Policies & Procedures

AA4026.1 Military Leave Procedure

Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to establish the steps for a student who wishes to take military leave from the College.

SUNY Broome follows

New York State Law Section 6350 Leave of Absence

for military service.

Statement of the Procedure

1. Any student opting to take a military leave must submit a copy of their official military orders to the Registrar’s Office. A military leave may be granted only to the student who is called to full-time service under federal active duty (Reserves/National Guard) or state active duty (State Militia).
2. The student will be dropped from all of their enrolled classes without penalty. On a case-by-case basis, other options may be presented for completing courses in which the student is currently enrolled. The faculty of the courses in which the student is enrolled will be notified once the military leave is officially activated.
3. The student’s matriculation status will be kept active while they are on military leave, and for one year after the conclusion of such service.
4. After completing military service, the student must notify the Registrar’s Office and provide any necessary documentation to facilitate their re-enrollment.

Definitions

• Active Duty (10 USC § 101(d)(1): “Full-time duty in the active military service of the United States. This includes members serving in: The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force; The National Guard or Reserves when activated under federal orders; Training duty (except for inactive duty training); Service Academy cadets or midshipmen.”
• Military Leave: an authorized absence granted to employees or students who are members of the military when they are required to fulfill military duties. This can include training, active duty, mobilization, or emergency deployments.
• Military Orders: official directives issued by a commanding officer or military authority that instruct a service member to perform a specific duty, mission, or deployment. These orders are legally binding and must be followed.
• State Militia: military forces organized at the state level, separate from the federal military. It typically includes two main components:
  • State National Guard (Army National Guard and Air National Guard)
    • Operates under dual state and federal authority.
    • Can be activated by the Governor for state emergencies (disaster relief, riots, etc.).
    • Can also be federalized by the President for national defense missions.
  • State Defense Forces (SDF) (also called “State Guards” or “State Military Reserves”)
    • Exists in some states as an all-volunteer force separate from the National Guard.
    • Operates only under state authority (cannot be federalized).
    • Typically assists with emergency response, homeland security, and supporting the National Guard.

To Whom it Applies (title or department)

SUNY Broome students