All students at CC are allowed to take one block off per semester and maintain full-time student status. However, there could be potential implications to your academic progress, student employment, athletic participation, or VA benefit status; click here for more information about possible implications for taking a block off.

Taking a block off is not automatic. To initiate this process, students should:

1. Open the "Add/Drop" application in Banner, and select "Search Class Schedule".
2. Select the Term and Block you're planning to take a block off, enter "00000" in for Course ID, and select "Class Search".
3. Select "taking a block off" and register for the block off "course". This will replace the course you were registered for.

When taking a single block off, please be aware of the following:

• Blocks off are only approved if the block off is registered in Banner on or before 5PM (MT) of the second Tuesday of the block requested. Requests made after this time are automatically denied.
• Students enrolled in three or more blocks per semester are full-time students and must still pay a full semester of tuition, room and board, and fees. There is no refund for taking a block off. 

All Colorado College students may request to take additional blocks off beyond a first, single block off within a single semester.  Before doing so, students should review the Student Time Off, Withdrawal, & Reinstatement Policy.

Taking more than one block off in a semester changes a student's status to part-time, rather than full-time. Part-time status requires continued enrollment in at least one credit-bearing course while allowing for multiple blocks off. Moving to part-time status may have may have significant negative impacts (see Colorado College Blocks Off & LOA Policies & Procedures).

Due to these potential impacts, additional blocks off are only granted in unusual circumstances. Students are highly encouraged to consult with the Advising Hub before making the request. Approval to move to part-time status requires:

• A demonstration of the student will maintain engagement in campus life during their additional blocks off.
• Continued enrollment in at least one credit-bearing course.

Additional blocks off will not be granted retroactively. Students requesting to take a block off currently in progress must continue to attend the block in progress until their request is approved or denied.  

To initiate this process, students should:

1. Review the Colorado College Blocks Off & LOA Policies & Procedures
   • Students receiving financial aid are strongly encouraged to connect with the Financial Aid office.
   • International students are strongly encouraged to connect with International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).
2. Complete the Additional Blocks Off Request form.
3. The student will be notified of approval or denial by their Hub advisor within two business days. Students requesting to take an additional block off currently in progress must continue to attend the block in progress until their request is approved or denied.  

All Colorado College students may request to take a a Leave of Absence (LOA), also known as "Withdrawal with Intent to Return." An LOA refers to a complete pause in a student's program of study, during which the student separates from engagement with the College. Before requesting an LOA, students should review the Student Time Off, Withdrawal, & Reinstatement Policy.

Students on an LOA:

• Cannot be enrolled in courses at CC
• Cannot be employed by CC
• Cannot live on campus
• Must fully withdraw from all enrolled courses for the LOA period.

Note: Students who are participating in an “Off Campus Program Leave” (studying abroad via a non-Colorado College institution) follow a different process and do not need to complete a Student-Initiated LOA.

Students wishing to take a LOA must be granted permission from their Hub advisor. To initiate this process, students should:

1. Review the Colorado College Blocks Off & LOA Policies & Procedures
   • Students receiving financial aid are strongly encouraged to connect with the Financial Aid office.
   • International students are strongly encouraged to connect with International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).
2. Complete the Leave of Absence Request form
3. The student will then be contacted by their Hub advisor within two business days to schedule an exit interview with the student.
   • For urgent matters, students should also email their Hub advisor directly.
4. After meeting with the student, the Hub advisor will approve or deny the student's leave request.

All students permanently withdrawing from the College (e.g., transferring to another institution) are required to schedule an exit interview with Kieran Bennett.