UM students called to military service face delay in studies

ORONO – Five University of Maine students have been called to military service in the past couple of weeks according to UM spokesman Joe Carr, and it looks like others with military obligations may not be returning for the spring semester.

Of the 61 students enrolled at UM who are members of the Army National Guard, Air National Guard or Army Reserves and receive veterans benefits to help pay for school, only 40 have registered for the spring semester, according to Jan Williams, associate director and certifying official for veterans benefits in UM’s Office of Student Records.

“Some of them had to actually withdraw for the fall semester,” said Williams. “Most of the orders that I’ve seen have been open-ended, so it’s doubtful that they’ll be back for the spring semester.”

Williams noted it’s possible that not all 21 of the unregistered students in the military have been called to active duty. Still, with her files containing records from Operation Enduring Freedom, the Kosovo conflict, Bosnia and Desert Storm, Williams says she has never witnessed as many students with military ties leaving school.

Like most schools, UM has policies in place regarding students called to active military service, including an option to withdraw from all courses with no penalties to grades and a full refund of all tuition and fees.

Students also have the option to work with instructors to complete their coursework. Any student called to active duty is eligible to resume studies after deactivation, according to the policy.

With regard to orders to serve for a year or more, Williams said she isn’t certain that some students will make it back to enroll next fall.

Information on the number of UM students who were activated during previous wars, such as Vietnam and World War II, were unavailable.