Section 2749.235  Deferment of Continuous Attendance Requirement

A request to defer a recipient's continuous attendance requirement shall be submitted in writing to the Department.  The request shall detail the reasons for the deferment and be accompanied and supported by the documentation described in this Section.  The Department may grant one deferment per recipient.

a)         A deferment will be granted for up to one academic quarter, trimester or semester (except as otherwise allowed by this Section) if the recipient provides documentation of a physical or mental health disability that results in the recipient's temporary inability to fulfill the continuous attendance requirement.  Documentation shall include an explanation from a licensed health care professional attesting to the recipient's temporary inability to fulfill the continuous attendance requirement.  If the recipient's leave will exceed an academic quarter, trimester or semester, an extension of the deferment will be granted based on documented medical need.  In no circumstance, however, would a deferment exceed 12 months.

b)         Recipients who are military reservists and are called to active duty will be granted a deferment beginning on the activation date in the active duty order.  The recipient shall submit a copy of the order to active duty with the written request for deferment.  The duration of the deferment shall equal the recipient's period of active military duty.

c)         Recipients who receive a deferment shall have their continuous attendance, scholarship assistance and service obligation requirements tolled.  The tolling of these requirements shall equal the recipient's period of deferment.

d)         A recipient who does not request a deferment and who does not maintain the continuous attendance requirement shall have his or her scholarship award voided.  The recipient shall be required to repay to the Department all scholarship monies received (see Section 597.310).

(Source:  Recodified from 77 Ill. Adm. Code 597.235 (Department of Public Health) pursuant to P.A. 102-699, at 47 Ill. Reg. 7031)