Scholarship Deferment Policy and Form

2019-2020 Scholarship Deferment Submission

Fall Priority Deadline: August 26, 2019
Spring Priority Deadline: January 15, 2020

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The University requires that, for the award programs listed below, students must maintain continuous fall and spring semester enrollment at the University of Arizona (UA). Students who will not be continuously enrolled at the UA must submit a Scholarship Deferment request form to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) at least one month prior to a scheduled leave, or as soon as reasonably possible when an unanticipated leave is required due to mental or physical illness or injury or disability. A deferment is used when a student is not enrolled at the UA for one or more fall/spring semesters in which a scholarship is offered. Scholarship Deferments are only available for students who are currently eligible and receiving a merit scholarship.

Students who have approved deferments may not be enrolled in any institution for credit during the deferred semester(s). Pre-enrollment deferments will not be considered. Incoming students needing to change their admitted start term may visit the admissions FAQ website. 

The student must be enrolled at least one semester at the UA in order to apply for a deferment. New incoming UA students inquiring about deferring UA Admission and/or Scholarships (who have not attended the UA for at least 1 semester) may visit the admissions website.

Eligible Awards

This process relates to the following programs.  For any scholarship awards not listed here, contact the granting organization, department, or donor to learn about deferment policies. See Exception Programs below.  

• Academic Recognition Award
• All-Arizona Academic Team 
• Arizona Excellence 
• Baird Scholarship
• Fine Arts Tuition Award
• Global Partner Tuition
• IB Tuition 
• International Excellence Tuition
• International Tuition
• *National Merit Finalist Tuition
• National Merit Semifinalist Tuition 
• National Scholar Tuition
• Phi Theta Kappa Tuition 
• Raise.Me Wildcat Excellence
• Red & Blue Excellence Award
• Sonoran Tuition Award
• Spirit of Excellence Award (Flinn Finalist Scholarship)
• Transfer Tuition Scholarship
• UA Alumni Club Tuition Award (UAHA, UABA, AASFAA, AIA)
• UA Bridge Tuition
• Wildcat Excellence 

*National Merit Finalist Scholars must request a leave of absence from The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (www.nationalmerit.org) in addition to completing the UA’s deferment process.

Ineligible Awards

• Arizona Assurance Scholarship - See our forms page for the correct form

Approvals

Approvals extend semesters of eligibility only. They do not increase the amount of the award in any semester. Students must be maintaining the renewal requirements (GPA and units) for continuation of their award to be eligible for a deferment. One semester deferment approvals require a student to complete half of the total units required for the renewal of the scholarship within the academic year of the approved deferment.  Students do not have to notify OSFA of their return, but students must return to UA in the semester immediately following the completion of the approved deferment.  

Withdrawals

A deferment request cannot be approved if the student withdraws after the Bursar's 100% refund deadline. If a scholarship disburses fully or partially to a student's Bursar's Account and the student does not receive a 100% (or complete) tuition refund, it counts toward the student's total used semesters of eligibility. A 100% refund does not guarantee a deferment approval.

Extensions

Students who request any changes or extensions to a previously granted deferment must complete another deferment request prior to the semester in which they were required to return.

Programs Excepted from Process 

The following programs do not require a Deferment Request submission to OSFA.

• UA- Sponsored Study Abroad Programs – Automatic deferment will be given if student is on track for renewal.
• UA National Student Exchange (NSE) – UA tuition awards may be used while on this program.

Reasons for Deferment

OSFA considers each deferment request independently according to the circumstances of that request.   Common examples of situations giving rise to a request for deferment include, but are not limited to:  

• Religious missions
• Involuntary U.S. military service (in the event of a military crisis or when draft is in effect)
• Non-UA-Sponsored Study Abroad (International Student Exchange) programs with a letter of support from your academic advisor
• Internships related to major, future career goals and circumstances unique to college students only, wherein the student will receive transferred credit toward the degree, with a letter of support from your academic advisor
• **Student’s own medical or physical illness or injury or disability –see process below
• Other extenuating circumstances that are beyond the student’s control

Requirements for Seeking Deferments

If the reasons for requesting the deferment are other than the student’s own mental or physical illness or injury or disability:
Students seeking a deferment based on circumstances other than their own mental or physical illness or injury or disability must:

• Attach a personal statement explaining the circumstances of the request, which should be no longer than one page in length;
• Attach supporting documentation (e.g., letter from religious leader related to religious missions, letter of support from your academic advisor, letter of acceptance into non-UA-study abroad program, call to active duty, letter from attorney or other individual confirming circumstances beyond the student’s control, etc.).
• Complete the Scholarship Deferment request form in its entirety  

If the reasons for requesting a deferment relate to the student’s own mental or physical illness or injury or disability:
**Students seeking a deferment based on their own mental or physical illness or injury or disability must complete the Scholarship Deferment request form in its entirety, include a basic personal statement and:

 Obtain a letter from a licensed health care provider, on the health care provider's letterhead, which contains the following information:

• The approximate date of onset of the mental or physical illness or injury or disability giving rise to the circumstances surrounding the request for deferment, and the dates through which such condition is reasonably expected to continue;
• The general nature of the mental or physical illness or injury or disability that gave rise to the request for deferment;
• The date on which the student anticipates being able to resume his/her scholarship.

Provide your licensed health care professional's letter to Campus Health Service to the attention of:

Dr. Harry McDermott
P.O. Box 210095
Tucson, AZ 85721-0095
FAX: 520-621-8412

Campus Health Service will review the letter and, if it determines that a deferment is required based upon the student’s own mental or physical illness or injury or disability, it will issue a “Verification of Health Related Reasons for OSFA” form.  The verification form will include the dates of onset of the condition and the dates through which such condition continued, but will not include information related to the nature of the condition. Please note that this process may take up to several weeks to complete depending on the time of year and volume of requests.

The student must attach the “Verification of Health Related Reasons for OSFA” form to the student’s Scholarship Deferment request form and return it to OSFA.

The University reserves the right to modify this process at any time.  Submission of a deferment request does not guarantee approval.