Counseling and Psychological Services

If you are referred to CAPS, our services are available to undergraduate and graduate students at no additional cost and with no health insurance involvement. 

If you are referred for therapy off-campus, you will most often need to use your health insurance or pay for treatment out-of-pocket.

CAPS adheres to professional ethical standards and all state and federal laws regarding confidentiality. This means that once you have contacted our office, CAPS is not permitted to disclose any information, including the fact that you are coming to therapy, without your written consent. Records at CAPS are kept confidential and are not part of your academic or medical record. The primary exception to this rule is if you are in danger of causing harm to or killing yourself or someone else. Additionally, there are special confidentiality considerations for students who are 17 years of age or younger and are considered minors.

At times, a student may choose to take a break from their program with intent to return in a later semester. This may happen for a variety of reasons. Taking a leave of absence does not indicate that a student has failed at something, but rather it can be a tool to help deal with other pressing issues and upon return a student will be able to better focus on their studies.

There are a few different ways a student may take a break; including, a leave of absence (active status), medical leave of absence, or a withdrawal from the University. 

STUDENT LEAVE OF ABSENCE/ACTIVE STATUS:

If a full-time student is considering taking a leave of absence, they should consult with their academic advisor to discuss their options, impact on their degree progression and how best to return. A student, while in good academic standing, may request to be placed on an “active status” to remain out of classes for up to two semesters while maintaining matriculation.

To make this request students must submit the standard Registration (Add/Drop) Form  indicating their intent for an active status and when they plan to return. This form should be signed by the academic advisor. If approved, students will be charged a $75 active status fee.

If a student does not register for a semester and does not request active status, the student will have to apply for re-admission upon returning to the University. Part-time students need not register each semester to maintain their matriculation. However, part-time students who have not registered for three consecutive regular semesters, nor for any summer session during the three-semester period, will be required to apply for re-admission.

STUDENT MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Occasionally, students experience medical or psychological problems severe enough to require more intensive treatment or time away from the University environment. Students needing to interrupt their studies for psychological reasons may request to be placed on a medical leave of absence upon the written recommendation of a staff member from the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services, a private therapist, or a medical provider. Students requesting a medical leave of absence must present a statement from their attending physician, which will be reviewed and acted upon by the Associate Vice President of Student Success.

Students on medical leave of absence remain matriculated at the University and are not required to reapply for admission. Students participate in the normal registration and room-selection process in absentia, are eligible for tuition and fee refunds according to the University’s published refund policy, and are informed of the implications of the leave on their financial aid packages. It is the student’s responsibility to contact financial aid to determine what, if any, impact the leave will have on their financial aid for the semester.

Students returning from a medical leave of absence will be required to submit a return to campus form (available in the Dean of Students Office) completed by a qualified licensed professional; to meet with the Associate Vice President of Student Success, and to make arrangements when appropriate, for on or off campus support services tailored to their individual needs.

The full Student Medical Leave of Absence policy can be found in the student handbook, The Source.  

VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL

We encourage students to speak with their academic advisor prior to making a decision to withdraw from the University. However, if a student decides to voluntarily withdraw from the University they should do so by withdrawing (dropping) from all courses, if currently enrolled, through the Registration Add/Drop form, or contact the Center for Student Success (CSS) in writing via e-mail from their University of Hartford issued account.

A tuition refund, if applicable, for a student who is voluntarily withdrawing is based on the date of withdrawal. See the current academic calendar in the bulletin of classes for specifics.

Any student seeking to return to the University should contact the Admissions Office. Students who are reapplying to the University under the Fresh Start program need to re-apply through Admissions.