PELP - UC Davis GSA

This page about the PELP program is one of several that the GSA has put together which concern ongoing enrollment and registration. We've tried to gather info from the registrar's web page and the office of graduate studies pages in order to create a starting place for students trying to figure out the PELP program. The info on this page is current as of November, 2009. If you discover that any of this info has changed, please let the GSA know or just correct it yourself. This is a wiki after all.

PELP Planned Educational Leave Program (PELP)

The Planned Educational Leave Program (PELP) allows any registered student-undergraduate or graduate-to temporarily suspend academic work at UC Davis. Undergraduates may take one such leave during their academic career at UC Davis and that leave is limited to one quarter in duration. For graduate students the maximum leave is up to one year. Undergraduates apply for PELP at the Office of the University Registrar. Graduate students apply through their departments and professional students apply through their Dean's office.

Readmission is guaranteed assuming you resume regular academic work on the agreed-upon return date and satisfy any holds on your registration. You are considered a continuing student following your PELP. It is your responsibility to check SISWeb for your registration pass times and register during the appropriate times. If you fail to return on the agreed-upon date, you will be automatically withdrawn from the university.

Applications for PELP may be filed as late as the 10th day of instruction—Jan 15 during the quarter for which the student is requesting a leave. However, approved applications submitted after the first day of instruction will entitle you to only a partial refund of fees paid, in accordance with the Schedule of Refunds. The Schedule of Refunds refers to calendar days beginning with the first day of instruction. The effective date for determining a refund of fees is the date the completed and approved PELP form is returned to the Office of the University Registrar; see the “Fees, Expenses, and Financial Aid” chapter in the General Catalog.

An application fee of $60.00 is charged to your account when you enroll in the PELP program. This fee is identical to that paid by a student who withdraws and is required to pay a readmission fee upon return. After filing your PELP form, students owing student loans must file an exit form with Student Accounting.

The PELP form is available in Room 12, Mrak Hall to complete and submit. However, you may also fax in your notice of PELP. Include your student ID number, name, quarter you wish to PELP, and your signature. The fax number is (530) 752-6906. E-mails and phone calls are not accepted as formal notices of PELP. The student’s signature must accompany the PELP request.

The effective refund date is the date the PELP is filed with the Office of the University Registrar and it is presumed that no university services will be provided to you after that date. The percentage of fees that may be refunded is determined by the number of calendar days elapsed, beginning with the first day of instruction; see the Schedule of Refunds, on this page. Allow 4-5 weeks to receive your refund.

If you have registered for classes, all of your courses will be dropped once your PELP request has been processed.

For full PELP information, see http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/PDFFiles/D022PELPInformation.pdf.

Here is the full text of the above mentioned PDF from the Registar's Office (rev. 3/09) with some notations added in order to include information from other sources.

PELP Information

The Planned Educational Leave Program (PELP) is defined as a voluntary, temporary, planned interruption or pause in your regular, full-time education. The purpose is to enhance the prospect of successful completion of your academic program by allowing time for you to pursue other activities that will assist you in clarifying your educational goals (e.g., job opportunities and experience away from campus; time to resolve personal or medical problems). PELP makes it possible for you to suspend your academic work for a time and resume your studies with minimal procedural difficulties.

Eligibility

Registered students, both undergraduate and graduate, at UC Davis are eligible to enroll in the Planned Educational Leave Program. New undergraduates who seek a planned leave prior to their first term must contact the Undergraduate Admissions office before the first day of instruction. Such students will be considered for the Deferred Enrollment program. Subsequent to the first day of instruction, new undergraduates are considered continuing students and will only be considered through PELP administered by the Office of the Registrar.

Transcript Notation

A notation of the dates of your approved leave will be indicated on your official transcript.

Duration of Leave

Undergraduates may take one such leave during their academic career at UC Davis and that leave is limited to one quarter in duration. For graduate students the maximum leave is up to one year.

Financial Aid

Financial aid will be discontinued for the time of your leave. You may have to repay any financial aid funds already received for the quarter. If you are receiving any form of financial aid—grants, workstudy, fee payments, scholarships, loans, etc.— you must go to the Financial Aid Office and complete a Revision Request/Change In Aid form. (Law students go to King Hall; Medical Students go to MS1C.) If you have received a Cal Grant A or B, you must notify the California Student Aid Commission of any changes in your enrollment status. Contact the Financial Aid Office six weeks before you return from PELP to request that your financial aid be reinstated.

Academic Credit

You are not eligible to enroll in concurrent courses through UC Davis Extension, nor can you earn academic credit at UC Davis during the time of your leave. You may earn academic credit at other institutions and transfer that credit to UC Davis subject to rules concerning transfer credit. However, the intent of this program is to suspend academic work, and you are encouraged to carefully evaluate the desirability of continuing any academic work during your PELP.

