How Do Colleges Handle Absences for Military Duty?

If I join the military while I'm still in college, how will my institution handle my absences when I'm called up for duty? What are the most common policies on this?

Colleges and universities generally have detailed policies to accommodate students who are called up for military duty. While the specifics might vary from institution to institution, there are some commonalities that are wisely adapted across the educational sector.

One major pervading principle is the ability to withdraw and return to school. When you receive your deployment notice, your institution would typically allow for a full withdrawal regardless of how far into the semester you are. This means that you wouldn't receive 'Ws' on your transcript, which could give the appearance of dropping courses without good reason. You would often receive a full refund of your tuition fees for that semester.

Upon return from deployment, schools generally make every effort to ensure readmission runs as smoothly as possible. Some institutions provide priority registration to veterans and active-duty military members, which gives you a broader selection of classes making it easier to align with your degree plan.

Another critical consideration is how the institution handles grades in the event of sudden deployment. If you're near the end of the semester, some colleges and universities can provide an "Incomplete" status for your courses. This allows you to finish any remaining work upon your return, rather than starting over from scratch.

For course continuity, some schools offer distance learning or online courses, which you could potentially continue during deployment. However, this heavily depends on your specific deployment circumstances.

Finally, it’s important to note the role of the federal law. The "Readmission Requirements for Servicemembers" law dictates that service members must be promptly readmitted to an institution if they have been absent due to military service, provided their cumulative length of absence and all previous absences for military service (including Basic Training) does not exceed five years. The school is also required to either credit the tuition and fees toward the next academic semester or program in which the student enrolls, or refund the tuition and fees paid by the student.

Of course, each school has their interpretation and application of these principles, so it's essential to reach out to your college’s military or veterans affairs office for specifics. Understanding these policies before you embark on your military duty can relieve uncertainties and make your journey smoother.