[Oacrao-l] Institutional Policy for Military Students Called to Duty

[Dela Cruz, Jr., Jose]

Hello OACRAO members, I hope my correspondence finds you well and ready for another legislative session.  The purpose of my correspondence relates to how your campus addresses the enrollment of military students who have been called to active duty at any point during their semester.  A senate bill [attached] has been introduced which will require institutions to grant a leave of absence for a student who is a member of the active uniformed military services of the US and is called to active duty.  The language in the bill stipulates that these students shall be eligible to:


1.      Withdraw from and receive a refund for any or all classes for the period of active duty service without penalty to admission status or grade point average and without loss of institutional financial aid; or

2.      Receive an incomplete grade for any or all classes for the period of active duty status; provided, however, that the student has completed a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of all class work prior to being called to active duty and the student completes all classes upon return from active duty. The student's admission status and grade point average shall not be penalized, and the student shall experience no loss of institutional financial aid.

The part of the language in the bill that concerns me is the provision that states students may bring an action in district court for actual and compensatory damages for noncompliance and may be granted such relief as is just and proper under the circumstances if an institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education fails to comply with provisions outlined in the bill.

I do know that some institutions have policies in place that are similar to 1 and 2 above, but I would like to have a better understanding of how our state system institutions address the enrollment of those military students called to active duty.  If you will provide me with a link to your policy, it will be greatly appreciated.

As we have done in the past, an overview of the house and senate bills introduced will be presented at February's OACRAO meeting.  Please let me know if you have any questions.


Cheers,
José



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