Members of the United States military, including reserve forces, may be eligible for a military leave of absence. This policy follows the guidelines established in the HEROES Act of 2003 in determining appropriate accommodations for military service members who are responding to a war, national emergency or other military operation. In accordance with the HEROES Act, students who experience a disruption in their program due to active military service may be granted the following accommodations by Tusculum University:
- Students who are granted a military leave of absence will be given the option of withdrawing from all their courses or requesting an Incomplete (“I”) grade for any courses in which they were registered when granted the leave. Students who withdraw from their courses as a result of active military service will be given the option of a tuition credit or appropriate refund for the courses they were unable to complete. Students who request an “I” grade must get approval from all their course instructors and be able to complete the required assignments independently, outside of the classroom. Students who request an “I” grade are not issued a tuition credit.
- Students who are granted a military leave of absence are not required to meet financial obligations to Tusculum while on leave.
- Time spent on a military leave of absence does not count toward the student’s maximum time to degree completion.
- Tusculum will provide flexibility and accommodations for administrative deadlines for students on a military leave of absence.
- Withdrawing for a military deployment does not impact a student’s GPA or course completion ration.
Requesting a Military Leave of Absence
To request a formal military leave of absence, students must complete and submit the Military Leave of Absence Request Form (obtained from the Registrar) and supporting documentation prior to the start of their military leave. Supporting documentation should be one of the following:
- Deployment or mobilization orders, including the dates the student will be affected; or
- An official letter from a commanding officer, including the dates the student will be affected.
Upon receipt of the request, the Registrar will review the request, issue a decision and notify the student via email. If the student is granted a military leave of absence, Tusculum will report the student’s leave status to the National Student Clearinghouse.
Returning from a Military Leave of Absence
Upon returning from a military leave of absence, students are responsible for completing and submitting the Returning from a Military Leave of Absence Form from the Registrar. Students can also request their return from a military leave of absence by calling or emailing the Registrar. The Registrar will work with students to determine the next steps for resuming their program.
Military Spouse Leave of Absence
Spouses of members of the United States military, including reserve forces, may be eligible for a military spouse leave of absence. To qualify for a military spouse leave of absence a student must be legally married to the military service member. Tusculum University provides the following accommodations to students who experience a disruption in their program due to the active military service of a spouse:
- Students who are granted a military spouse leave of absence will be given the option of withdrawing from all their courses or requesting an Incomplete (“I”) grade for all courses in which they were registered when granted the leave. Students who withdraw from their courses as a result of a military spouse leave of absence will be given the option of a tuition credit or appropriate refund for the courses they were unable to complete. Students who request an “I” grade must get approval from their course instructor and be able to complete the required assignments independently, outside of the classroom. Students who request an “I” grade are not issued a tuition credit.
- Students who are granted a military spouse leave of absence are not required to meet financial obligations to Tusculum while on leave.
- Time spent during a military spouse leave of absence does not count toward the student’s maximum time to degree completion.
Requesting a Military Spouse Leave of Absence
To request a military spouse leave of absence, students must complete and submit the Military Spouse Leave of Absence Request Form obtained from the Registrar and supporting documentation. Students must indicate the reason for their request, the beginning date of the leave of absence and the anticipated date of return. Supporting documentation should be one of the following:
- Deployment or mobilization orders for the service member, including the dates the student will be affected; or
- An official letter from the service member’s commanding officer, including dates the student will be affected.
Upon receipt of the request, the Registrar will review the request, request additional documentation as needed, issue a decision and notify the student via email. If the student is granted a military spouse leave of absence, Tusculum will report their leave status to the National Student Clearinghouse. A military spouse leave of absence is normally for no more than two consecutive semesters, or 180 total days, in any 12-month period with an option to extend the leave.
Returning from a Military Spouse Leave of Absence
Upon returning from a military spouse leave of absence, students are responsible for completing and submitting the Returning from a Military Spouse Leave of Absence Form obtained from the Registrar. Students can also request their return by calling or emailing the Registrar. The Registrar will work with students to determine the next steps for resuming their program.
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