Division of Campus Life
Student Support Services

For External Treatment Providers

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For External Treatment Providers

Guidance for clinicians supporting a student’s return to Brown following a medical leave of absence.

Thank you for providing care to a Brown University student while they are on medical leave. We recognize that establishing treatment during a leave can be a significant step for students, and we deeply appreciate your role in supporting their health and well-being.

This page outlines the documentation we ask providers to submit when a student is petitioning to return from medical leave. You can learn more on the Medical Leave of Absence section on our website. 

Who Should Submit a Letter?

For mental health-related leaves, students must submit a letter from their mental health treatment provider (e.g., therapist or psychiatrist). These leaves will require clearance from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Students may submit more than one letter if they have been working with multiple providers. For example, a student might submit letters from both a therapist and a psychiatrist, or from a physician and a mental health clinician.

For physical health-related leaves, students must submit a letter from their medical provider (e.g., primary care physician or specialist). These leaves will require clearance from Brown University Student Health Services.

Students may submit more than one letter if they have been working with multiple providers. For example, a student might submit letters from both a therapist and a psychiatrist, or from a physician and a mental health clinician.

What to Include in the Provider’s Letter

Please include the following information in your letter:

  • Assessment of Readiness to Return: A statement indicating whether, in your clinical opinion, the student is ready to return to the academic and social demands of full-time enrollment at the University by the beginning of the term for which the student is petitioning to return from medical leave.
  • Basis for Your Opinion: A brief explanation of the clinical reasoning behind your assessment of the student’s readiness to return.
  • Concerns and Recommendations: If there are any concerns about the student’s readiness, please describe them and include recommendations that could help address those concerns. This may include treatment continuity or reasonable academic modifications (e.g., course load reduction) that would enable the student to successfully participate in Brown’s programs.

Please note: Your letter can be submitted via email, fax, or postal mail (see contact details).

Submission Timeline

The Medical Leave Clearance Committee reviews petitions on a monthly basis. Materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on the 1st of the month to be reviewed that same month. Review typically takes four weeks. Incomplete petitions will be reviewed in the next cycle once all documentation is received.

Contact and Submission Details

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a case, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Your letter can be submitted via email, fax, or postal mail. 

Mailing Address

Brown University
Student Support Services
Box 2015

Phone

401-863-3145

Fax

401-863-1999

Email

studentsupport@brown.edu