University of Central Arkansas
Academic Affairs
READMISSIONS POLICY FOR SERVICE MEMBERS ACTIVATED OR DEPLOYED DURING AN ACADEMIC TERM
Benefit to Student Service Members
1. UCA Recognizes that students serving in the military often have unique challenges with unexpected orders to active duty or training that may conflict with classes. Often these conflicts are resolved through proper coordination with Professors. In some instances this cannot be achieved and the student is not able to meet course standards.
2. If the circumstances require a student to stop attending classes during the semester due to military service, the student must present a copy of their orders to active duty causing the absence to the Director of the Veterans Resource Center. Once the student provides notice of the military obligation and orders that prevent attendance, the student will be allowed one of the following options, as per Arkansas Code Ann. § 6-61-112:
a. Receive a full refund of tuition and fees for the interrupted semester,
b. Receive at least a one year extension after deactivation to complete the required coursework, or
c. Free tuition for one semester upon return if they have not already received a refund, unless federal aid is made available to compensate the student for the resulting monetary loss related to the student’s activation or deployment.
Benefit to Student Spouses of Service Members
3. The benefit authorized in Arkansas Code Ann. § 6-61-112 above also applies to the student spouse of service members that are not students but are deployed or activated if the military member or student spouse has dependent children residing in the household (as reflected in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System).
Readmission of Student Service Members or Student Spouses of Service Members
4. At such time as the service member’s duty is complete and the student wishes to return to school, the University will readmit the student with the same academic status held when last attending school. Readmittance will be done in accordance with Chapter 3 of Volume 2 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook. The student may:
a. Return to the same program they were previously in if they so choose,
b. Return to the same enrollment status, such as under the same bulletin year they were previously under, unless the student prefers a different status,
c. Return with the same credit hours previously completed, unless the student is readmitted to a different program to which the hours are not transferable,
d. Return with the same academic standing as previously held.
5. If the circumstances require a student to dis-enroll after completion of a full semester, due to military duty beyond their control, and upon completion of that duty the student chooses to return to school, the student will be readmitted as per the paragraph above. If the student does not have military or veterans benefits to cover the cost of current tuition and fees, UCA will assess only the tuition and fees the student would have been assessed for the academic year during which the student was absent, for the first year the student returns, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Volume 2 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook. This special assessment will be offered for up to five years.