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Vermont Department for Children and Families Postsecondary Education Rules Economic Services Division

2400

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4. The effects of domestic violence; 5. The death, serious illness or accident of an immediate family member or person residing in the household; 6. The unavailability of courses essential to the major, field of study or for general requirements of the college in a particular semester; or 7. Some other equally disruptive set of circumstances, as determined by the case manager and approved by the Department. c. When a participant does not complete or receives a failing grade for a course, the case manager shall meet with them to determine if it is necessary to change the current PSE plan schedule to enable them to meet the requirements in rule 2406.1. d. A participant pursuing a two-year postsecondary undergraduate degree shall be granted only one additional semester for good cause beyond the applicable completion requirement. e. A participant pursuing a four-year postsecondary undergraduate degree shall be granted only two additional semesters for good cause beyond the applicable completion requirement. 2420 Leaves of Absence (08/01/2024, 23-34)

a. A participant may take a leave of absence for up to 12 consecutive months from the PSE program for any reason.

b. The participant must notify the PSE case manager prior to taking the leave of absence to prevent the absence from being considered a de facto withdrawal from the PSE program.

c. If all applicable financial and non-financial eligibility requirements are met (rules 2404 and 2405), a participant shall be readmitted to the PSE program for the academic semester that immediately follows the end of the leave of absence.

d. A participant who is not readmitted into the PSE program for the academic semester immediately following the end of the leave of absence shall be considered to have withdrawn from the program. e. Time taken for leaves of absence shall not count against the applicable PSE degree completion requirements (rule 2406.1), except for any month during the leave of absence in which the participant receives PSE financial benefits or PSE support services. 2421 Case Management During Leaves of Absence (08/01/2024, 23-34)

a. While PSE financial benefits do not continue during any leaves of absence from PSE, limited case management through the PSE program shall be available for participants.

b. Case management shall be provided at the request of the participant during leaves of absence.

c. Monthly case management meetings are not required during PSE leaves of absence.

d. The focus of case management during PSE leaves of absence shall be to assist the participant with successful reentry to the PSE program. e. Case management shall be provided by a participant's Reach Up case manager if they receive Reach