Honors Admission Deferment & Leave of Absence Policies

Admissions Deferment for Incoming First Year Honors Student

Incoming new students are able to defer enrollment after they are admitted to perform voluntary service. You may submit a one-time request to defer your Honors admission to a future semester that is up to six subsequent semesters (not including the summer semesters) after the semester you were offered Honors admission.

This deferment assumes that you will remain a first-time freshman upon enrollment at ISU.  Meaning, you will not enroll at another post-secondary institution prior to your enrollment at ISU.

The University Honors Program Admissions Deferment Form (DOC or PDF) must be submitted to the Honors Program by August 1 before the Fall semester for which you have been admitted. See the table below for deadlines for additional semesters.

• The Honors Admissions Deferment guarantees admission to ISU Honors Program but not necessarily admission to a particular academic major and/or program of study.
• If you are offered an Honors scholarship from the ISU Scholarship Office, the deferment will also reserve your scholarship offer until you enroll at ISU. ISU guarantees the terms of the scholarship (dollar value, duration, and renewal criteria) initially awarded to you, provided that the scholarship program awarded to you is still active and funded when you return to enroll. A new acceptance form for your honors scholarship will be sent out to you automatically one semester before you plan to return. Please be sure to return the updated acceptance form.
• If the scholarship program is modified or discontinued during the deferment period, you will be evaluated for scholarship consideration based on the criteria of the new scholarship program.
• Deferral of scholarships awarded by other departments, agencies or organizations will need to be addressed directly with the appropriate department, agency or organization.
• If you are awarded financial aid and plan to defer your enrollment, you must cancel your financial aid with ISU Financial Aid by calling (208) 282-2756 or emailing financialaidoffice@isu.edu. You will need to reapply for financial aid for the semester in which you plan to enroll and meet the appropriate deadlines at that time.

• Scholarships: Students who have "renewable" ISU Scholarships and have completed ONE semester or greater, can have their ISU Scholarship held (for: religious services, military, medical).  For further information on “scholarship hold" policies, please visit: https://www.isu.edu/scholarships/scholarship-holds-and-deferment/scholarship-holds-for-current-isu-students/ or contact (208) 282-3315
• Financial Aid: For students with financial aid offered during the period you are holding your enrollment, please contact the ISU Financial Aid Office at (208) 282-2756

It is your responsibility to:

• submit the University Honors Program Admissions Deferment Form (DOC or PDF) to the University Honors Program by the appropriate deadline,
• update the Honors Program on any change of address or contact information prior to and during your deferment, 
• adhere to ISU's Admission Deferment Policy in addition to the Honors Admission Deferment Policy, and
• return the required acceptance forms to the Scholarship Office the semester before returning to ISU.

Semesters, Deferment, and Deadlines:

Leave of Absence for Current Honors Student

If you are a current ISU Honors student who would like to suspend attendace to perform voluntary service or for other reasons, you may submit a Leave of Absence (LOA) request.

The University Honors Program Leave of Absence Form ( or ) must be submitted to the Honors Program the semester prior to your leave of absence.

• This Leave of Absence assumes that you will not enroll at another postsecondary institution during your leave of absence.
• The Honors LOA guarantees continued membership in the ISU Honors Program but not necessarily admission to a particular academic major and/or program of study.

It is your responsibility to:

• submit the University Honors Program Leave of Absence Form ( or ) to the University Honors Program,
• update the Honors Program on any change of address or contact information prior to and during your LOA, 
• adhere to ISU's Leave of Absence Policy in addition to the Honors LOA Policy, and
• work with the staff in Financial Aid and/or Scholarships Offices regarding the impact on your scholarships and financial awards.

• Scholarships: Students who have "renewable" ISU Scholarships and have completed ONE semester or greater, can have their ISU Scholarship held (for: religious services, military, medical).  For further information on “scholarship hold" policies, please visit: https://www.isu.edu/scholarships/scholarship-holds-and-deferment/scholarship-holds-for-current-isu-students/ or contact (208) 282-3315
• Financial Aid: For students with financial aid offered during the period you are holding your enrollment, please contact the ISU Financial Aid Office at (208) 282-2756