The Office of Student Affairs provides a wide range of support and assistance to Gallatin undergraduate and graduate students. Find out more about those supports below, or write to us at studentaffairs.gallatin@nyu.edu.
Although most academic counseling is facilitated by Gallatin’s faculty and advisers, the Office of Student Affairs assist students when grade point averages fall below school standards for maintaining academic good standing, when referred to by faculty, or at the request of the student.
The Office of Student Affairs assists students with taking a Leave of Absence or withdrawing from school for a specified time frame. A Leave of Absence interrupts a student’s progress toward a degree, therefore, it is only granted for a good cause. Leaves of Absence maintain a student’s status with the University as accepted and matriculated toward a degree. When a student is absent from school without obtaining approval for a Leave of Absence, they jeopardize their progress toward their academic degree and they invalidate their acceptance, which may require them to apply for readmission. Students need to be aware that the Leave of Absence may affect their University housing, financial aid package and Student Health Insurance Plan. Therefore, students should contact each office independently to discuss the consequences of the leave before actually applying.
It is the student’s responsibility to be informed of the registration period for the semester he/she plans to return, and to obtain the class schedules online when they are available. It is also the student’s responsibility to meet with a class adviser well in advance of the date on which he/she intends to register for classes.
International students who require a Leave of Absence should contact the Office of Global Services at 212-998-4720 and review the requirements pertaining to their visa status while on leave from New York University.
International students whose home countries require that they participate in two years of military service, will not be required to apply for readmission after they return from their Leave of Absence for military service, provided that they meet the following conditions: (1) they are on leave for just four regular semesters (Fall and Spring); (2) they provide written proof of their military service during the leave time period; and (3) they provide proof of an honorable discharge. Any English translations of necessary documentation must be provided by accredited third-party translators. Students on a military Leave of Absence who fail to meet the conditions must apply for readmission with no guarantee of acceptance.
A student contemplating a Leave of Absence must contact the Office of Student Affairs to discuss the matter. Students must request a Leave of Absence in-person, by e-mail or by signed letter. Parents, guardians and school officials cannot request a leave for a student. Students can obtain an application for a Leave of Absence directly from Student Affairs or they may download it from the Quick Links section of the Student Affairs webpage. Students should read the application carefully, paying particular attention to the second page, which lists the terms of a Leave of Absence. Please note that submitting an application for a Leave of Absence does not guarantee approval.
Usually, Leaves of Absence are requested prior to the first day of classes of the semester. Requests for leaves after the first day will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Student Affairs.
A Leave of Absence is approved for one semester or for two consecutive semesters. If a student is not able to return after two consecutive semesters on leave, he or she will be required to apply for readmission. However, in the event of an extended medical leave, readmission is not necessary.
To request an extension to a Leave of Absence, a student must contact the Office of Student Affairs. An extension may be granted when there is good cause.
Generally, there are two types of leaves:
Once the student has discussed the leave request with the Office of Student Affairs, completed the Leave of Absence application, and provided the physician/counselor verification, then their request is processed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by the Associate Dean of Students.
Please note that students on a medical Leave of Absence due to counseling reasons must receive counseling or comparable treatment throughout the duration of the leave period.
Students returning from a medical leave must complete a Return from Leave of Absence application and submit it to the Office of Student Affairs. Applications may be downloaded from the Quick Links section of Student Affairs webpage. Additionally, students on a medical leave due to a physical condition must have a physician write a letter stating that they are ready to resume coursework. The letter must be sent directly to the Office of Student Affairs. Students on a medical leave due to counseling reasons must have their clinician complete a Certification of Readiness to Return form. Students must also schedule an appointment with a counselor at NYU’s Counseling and Wellness Services. Both actions must be done one month before the beginning of the semester of intended return (August for the Fall semester, December for the Spring semester).
The Office of Student Affairs assists students with a broad spectrum of wellness issues. Professional staff members are available to listen and to provide limited counseling to help students define what may be troubling them and to develop strategies to cope. Student Affairs also connects students with NYU’s Counseling and Wellness Services for more extensive individual counseling, and to provide information on low-cost referrals. Additionally, the Office of Student Affairs maintains an on-site counselor.
If you have a wellness concern and would like to consult with a Student Affairs representative, please contact studentaffairs.gallatin@nyu.edu.
The Wellness Exchange is NYU's extensive network of health and mental health resources.
If a student is in distress and needs immediate assistance, he or she should contact the Wellness Exchange Hotline: (212) 443-9999, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Additionally, students can email the Wellness Exchange— wellness.exchange@nyu.edu — or visit a counselor during walk-in hours (no appointment necessary) at 726 Broadway, 4th floor.
Matt Blanchard
Director of Student Affairs & Associate Faculty
mpb339@nyu.edu
1 Wash Pl, Room 514
(212) 992-7750
Matt Blanchard is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with a primary interest in the history of psychotherapy, popular psychological discourse, and the ever-evolving concepts of mind and self. Matt is the author of Secrets and Lies in Psychotherapy (APA, 2019) with Barry Farber and Melanie Love, which compiles his online-interview research into why clients in therapy conceal, lie and avoid important topics such as suicidal ideation, substance use, sexual issues, and their feelings about therapy itself, with an emphasis on what therapists can do to foster honesty about these issues. Professor Blanchard spent five years with NYU's Counseling & Wellness Services seeing clients, running groups and supervising postdoctoral fellows. He has previously taught Dynamic Psychotherapy and Cross-Cultural Counseling for NYU's Department of Applied Psychology, as well as first-year writing and research courses for the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.