Student Military Call Up

Last Updated January 2007

As a result of the current situation in the Middle East, a number of UWM students serving in U.S. military reserve or National Guard units have been called to active duty recently and we expect that more will be called in the coming weeks or months.

The University of Wisconsin System and UWM have a number of policies in place to accommodate students who must temporarily lay aside their educational pursuits when called to active duty in the military. Outlined below are the key points. Please note that these provisions apply to involuntary activations, not routinely scheduled training or voluntary enlistments.

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Drop/Withdrawal and Full Refund of Tuition and Fees
Students called to active military service after the beginning of a term or session are entitled to drop their courses and receive a full refund of tuition and fees for courses still in progress and in which they are actively enrolled at the time of the call-up. To exercise this option, students should first withdraw from classes (or drop selected classes; see below) and then provide a copy of their military activation orders to the Department of Enrollment Services Registration Center located in Bolton 272. A copy may also be mailed to that office (Dept. of Enrollment Services, c/o Registration Center, P.O. Box 729, Milwaukee, WI 53201), or faxed to 414-229-2505. After appropriate review, a full refund will be authorized and processed. Students may drop or withdraw from full semester classes on PAWS through the eighth week of the term. Thereafter, they must do so in the academic advising office of their school or college. However, even in cases of a military call-up, students do not have the option to drop partial/mini-term classes that have already been completed, nor can a student drop a course for which all work has already been completed/submitted. With the increase in partial term classes (and with the many varied summer sessions), enrollment in multiple sessions has become quite common. Students who are unsure how to proceed in these cases are encouraged to consult with the Registration Center staff.

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Grading Options
Students may also opt to remain enrolled in some or all of their courses. In this case, the student may either:

• request an "Incomplete" for the class, with the understanding that the coursework will be completed upon return from active military duty; or
• request that a final grade be assigned based upon work completed to date.

Students wishing to exercise either of these options should consult with the instructor who will, as necessary, report the "I" grade through the usual channels. Obviously these options may not be equally viable for all classes, depending on the timing, how much work remains to be completed, whether a final exam constitutes a major portion of the grade, etc. For this reason, consultation with the instructor and/or academic advisor is encouraged.

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Refund of Room and Board
A student called to active duty while living on campus will be released from his/her housing contract and refunded the unused portion of his/her room/board. To exercise this option, students should contact Residence Life Assistant Director Ken Busch (414-229-4068) to coordinate contract cancellation.

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Subsequent Readmission
Under similar circumstances in the past, we have asked that administrative units be flexible in facilitating the re-entry of students returning from military service. This has involved streamlining the usual re-entry application process, waiving application deadlines, etc. Each case will depend on individual circumstances, but faculty and staff are asked to be as accommodating as possible once these students are able to return to the University. Students who return from military service and are ready to re-enter should contact the appropriate admission office (Enrollment Services 414-229-5932 or the Graduate School 414-229-6569) for further information on how to proceed.

For additional information about issues related to military call-ups, please contact: