is appropriate. Examples of these measures are:  

When the Policy (previously the University-Mandated Leave of Absence Policy) was approved by Governing Council in 2018, it included a stipulation that the Provost review the Policy in the third academic year of its use and report the findings to the Governing Council.  In line with the Policy requirement, a review of the Policy was […]

The Supportive Leaves Policy stipulates that the Policy will be reviewed again in its seventh academic year (originally approved and in effect in 2018), therefore the University anticipates the next review will commence in 2025.   

The current version of the Policy came into effect on March 1, 2023 (approved by Governing Council on February 15, 2023). 

The Office of the Vice-Provost, Students is required to submit an annual report about the usage of the Supportive Leaves Policy during the previous academic year to the Governing Council of the University of Toronto.   The report must include statistical information in aggregate form, without names or identifiers. The report is submitted for information to […]

Feedback and questions can be shared with the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students by email at vp.students@utoronto.ca.  

Students can make a request to initiate the process to return to studies in writing (by email) either directly to the Vice-Provost, Students or through their Student Case Manager. It can be as simple as “Dear [name of SCM], I want to return to studies at the University and am ready to initiate the return […]

Just like the terms and conditions of a Leave, the return to studies plan is tailored to the individual student’s needs. Some examples of support that are offered during the return to studies include: 

One of the guiding principles of the Supportive Leaves Policy is that “students have personal autonomy regarding their health and wellness and are encouraged to seek the help they may need” (I.A.3). As part of this respect for autonomy, students have the ability to request a Voluntary Leave of Absence, under either a Divisional process […]

The supports available are determined on a case-by-case basis and tailored to the student’s circumstances and needs. The supports that are useful for a student on a voluntary Supportive Leave may be different than for those on a mandated Supportive Leave, but the University’s process to review and consider what is appropriate and needed for […]

A variety of voluntary leave of absence options are available to students within their academic divisions – outside the Supportive Leaves Policy.    Undergraduate students who want to know more about current available options for divisional leaves of absence or breaks from their studies are encouraged to contact their divisional registrar’s office for more information and […]

Student Case Managers (SCM) are assigned to a student who is being considered for Leave or placed on a Leave under the Policy to help navigate the process and to be their main contact with the University for the duration of their involvement with the Policy. SCM’s are intended to serve as a University support […]

Student Case Managers (SCM)’s are usually University staff members on the Student Life/ Student Affairs Crisis Support and Response and Academic Progress teams on each campus.  They are highly experienced in supporting students and generally have professional designations as social workers, counsellors or mental health nurses.  

A Student Support Team (SST) is a small group of University staff and faculty brought together by the Vice-Provost, Students to provide advice and guidance around supports, resources, and the shaping the terms and conditions to the specific student who is on a Leave. An SST is established if the Vice-Provost, Students decides to take […]

Student Support Teams (SST) consist of individuals that offer expertise and information in a specific area to provide advice to the Vice-Provost, Students on how best to support the student during all stages of their involvement with the Policy. The composition of the team depends on the specific identity and needs of the individual student […]

The University is committed to compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Personal Health Information Protection Act. Any collection, use, or disclosure of personal information as part of the Policy process is conducted in accordance with relevant law.  As part of the University’s efforts to maintain student privacy, the […]

When a student is placed on a Leave, the student’s access to essential supports is not generally restricted, except in circumstances where there may be a risk to the safety of student services staff. In all cases, the Student Case Manager and Student Support Team work to ensure that the student is fully supported in accessing […]

Financial considerations are made on a case-by-case basis. The terms and conditions of a Leave may include measures to address potential financial implications for the student.  Examples of steps that have been taken to support students engaged with the Policy, include, retroactively refunding tuition and fees, covering fees for continuation of health & dental coverage […]

Due to the threshold for a Leave under the Policy (significant risk of harm to others) a student on Leave is often temporarily trespassed from campus. If a student on Leave has questions about their access to campus, or needs to attend campus for a specific reason, they should speak with their Student Case Manager […]

