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What to do when you (or your spouse) receive Active Duty orders

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When you are activated while attending college, this can cause more stressors as there are many tasks to complete prior to deploying. To ease some of the stressors our service members and their spouses face when they are deployed during the semester, here are the steps you will need to take:

Step 1: Once you are informed that you will be receiving orders, or you have received orders, you will need to contact Fernando Rodriguez, fxr001@uark.edu, in the Veteran and Military-Affiliated Student Center as soon as possible. Our staff will work with you to create a plan of action. The next steps will vary depending on the dates of your training or deployment. Talking with our office first will provide you with the information to take to your professors in the next step.

Step 2: Whether attending online or in person, speak with your professors. Explain that you are being activated on military orders for training or deployment. During the conversations with your professor, here are a few examples of options that may be appropriate for your situation: taking an Incomplete in the course, complete coursework remotely if it is a short-term training or the end of a semester, or withdrawing from all classes.

  • DO NOT withdraw or drop classes without speaking with the Veteran and Military-Affiliated Student Center first as this could impact your benefits or financial situation.
  • Incompletes and remote options are at the discretion of each faculty member. The VMSC staff cannot guarantee this will be an option in your circumstance.
  • Always email a summary of verbal conversations to your professors so everyone is in the loop and you have a date-stamped copy of what was agreed upon.

Step 3: Once you have made your decisions about next steps and have approval from faculty members (if needed), you will need to submit a copy of your orders to the Veteran and Military-Affiliated Student via the Military Activation Form. At that time, we will process this change with the VA if you are using benefits and we will share it with the Registrar’s Office and the Treasurer’s Office for any steps they may need to complete.

Tip: When using veteran education benefits, we want to ensure that you do not lose those benefits due to your orders. The SCOs will submit your orders to the VA when you have to withdrawal or take an Incomplete for a course due to deployment. Ensure your orders protect you and are properly dated! As many units will attend training and deployment consecutively, if your orders are dated for after the semester ends, this will not allow for extenuating circumstances.

We are here to help advocate for you inside and outside the classroom during your college experience. If you have questions or run into any roadblocks, please reach out to our for assistance at 479-575-8742 or vmsc@uark.edu. Or come by the Center on Garland Avenue.

Below you will find several links to the policies that may apply to you in your situation. Please review these as they will be important to know as you make your decision about next steps.

Student or Student’s Spouse Called Into Military Service-- Tuition and Fee and Enrollment Compensatory Options:

Accommodation for Remote Course Delivery:

Notification Responsibilities, Readmission Procedures and Eligibility

Attendance policy and excusable absences:

Incompletes and Grade Exclusions: