Students Taking Time Away for Military Service

Policy Statement

For this policy, military service refers to international or domestic service in the uniformed services, whether voluntary or involuntary, including National Guard and reservists.

Any student who takes time away for military service lasting more than 30 consecutive days may be approved for time away related to military service. Time away related to military service will not be deducted from the student's total allowable personal time away from their academic program. Students may also be accommodated if there are short absences due to service obligations, provided that satisfactory academic progress is being made by the students prior to suspending their studies.

Students may return to their degree program(s) once their period of military service is completed. Under the conditions detailed in the Return section below, a student who returns to Dartmouth after a period of service shall return with the same academic status they had when they last attended Dartmouth.

Incoming Undergraduate Students

Under rare and exceptional circumstances, first-year students and transfers may take a leave of absence during their first quarter, following initial attendance, and return within the same academic year with the permission of the Dean of the College or the Dean's designee.

Incoming Graduate and Professional School Students

Under rare and exceptional circumstances, incoming graduate students may take time away for military service during their first quarter and return within the same academic year with the permission of their degree program and their Dean's office. Any student taking time away for military service in a degree program requiring candidacy (e.g., PhD programs requiring a dissertation) who has not yet been admitted to candidacy will have the pre-candidacy period automatically extended for a period of time equivalent to the military service. If the student has been admitted to candidacy, the candidacy period will be extended for a period of time equivalent to the military service. In degree programs not requiring candidacy, the period of time allowed for completion of the degree will be automatically extended by the period of time equivalent to the military service.

Return

In general, any student whose absence from their academic program at Dartmouth is necessitated by reason of military service shall be entitled to return to Dartmouth if:

    A. The student, or an appropriate military official, gives advance written or verbal notice of such service to the student's school Dean or the Dean's designee;

    B. The cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences from Dartmouth because of military service does not exceed five years; and

    C. Except as otherwise provided in applicable U.S. law, the student submits a notification of intent to return to the student's school Dean or the Dean's designee.

Typically, a returning student may enroll in the academic period (e.g., quarter) that begins after the student's notice of intent to re-enroll, unless (i) the student requests a later date to re-enroll, (ii) there are delays with the student's visa issuance, or (iii) there are unusual circumstances that cause Dartmouth to enroll the student at a later date.

Advance notice

In some cases, advance notice of service is not possible, for example, if a mission, operation, or exercise is classified. Any student (or appropriate military official) who did not give advance notice of service may meet the notice requirement by submitting, at the time the student seeks to return, an attestation that the student performed military service that necessitated the student's absence from Dartmouth.

Length of absence

In some cases, a student may be obligated to be away for military service for a period longer than five years, for example, if required to complete an initial period of obligated service. Students should contact their school's Dean or the Dean's designee with questions about eligibility to return.

Notification of intent to return

In general, a student shall, upon the completion of a period of service, notify their school's Dean or the Dean's designee of their intent to return to Dartmouth not later than three years after the completion of their period of service. A student who is hospitalized for, or convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in or aggravated during the performance of military service shall notify their school's Dean or the Dean's designee of their intent to return to Dartmouth not later than two years after the end of the period that is necessary for recovery from such illness or injury. A student who fails to request to return within the period described in this section shall be subject to Dartmouth's established time away policies and general practices.

Documentation

A student who submits an application for a request to return to Dartmouth shall provide documentation to establish that:

    A. The cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences from Dartmouth because of military service does not exceed five years; and

    B. The student's eligibility to return has not been terminated based on, for example, a separation from their service with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.

This policy shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of 20 U.S.C. § 1091c, 34 C.F.R. § 668.18, and related guidance from U.S. federal agencies. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Frequently Asked Questions: Institutional Readmission Requirements for Servicemembers.