Military Activation Waiver Policy
According to Arkansas code A.M. § 6-61-112 a student who ceases attendance at SAU Tech without completing and receiving a grade in one or more courses shall receive compensation for the resulting monetary loss if the student ceases attendance because:
- The student is activated or deployed by the military; or
- The student’s spouse is activated or deployed by the military and the student or the student’s spouse has dependent children residing in the household.
To be eligible for the compensation described, the student must provide, prior to activation or deployment, an original or official copy of the military activation or deployment orders to the Vice Chancellor of Academics at SAU Tech at the time of military activation or deployment. The VC of Academics will notify the Registrar’s Office of the military activation or deployment, and the option the student or student’s spouse chooses below.
To be eligible for the compensation described, a student whose spouse is a service member shall provide proof of registration with the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System of the Department of Defense that establishes that dependent children reside in the household of the student and service member.
The student shall choose from one of the following three compensatory options regarding tuition:
- A complete refund of tuition and general fees that are assessed against all SAU Tech students;
- At least one year to complete the course work after the student’s or student’s spouse’s deactivation; or
- Free tuition for one semester at SAU Tech unless federal aid is made available to compensate the student for the resulting monetary loss related to the student or student’s spouse’s activation or deployment.
- Federal aid shall not include Pell Grants, other federal grants, or other monetary benefits paid to the student directly or at the student’s direction.
- If a student or student’s spouse is activated or deployed during a semester, the student shall not receive more than one semester of free tuition.
- The student or student’s spouse will not be allowed to recover any amount in excess of the actual monetary loss.
The student shall receive a prorated refund of room, board, and other fees that were paid to SAU Tech based on the date of the student’s notice of withdrawal from the institution. The student or student’s spouse shall receive the maximum price, based on condition, for the textbooks related to the uncompleted courses.
The student’s eligibility for a state-supported scholarship, grant, or loan for attendance at SAU Tech shall not be affected by the student’s failure to complete any coursework because of the student’s or student’s spouse’s military activation or deployment. The Department of Higher Education shall adopt the necessary rules to ensure that state-supported scholarship, grant, and loan programs comply with this policy.
For each fiscal year, SAU Tech shall report the type and amount of compensatory options to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education provided under this policy. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education shall report to the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs and the Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth regarding the type and amount of compensatory options provided under this policy by SAU Tech no later than October 1 of each year beginning in 2006 and each year thereafter.