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Assistance Available for Students Called for Active Duty |
| By
Kimyette Finley |
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Mar 24, 2003 |
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Charles Washington, UT’s on-campus recruiter, said if a student in the Reserves is called for active duty, the Military Service Center is there for assistance. “They start the paperwork to stop the Montgomery G.I. Bill, and they get you deregistered from school. It can be done in one day,” he said.
Mark Schroeder is the coordinator of the Military Service Center, and Eileen Burg is the secretary. According to Burg, approximately 41 UT students in the Reserves have received orders for active duty as of March 20.
Washington said students who are called for active duty are still expected to communicate with faculty members about their situation. “They’re trained to keep everyone in their chain informed. They are to make sure they handle things here at UT before they leave. It would also be wise of them to go to Admissions to make sure everything is cleared up.”
Upon return, students can stop back at the Military Service Center for assistance for re-entry into school.
Other specific information for students called to active duty:
• Tuition and classes — Joan Bunch, assistant registrar for registration and records, said if students are called up for active duty, they can deregister from classes as if they were never enrolled and that students should take a copy of their military orders to the Military Service Center or the Registrar’s Office to begin the process. “Their classes are dropped at 100 percent [tuition and fees] at any time during the term. They get their money back and we wish them well.” However, if a student wants to try and complete the course work upon return, it is up to the discretion of the professor, she said.
• Financial aid — If a student has received federal financial aid, such as the Pell Grant or any of the federal loans, there is a requirement to perform a repayment calculation, which is based on the amount of time spent in school and how much financial aid applied to the account was earned. “The calculation sometimes indicates an amount of money the student received for a term that may have to be sent back. Some [of the money] may have been given to the student already,” explained Brenda Holderman, assistant bursar. This may result in a balance owed to the University or the U.S. Department of Education. Holderman said the University would work with students in any payback of balances owed. Students can re-apply for aid when they return to school, and they are eligible for loan deferments.
• Residence halls — “We will eliminate their charges for the room,” said Wayne Gates, assistant vice president for student affairs and residence life.
• Meal plans — Students will receive a refund of any unused portion for their meal plan. According to Greg Graham, manager of retail operations, “This includes a refund of any board meal credit, dining dollars and Rocket Card dollar balances. The military call for duty is considered nonvoluntary and therefore is not subject to the normal proration schedules.”
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