• I. Policy Overview
• II. Special Provisions for Institutional Closure
• III. Leave of Absence (LOA)
• IV. College Withdrawals
• V. Procedures for Filing
• VI. Returning to the College
• VII. Financial and Benefit Implications
• VIII. Post-Closure Records

California College of the Arts (CCA) provides two primary options for degree-seeking students seeking to pause or suspend their studies. A Leave of Absence (LOA) is intended for students who plan to take a temporary hiatus for the Spring 2026 and/or Fall 2026 semester(s) with the intention of returning to CCA before closure at the end of the 2026/2027 Academic Year. A College Withdrawal is a permanent status change indicating that a student does not intend to finish their studies at CCA.

Because the College will close after the Spring 2027 academic year, no students will be permitted to be on leave after Fall 2026. Students who do not enroll in the Spring 2027 semester will be Withdrawn.

In accordance with the college's scheduled closure at the conclusion of the 2027 academic year, the following enrollment and status restrictions apply:

• Students are required to be actively enrolled in courses for the Spring 2027 semester or else withdrawn from the college.
• Students who are withdrawn will not be eligible to participate in teach-out agreements that take effect following CCA’s closure.
• Given the above, the college will not approve any Leave of Absence requests that begin in, extend into, or include the Spring 2027 semester. Because a LOA is a temporary status with a guaranteed return, it cannot be supported beyond the college's final term of operation.

• Duration and Frequency: In accordance with the provision above in section II, students may take a Leave of Absence for a maximum of two consecutive semesters. If a student is not enrolled, drops, or withdraws from all classes in a semester, that term counts as one full semester of leave. Students are permitted a maximum of two nonconsecutive leaves, each lasting up to two full semesters.
• Benefits and Eligibility: Students on an approved LOA maintain their priority registration status and retain access to their active CCA email accounts.
• Academic Requirements: Students returning from an approved LOA within the permitted timeframe are entitled to graduate under their original academic requirements.
• Coursework at Other Institutions: Undergraduate students may take courses elsewhere for transfer credit during their leave, provided they submit and receive approval via the Transfer Credit Approval Request (TCAR) form prior to enrollment. Graduate students are not eligible to take courses for credit while on a Leave of Absence.
• Note: Because some programs’ coursework is taken in sequence and those courses are only offered one term each year, taking a leave of absence may mean a returning student will not find the courses they need to take offered in the semester in which they return. Students are highly encouraged to review potential course offerings with their advisor before requesting a leave of absence.

Standard College Withdrawal: Students wishing to withdraw permanently must initiate the process by meeting with an advisor through Student Services or Academic Advising (undergraduate students) or their program chair (graduate students).

International students wishing to withdraw must meet with an advisor from International Student Services (ISS).

• Initiation: Students must initiate the LOA process through the Request Leave of Absence task in Workday.
• Advising Consultation: It is strongly recommended that students meet with an advisor to ensure their leave does not disrupt their "on sequence" progress for major-specific coursework.
• International Students: Students on a student visa must meet with International Student Services (ISS) to discuss the implications of a leave or withdrawal on their visa status.
• Finalization: A Leave of Absence is only finalized once the student has received approval of their Workday request. A Withdrawal is only finalized once the student has completed an exit interview, obtained all required signatures, and dropped or withdrawn from all classes for the semester.

• Priority Registration: Students on an official Leave of Absence will receive an email at their CCA email address with their priority registration time for the upcoming semester.
• Students who intend to return for Spring 2027 must register by the end of priority registration for that semester (see Academic Calendar).
• Students on Leave of Absence who do not register by the end of priority registration will have their status automatically updated to College Withdrawal.
• Withdrawal Status: Withdrawals from the College are permanent. Because CCA is closing and no longer admitting students, it is not possible to re-enroll once a student has been withdrawn.

Students are responsible for officially dropping during the add-drop period (typically weeks 1–2) or withdrawing (weeks 3–10) from their courses. These actions may affect eligibility for CCA health insurance, residential housing, and student visas. In accordance with federal regulations, the Financial Aid Office will recalculate Title IV assistance based on the withdrawal date; the student is financially responsible for any resulting account balance.

Following the college's permanent closure after the 2027 academic year, Vanderbilt University will serve as the official custodian of records for all student transcripts.