Military Withdrawal

You've gotten your orders. Now what?

If you serve in the U.S. armed forces, we understand that you may be called to duty with little notice for:

  • Active duty deployment (not including basic training)
  • Specialized training
  • Disaster relief efforts

If you’ve been called to serve while a student at IU Columbus, you have the following four options.

If you choose to withdraw, you (or another responsible party) need to make your request within one week of receiving your official orders. Bring a copy of your orders along with a signed note stating that you intend to withdraw. If you don’t yet have a copy of your orders, bring your military ID and an orders-pending letter from your unit to get the process started, then provide your orders when they’re available.

You’ll receive a 100 percent refund of your tuition and fees, no matter how far into the semester you’ve studied. If you withdraw after the first week of the semester, you’ll receive a W on your transcript. If you receive financial aid, you may be subject to refund policies.

With your instructors’ permission, you may receive a grade of I (incomplete) for your current semester’s coursework. You’ll have one calendar year from the date the grade is recorded to complete the required assignments and tests.

With your instructors’ permission, you may choose to be graded on the work you’ve completed to date.

Work with your instructors to see if this is an option.

Military leave of absence

If you decide to withdraw from IU Columbus while on duty, or if you won’t return in time to enroll the following semester, you can be placed on military leave of absence (LOA). Your LOA will last until you return from service. Your IU computer and email accounts will remain accessible while you’re gone.