Readmission of Service Members

Steps to leaving UCI when called to active duty, or when returning to UCI from active duty.

Leaving UCI for Active Duty

A continuing student receiving VA benefits and called to active duty must provide a copy of their military orders to the Veterans Benefits Office, who will then notify the VA of the student’s new status. A student who has paid registration fees prior to being called to active duty must complete a Withdrawal Application form through StudentAccess.

For guidance on how withdrawal will affect academic progress, contact the appropriate College or school academic advising unit.

Registration Fees Not Paid

A student who has not paid registration fees may declare nonattendance through StudentAccess.

Returning to UCI from Active Duty

The University of California, Irvine acknowledges that students may be temporarily unable to attend classes or be required to suspend their studies to perform uniformed service. UC Irvine encourages such students to resume their university education once a military service obligation has ended and adopts this policy to ensure the timely readmission of such students.

In accordance with federal regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 668.18 and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), UC Irvine will promptly readmit service members who seek readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation.

Eligibility

This policy shall apply to:

1. Service members who are unable to attend classes for more than 30 consecutive days; and
2. Service members who are unable to attend classes for less than 30 days when such an absence would result in a withdrawal from UC Irvine.

A student is eligible for readmission under this policy if, during an absence, the student performs uniformed service, voluntary or involuntary, in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserve, active duty, active duty for training or full-time National Guard (under federal authority).

The cumulative length of all absences for uniformed service (service time only) must not exceed five (5) years.

Notification of Intent to Return

The student must give written notice of their intent to return to UC Irvine within three (3) years after the military service period is completed. Immediately upon the student’s return to UC Irvine, they must give written notice they may be entitled to the tuition and enrollment benefits outlined in this policy.

The returning student is required to provide official military orders or supporting documentation of a uniformed service obligation to the UC Irvine Veteran Benefits Office (VBO) as far in advance as possible, unless precluded by military necessity. Notification under this section must be provided, by the student, to the VBO, by emailing veteran@uci.edu.

Tuition and Fees

A returning student must be charged the same tuition and fees in effect during the last academic year the student attended, unless U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits or other service member education benefits will pay the amount in excess. For subsequent academic years, the returning student may not be charged tuition and fees over what other students in the program are charged.

Readmission Requirements

A returning student will be permitted to reenroll in the next class(es) scheduled in the same academic program, unless the student requests a later date of reenrollment or agrees to a different program. A returning student will be readmitted into the same academic program they were enrolled in before the military service obligation. If the exact program no longer exists, the student must be admitted to the program that is most similar, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to a different program. Returning students will be reenrolled with the same enrollment status, number of completed credit hours, and academic standing as the last academic year of attendance.

If UC Irvine determines that a returning student is not prepared to resume the program or is unable to complete the program, the university must make reasonable efforts to enable the student to resume or complete the program at no additional cost to the student. If such efforts are unsuccessful or place an undue hardship on UC Irvine, the university is not required to readmit the student.

In accordance with federal regulations, returning students who receive a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) are not eligible for readmission under this policy. However, service members who receive dishonorable or bad conduct discharge may remain eligible for readmission even though they will not be entitled to the benefits outlined in this policy.