Leave of Absence Policy

Undergraduate

A student may request a Military Leave of Absence (MLOA) by contacting the undergraduate registrar’s office, and the request must be completed prior to the student’s absence from the university.

  1. A copy of the student’s military orders, a letter from his/her commanding officer, or other documentation will be required to support the request for military leave.
  2. The student may request any length for the leave, provided it does not begin more than 30 days prior to the assignment date and does not conclude more than 90 days after the end date stated on the assignment papers.
  3. The return from the MLOA must coincide with a valid semester start date.
  4. Students are eligible for readmission if, during their leave, they performed or will perform voluntary or involuntary active-duty service in the U.S. armed forces, including active duty for training and National Guard or Reserve service under federal authority, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, and received a discharge other than dishonorable or bad conduct.
  5. In general, the cumulative length of absence and all previous absences for military service (service time only) must not exceed five years.

Leave Duration

By default, all students requesting a Military Leave of Absence are granted the longest possible leave without exceeding 90 days beyond their assignment end date. Military and Veteran Services ensures that the MLOA return date coincides with a valid semester start date, and contacts students on Military Leave of Absence within 30 days after the end of their deployment to confirm or adjust the timing of their return as needed.

Courses in Progress

Students going on military leave are given a W grade for all in-progress courses, or dropped from courses if the last day of attendance is before the drop deadline. Such students are considered in Leave status; when they return from their critical military duty, they are assigned an enrollment appointment time in their online student center for the semester they are returning, and is responsible for enrolling in courses via the online student center. Students on military leave return to their studies without incurring financial penalty.

Graduate and Professional

In the event of deployment and/or other circumstance related to military service that will disrupt a student’s course of study, the student is required to submit the Leave of Absence form to the Office of the Graduate and Professional Registrar. Attachment of student’s military orders and/or any other supporting documentation connected to leave is required. The form must be signed by the student’s program director or department chair and the dean. The student may request any length for the leave,as long as it does not begin more than 30 days prior to the assignment date, and does not conclude more than 90 days after the end date stated on the assignment papers. The university will allow more than one military leave of absence if the student is deployed and/or other circumstance related to military service arises. If a subsequent leave of absence is requested that is not related to military service, then the student must comply with the general Leave of Absence policy for professional programs. If the student begins the military leave of absence after the add/drop deadline and has courses in progress, the student will be granted a W (withdrawal) for those courses. Late drops will be considered via written request. Students with this status need not reapply or pay readmission fees.

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