Matriculants may request a Leave of Absence for up to one academic year with permission from the academic advisor. A Leave of Absence is a temporary interruption in a student's Program of Study. It may be requested only by students who intend to return and complete their studies. NDMU's Leave of Absence policy does not meet guidelines established by the US Department of Education and is therefore not officially recognized by the Office of Financial Aid. A student who is on leave maintains status as a matriculant and therefore is not eligible to earn credit at another college during the absence from NDMU.
Military Leave of Absence
When a student in the U.S. Reserves or in the National Guard is called to active duty or when an international student is called to active duty in his or her home country, the student must notify the advisor and provide proof of deployment prior to being deployed. The proof may be emailed, mailed, or hand-carried to the OAVPSL, which will ensure that the information is valid and conveyed to the registrar’s office. It may take the form of general orders cut by the company commander.
When a student is activated during the semester, the university will:
- Excuse tuition for that semester. Any payment made will be credited to the student’s account.
- Post a leave of absence for the semester to hold a place for the student when he or she returns.
If a student is called to active duty near the end of the semester, the student and faculty members may determine that incomplete (I) grades are more appropriate. In this case, tuition will not be waived.
When a student returns to the university after completion of the tour of duty, he or she will notify their advisor, which will in turn notify the registrar’s office. The advisor will assist the student with reentry and registration.