To assure that your Scholarship and Grant Policy and Procedure Manual remains current, please record this document on your TOPS Bulletin index and retain it with your manual.

To assist you in advising TOPS Recipients who are National Guard or Armed Forces Reservists who are called to active duty, we are reminding you that such absences from initial or continuous enrollment are covered under TOPS rules, Section 2103. We have copied it here and also are providing a copy of the TOPS Request for Exception to the Continuous or Full Time Enrollment Requirement Form for your benefit. Please note that students must be subject to call up for these provisions to apply. Currently, students who leave school to voluntarily enlist in the armed services are not covered under these provisions.

§2103. Circumstances Warranting Exception to the Initial and Continuous Enrollment Requirements

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D. Procedure for Requesting Exceptions to the Initial and Continuous Enrollment Requirement

1. The student should complete and submit an application for an exception, with documentary evidence, to the Office as soon as possible after the occurrence of the event or circumstance that supports the request. Through the 2000-2001 academic year, the student must submit application for an exception no later than May 30 of the academic year the student requests reinstatement into TOPS. Commencing with the 2001-2002 academic year, the student must submit the application for exception no later than six months after the date of the notice of cancellation. The deadline for filing the exception shall be prominently displayed on the notice of cancellation.

2. If determined eligible for an exception, the recipient will be reinstated if he or she enrolls in the first fall, winter or spring term immediately following the exception ending date.

3. If determined ineligible by LOSFA for an exception provided in §2103.E 11 (ii), recipient may appeal in accordance with §2109 of these rules.

E. Qualifying Exceptions to the Initial and Continuous Enrollment Requirement

A student who has been declared ineligible for TOPS because of failure to meet the initial or continuous enrollment requirements may request reinstatement in TOPS based on one or more of the following exceptions:

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9. Military Service

a. Definition. The student/recipient is in the United States Armed Forces Reserves and is called on active duty status or is performing emergency state service with the National Guard.

b. Certification Requirements. The student/recipient must submit:

i. a completed exception request form including official college transcripts, the dates of the required leave of absence, necessity of withdrawing, dropping hours, etc., the semester(s) or number of days involved, and the length of duty (beginning and ending dates), and

ii. a written certification from the commanding officer or regional supervisor including the dates and location of active duty, or

iii. a certified copy of the military orders.

c. Maximum Length of Exception. Up to the length of the required active duty service period.

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The form listed below is in .pdf format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Louisiana's TOPS Request For Exception To The Continuous Or Full Time Enrollment Requirement Form