A student who has been admitted to or enrolled at The University of Alabama as an undergraduate student may ask for a military leave to fulfill a U.S. military obligation. The student should notify the Office of the University Registrar of a call to military service, provide documentation and notify this same office of his/her intent to return to the University. If there is no dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the military, and the cumulative length of this absence and all previous absences from undergraduate study due to military service does not exceed five years, the student will be readmitted. This is in accordance with the readmission provisions in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (Section 484C of the HEA) and implementing regulations in 34 CFR Section 668.18.
Students who are required to participate in weekly or monthly meetings, weekend drills, annual trainings, military schooling, other military training or an official military event as a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or as a member of the Inactive Ready Reserve, will be excused from class.
Students who are actively participating in the United States Military Reserve or National Guard are required to provide each faculty member a copy of their Reserve and/or National Guard schedule during the first week of class each semester. In the event that the student must perform duties outside of this schedule, the student must provide to each faculty member, a copy of his/her military orders or a signed memorandum from his/her Unit Commander/Administrative NCO (Non-commissioned Officer) containing the required dates of service. Orders or signed memorandums should be provided to the faculty member as soon as the military member is notified of the service requirement.
The student is required to contact each faculty member about making up missed work. The faculty member is responsible for giving the student a reasonable extension for making up missed work. Due to the complexities of the required drill/training schedule, sometimes it is necessary that students travel outside the military orders or drill schedule dates in order to report to the training site. In these cases, faculty should be flexible and work with the student to come to an agreement that is fair to both the student and the faculty member. It is recommended that no less than 3 business days be the standard extension for missed work.
For questions, concerns or verification pertaining to Drill Schedules, Military Orders, or any unit correspondence please contact the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs to handle all communications between UA and the Point of Contact for the Military Member.
For purposes of this section, active military duty means service, whether voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under Federal authority, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days under a call or order to active duty of more than 30 consecutive days. A student who has been admitted to or who has been enrolled at The University of Alabama may request a withdrawal to fulfill a U.S. military obligation. The student should notify the Office of the University Registrar and provide documentation of his or her call to service, and submit notification whether or not he/she intends to return to the University. Graduate students should also provide documentation to the Graduate Dean. Withdrawal is not contingent on the student’s notification of intent to return to the University. The intent to return is used as information for future communication with the student.
A student returning from active military duty may be readmitted per the readmission provisions in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (Section 484C of the HEA) and implementing regulations in 34 CFR Section 668.18. A student can be promptly readmitted, providing he or she withdrew to fulfill a U.S. military obligation, was not dishonorably discharged from the uniformed services, and the cumulative length of his/her absence and of all previous absences from undergraduate studies due to military service did not exceed five years.
When a student is called to active military duty during an academic term, he or she may choose one of the following three options:
Excerpt from the School of Law academic policy:
Under federal regulations, see 34 C.F.R. § 668.18, a student who has been admitted to or who has been enrolled at the University of Alabama School of Law may ask for a military leave to fulfill a U.S. military obligation. If the student’s absence was necessitated by this obligation and there is no dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the uniformed services, then the student will be promptly readmitted if the cumulative length of his/her absence and of all previous absences from the School of Law due to military service does not exceed five years. The student continues law school from the point where he or she left, and the academic requirements at the point when he or she left apply. Students leaving law school should notify the Records Office of their departure. Students leaving school because of military service do not lose Law School scholarships, though all conditions of scholarships remain in place. All Law School scholarships additionally are limited to six semesters. Students leaving because of military service may initiate readmission by contacting the Records Office. Students readmitted to the Law School under this policy are not subject to the six-year time limit for completing the J.D. degree.
