Leave of absence/discontinuation in Aussie Uni's, can I get some confirmation?

[Crankinit]

Ok, here's the situation. I started Uni early 2007 after coming out of highschool, did passably for first semester, but kind of fell off the planet second semester as a combination of lack of motivation (arts degree, leads nowhere, etc) and falling into the party scene and getting distracted. I dropped out of one class and failed the other three. So I submitted a request for leave of absence for the whole of 2008, which was accepted.

2008 rolls by, in October last I got sick with glandular fever and started having issues with serious, constant fatigue ever since, as well as intermittedly coming down with symptoms of the virus itself. Obviously in no state to study, I submitted an application for a 6 month extension to my leave of absence in february, attaching a doctors note explaining my problems.

Three weeks later I was worried about the lack of response (they responded within days last year), so I went to the department office to chase things up. There I was told that the application likely hadn't been processed due to excessive paperwork and I should receive a response by census date (31st March).

Furthermore, the guy I spoke to at the office told me that in the event that I didn't and that the paperwork wasn't processed by then (why that's even up for question I don't know, you'd think they'd be fairly on the ball with these things), that being 'discontinued' (as the website informed me would happen if I hadn't enrolled in any classes or received a leave of absence notification) wasn't really a big deal. He said that it would mean my student priviledges would be cut off entirely (I didn't receive a student card or benefits while on leave, but I could still use the library/computer systems/facilities), but that re-entering my course any time over the next few years would be as easy as submitting a quick application, which would allow me to pick up my studies again where I left off.

And, I don't know, that just sounds kind of suspect to me. I didn't think it was that easy. 'Discontinuation' sounds rather final to me, is it really just a transient thing if I want to restart my studies after a year or two?

I guess I'm just after some confirmation that his info was correct. I'm kind of paranoid that he was somehow wrong and my form got lost and that I'll end up being removed from my course and have to restart from scratch if I want to return to my studies in semester 2 or in 2010.

If anyone can clarify this for me I'd really, really appreciate it :D

 

[Chaos Butterfly]

I haven't had any experience with this personally, but if nothing else, your credit from the courses that you've completed will transfer over, so you won't have to start again from zero. Situations like yours happen relatively frequently at universities. They have procedures in place to deal with them, and as usual, as long as you are being honest, you will likely end up all right

Just make sure that you have a copy of all of the documentation that you have sent in for both the 12 month and 6 month leave of absences, and you will have a legal leg to stand on if it comes to that, which I am certain it won't, but yeah, always best to be prepared just in case.

CB.

 

[Crankinit]

So it shouldn't be an issue then?

Census date is a week or so off and I still haven't received confirmation. It just feels like something doesnt' add up, I should have received 'something' by now, with term well underway.

I'm debating going back in and getting some more confirmation on the issue. I really don't want to fuck this up.

 

[up all night]

I would definitely go back. I don't know what uni you're at, but I was at Macquarie and uni admin there is so sub-par as to be a joke. I was told many different stories for the same issue when I had queries.

That being said, I had a fairly checkered attendance and abysmal GPA and they still let me back in. I hadn't followed correct procedures for deferment but I had a meeting with the head of department and was allowed back in.

Seriously though, uni admin (anywhere) is notoriously inconsistent. Just keep asking and eventually you'll work out the right answer. I'd highly recommend doing it now, considering there isn't much time left before the end of the month.

 

[Crankinit]

Yep. I went back in yesterday and spoke to somebody else. She said that basically it's a matter of the wording in the FAQ and that due to the paperwork they have to use the issue is somewhat misrepresented to students. She told me that they get a lot of students with the same concerns, but have the paperwork and it will all be processed properly prior to census date, and that I should have absolutely no problem re-entering my course when I want to just by going back to the office and asking them to do so.

Thanks for the advice though guys, I'm pretty paranoid about the my education, but it sounds like I can rest easy with the whole thing.