There are situations where a student placed on a Leave may be required to move out of residence as part of the terms and conditions of their Supportive Leave.  Such a decision is based on the student’s behaviour.  If a student is engaging in behaviour that compromises the safety of other students living in residence, […]

If a student on a Supportive Leave has questions about their coverage and/or experiences a disruption in their coverage they should speak with their Student Case Manager. The University will review these matters on a case-by-case basis, working with the respective Student Societies and insurance providers.    Student health and dental insurance is provided by their […]

Compassion and respect for the diverse and intersecting identities and lived experiences of our students is at the core of the University’s Supportive Leaves Policy. The Policy is designed to allow for tailored supports to meet the highly individualized needs of students who may be in need of a Leave.   If a student from an […]

If an Indigenous student is placed on a Leave under the Policy, the Vice-Provost, Students  will include staff of First Nations House at the St. George campus, Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC),  or the Indigenous Centre at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM),  as members of the Student Support Team(SST), depending […]

The University understands that special consideration must be taken when an International Student is placed on a Supportive Leave to avoid adverse effects on their legal status and eligibility to stay or work in Canada. The Student Support Team will carefully consider and monitor these impacts, on a case-by-case basis, to help ensure that the […]

The Policy applies in very rare circumstances when: 

Under the University’s Supportive Leaves Policy, the threshold to place a student on a Leave is extremely high. The University must have sufficient information at the time that the Leave is imposed to believe that:  The use of the Policy is intended to strike a balance between two goals:  To initiate a Leave under the […]

The Policy includes a number of procedural safeguards, some of which are described below.  It is also designed to be compliant with provincial legislation such as the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the […]

Only Division Heads (Dean of a Faculty/ Campus/ Principal of College) may request that the Vice-Provost, Students consider placing a student in their division on a Leave under the Policy.  A decision to proceed under the Policy can only be made by the Vice-Provost, Students.   Please refer to Section IV. A. of the Supportive Leaves […]

The Division Head is the Principal, Dean or director (“head”) of a faculty, college or school in which the Student is registered. Division Heads are the academic leaders who are best placed to raise with the Vice-Provost, Students challenging behavioural issues involving a student where disciplinary approaches may not be appropriate. In these situations, the […]

No. The University’s hope is that students will actively engage with mental health supports with the trust and understanding that this will not lead to them being recommended for a Leave. Generally, a student may disclose personal mental health concerns or struggles to a counsellor or medical professional without concern that their personal health information […]

Upon receiving a request from a Division Head to consider a student’s situation under the Supportive Leave Policy, the Vice-Provost, Students begins by gathering information to ensure they have a clear understanding of the student’s behaviour and personal circumstances to inform their decision as to whether it is appropriate to place the student on Leave […]

A student will receive a letter from the Vice-Provost, Students indicating that they have received a request from the student’s division head (Dean or Principal) to consider the application of the Policy in the student’s case and that the request is under review.   The student will be connected with a Student Case Manager (SCM) (see […]

Urgent situations are situations where the risk caused by a student’s conduct is so significant and imminent that immediate action must be taken to ensure the safety of University of Toronto community members. There is a special section of the Policy addressing these cases.  In such cases, the Vice-Provost, Students may immediately place a student […]

The terms and conditions outline the University’s obligations for the Leave and the expectations of the student during the Leave.   Terms and Conditions are tailored specifically to the individual student’s needs and circumstances with input from the Student Support Team (see more information about the Student Support Team in “Student Supports” section.) Terms and conditions […]

The duration of a Leave is dependent on the specific needs and circumstances of the individual student. The University typically indicates an end date for a Leave that coincides with the end of an academic term, usually one or two terms following the start of the Leave (Fall Term, Winter Term, Summer Term are each […]

A student, placed on a Supportive Leave, may choose to appeal the decision of the Vice-Provost, Students if they disagree with being placed on a Supportive Leave. There are two levels of appeal for this Policy within the University, outlined below.  Step 1: Submit request to Provost to review the decision to place the student […]

No notation regarding the Leave will be reflected on the student’s academic transcript.