Military Service Requirements

Military Deployment Accommodations

You have options and some decisions and arrangements to make if your orders fall in the middle of a term. You must think about your options in light of your academic progress and financial impact.

You may want to consider, in collaboration with your instructors:

• Drop or withdraw from courses, with a refund, even after published deadlines; or
• Receive a grade of incomplete and, when released from active duty/reservist training, complete the course; or
• Continue and complete the course for credit.

The option best for you will depend on when in the term you are given orders and any financial impacts. For example, dropping or withdrawing from courses may impact financial aid, VA education benefits, or military tuition assistance benefits. To learn more about these options and other military deployment accommodations, read the full Military Deployment Accommodation Guidance.

Making Arrangements

Here are the steps you should follow before departure if you are ordered to federal or state active duty, or called to unit training assembly or annual training:

1. Submit verification of active duty/reserve component training to the VA certifying officials in the Office of the Registrar. They can help you assess your options and coordinate with instructors and other areas, as needed.
2. Consult with instructors if you decide to request an incomplete or request accommodations to complete a course for credit. The VA certifying officials in the Office of the Registrar can help you outline your options.  
3. Determine if you need or want to take a leave of absence. Undergraduate students may consider utilizing the Planned Educational Leave Program. Graduate students may consider taking a leave of absence after consulting with the academic program or graduate school.
4. Decide if you want to drop or withdraw from a course, request an incomplete from your instructor(s), or request accommodations to complete the course for credit. Since there may be some financial impacts with each option, the VA certifying officials in the Office of the Registrar can help you weigh various options.
5. Graduate students who have additional obligations such as grant funded research or institutional appointment should consult their academic program or graduate school before leaving for duty/reservist training.

If you may be away four or more terms

Undergraduate Planned Educational Leave Program

This program is for temporary planned pause in a student's education. It should only be used if the student may away from the university for more than four terms. The $25 dollar fee is waived for Military Members.

Undergraduate Planned Educational Leave