Early Authorized Withdrawal Policy (for F-1 International Students)

F-1 graduate international students must be enrolled full time (6 credit hours or more each semester) year-round including summer, fall, and spring semesters. No more than one class per semester may be taken online. If a student chooses not to enroll during a semester, they will need to speak with International Student Services (ISS) to request an Early Authorized Withdrawal (EAW) and complete the university Leave of Absence form. The EAW will allow and require an F-1 international student to leave the country when not enrolled in classes full time.  

An international student’s SEVIS record will be terminated when requesting an EAW. If the student returns within 5 months (150 days from the day their SEVIS record was terminated in SEVIS), their SEVIS record will be re-activated at the request of the student. Before the student reaches out to ISS, they need to contact the Office of the Dean of Students at dos@cuchicago.edu, to reactivate their attendance and enroll in classes. Then the student must contact ISS 30 days before their desired return, show proof of enrollment for the term they are seeking to return for, and have no financial balance with the university. A Designated School Official (DSO) will request a Corrections Request on the SEVIS system. Once it has been approved, the student will be able to return to the United States under the same SEVIS record and I-20, no earlier than 30 days before the semester start date. 

If a student does not return within 5 months (150 days after their SEVIS record was terminated), the record will stay terminated. If the student would like to return after 5 months have passed and resume their studies, they will first need to contact their academic advisor to apply for readmission and register for classes. Then the student should contact ISS to request a new SEVIS record and I-20. To receive the I-20, the student will need to provide ISS with the requested required documentation. For more information on what documentation will be required, please email ISS at iss@cuchicago.edu.  

If a student is planning on leaving the United States and missing more than two weeks (fourteen days) of classes throughout the semester, the student must show documentation that the instructor(s) and ISS were notified in advance of their pending absence. Missing more than two weeks and leaving the United States will require a student to apply for Early Authorized Withdrawal. 

For any questions related to an Early Authorized Withdrawal (EAW), please contact iss@cuchicago.edu. For questions related to the university Leave of Absence or Withdrawal processes, contact your academic advisor or view the university catalog. 

Early Authorized Withdrawal Policy (for J-1 International Students)

Undergraduate or Graduate students on a J-1 visa seeking a leave of any kind must contact the Designated School Official (DSO) for specific instructions. Please email us at iss@cuchicago.edu. 

Student Address and Change of Address Policy  

To maintain accurate records for university communication, the administration of financial aid, certification or licensure, and other documentation, as well as other regulatory reporting data Concordia University Chicago (CUC) students are required to:  

·       Provide their current, permanent address (the physical location in which the student resides) in Concordia Connect or by submitting a Change of Personal Information Form to the Office of the Registrar.   

·       Update university records within five business days of when their address changes during their enrollment, in any modality, at CUC.   

CUC will use the self-reported permanent address as the student’s physical location for reporting purposes. Please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@cuchicago.edu or 708-209-4078 with any questions.   

Students enrolled in certification or licensure programs  

CUC is required to disclose information regarding requirements for programs that lead to certification or licensure, which include whether a state or territory’s certification or licensure requirements are 1) met 2) not met or 3) do not yet have a determination. CUC must inform the student in writing if the student’s program leading to certification or licensure 1) does not meet or 2) does not yet have a determination, in the state or territory of the student’s self-reported permanent address. If the status of the programs leading to certification or licensure changes to not met for the state or territory listed in the student’s self-reported permanent address, CUC must inform the student in writing within fourteen days.