Undergraduate Students

Go to the Office of the University Registrar, in 12 Mrak Hall, to initiate the Planned Educational Leave Program (PELP) process. We will process your PELP at once. A nonrefundable $60.00 fee will be charged to your account..

International Students

After filing your PELP, go to the Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) office to complete your process. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations require students in F–1 and J–1 status to receive approval from the international student adviser prior to filing for PELP status. Failure to obtain advance approval may adversely affect your immigration status and may render you ineligible for certain benefits as a nonimmigrant. For more information, contact the SISS office at (530) 752-0864.

Graduate Students

Complete the PELP process with the graduate staff person in your department. Extensions to or reductions of leaves should be completed through your department.

Professional Students

Complete the PELP process with your dean. Extensions to or reductions of leaves should be completed with your dean.

Deadlines

Filing deadline is the tenth day of instruction. To receive a full refund of your fees, you must file by the first day of instruction. After the first day, you will receive a partial refund in accordance with the schedule of refunds.

Housing

When you return from your leave, your housing priority is that of a continuing student. If you are living in the residence halls at the time of your PELP, you can cancel your housing contract by providing proof of your PELP status to Student Housing, in 160 Student Housing. If you wish to return to the residence halls after your leave, you must submit a written request to Student Housing at least eight weeks prior to the start of the quarter. You should also request to be placed on the continuing student waiting list. Any questions regarding this process should be directed to Student Housing, studenthousing@ucdavis.edu or call (530) 752-2033. If you are a resident of The Parks, Orchard, and Solano Park Apartments, you are allowed one quarter leave from regular enrolled status during your entire residency and must submit your PELP form to Student Housing, in 160 Student Housing.

Student Accounts

Please review your account balance to be sure it is accurate and paid in full. Note that if you are a financial aid recipient, aid may have to be repaid. A specific amount due may not be available for 4-8 weeks after separation. For account balances, go to SisWeb at http://sisweb.ucdavis.edu, or e-mail stdtaccts@ucdavis.edu. If you have received an institutional loan (e.g., Perkins, USL, Emil Mrak, etc.) while attending UC Davis, please complete a mandatory online exit session at http://studentaccounting.ucdavis.edu. Select “Exit Loan Counseling Interview” from the Options heading, and then choose “Exit Interview” from the next Web page's menu located on the upper left side. This interview provides information regarding loan balances and repayment issues. If required, a hold will be placed on your records if an exit interview is not completed. If you have any questions, call (530) 752-5870. Please be sure to update your address(es) so that important information will reach you. See http://sisweb.ucdavis.edu to update address(es).

Health Services

You may receive services at Student Health Services (SHS) located at Cowell Student Health Center at non-student rates as long as you are on PELP. If you want to receive services at student rates, you may purchase an SHS card at any time during your PELP status. For more information or to purchase an SHS card, call (530) 752-9639. Enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is restricted to the first quarter of PELP only, and is available only to those students who were already SHIP members while they were registered students. SHIP members who are on PELP for spring quarter or semester are covered through the end of the summer coverage period. For more information about SHIP enrollment for PELP students, see the Cowell Student Health Center Web site at http://www.healthcenter.ucdavis.edu or call Insurance Services at (530) 752-6055.

Availability of University Services

If you enroll in the PELP program, you are not considered a regular student during the time of your leave and are not eligible to receive normal university services with the following exceptions:

Student Employment Services. You may consult Student Employment Services while on leave.
Advising and Counseling. You may receive limited advising and counseling services at the Counseling Center to assist you in your transition from the university.
Library. You may purchase a library card from Shields Library for $12.50 per quarter. Borrowing privileges and online access are limited. (Note: According to Library staff, these are the details of those limitations: If the student is employed by the university with a research title then they still get full free library privileges as student (300 books, remote electronic access with Kerberos authentication only if department sponsors student, ILL, and DDS). If they are not employed by the university then for one quarter they pay $12.50. They then have a 5-book limit, no remote electronic access, no ILL or DDS, and the library card is not eligible at the medical library BML. Pay is by cash or check to UC Regents.)
Activities and Recreation Center (ARC). Students who are registered with the university under the Planned Educational Leave Program are eligible to purchase a membership to the ARC. The student must bring a photo ID, documentation of PELP status, and a university issued photo ID card in order to purchase a membership to participate in programs and gain entrance into the facility. All registration forms must be completely signed and filled out. PELP students fall under the “other student” classification and pay fees associated with that membership type.

Returning to Classes

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