Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah announced Monday a new admissions policy to help freshman and transfer students who want to defer enrollment for an extended period of time.
Freshmen and transfer students who apply to the University of Utah now have the opportunity to defer enrollment for a maximum of seven consecutive semesters, including summer semesters. The new policy will accommodate students who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who plan to go on a mission after graduating from high school.
In addition, the policy will apply to students who are temporarily away for military service or have an illness.
David Pershing, University of Utah president, said in a prepared statement that the enrollment changes will allow incoming students to gain a spot at the university without having to sacrifice their education.
Freshmen students who want to study at the U and are faced with other obligations, will not have to sacrifice their educational future. A deferment grants them a spot in their class at the U, and we guarantee a seamless re-entry when they are able to return.
–David Pershing
"This is an important new provision in our enrollment direction, and we strongly encourage students to take advantage of it," Pershing said. "Freshmen students who want to study at the U and are faced with other obligations, will not have to sacrifice their educational future. A deferment grants them a spot in their class at the U, and we guarantee a seamless re-entry when they are able to return."
The change in admission policy is to accommodate students and to help their overall success, the university said. "The changes are designed to increase retention, advance academic performance and raise graduation rates."
The new deferment policy will go into effect for the fall semester of 2013, and all requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students must be admitted to the university to apply for deferment. Online applications will be made available online starting in February 2013.
Because ACT/SAT exam scores expire after two years, students who defer enrollment for more than two years will likely be required to take a placement exam or a lower-level course. The exam scores cannot be held during the deferment if over two years.
The university's existing leave of absence policy will remain in effect for continuing students.
To read more about the new deferment policy, go to admissions.utah.edu/deferment/.
