(a) As used in this section, "called to military duty" means called or ordered to state or federal active service, inactive-duty training or annual training in any active duty or reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the National Guard of this state or any other state.

(b) In accordance with the provisions of article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, the commission and council jointly shall propose and implement a rule providing for uniform course completion for students who are enrolled at the state institutions of higher education under their respective jurisdictions when those students are called to military duty.

(1) The rule shall be as uniform among the institutions as is practicable and shall take into consideration the unique conditions or circumstances of each institution.

(2) The intent of the rule is to ensure that enrolled students who are called to military duty are afforded a fair and efficient procedure of withdrawing from classes, completing course work or securing a leave of absence from course attendance, when feasible. The rule also shall provide for maintaining the academic integrity of the course work in a manner that is reasonably accommodating to the student under the circumstances.

(3) The commission and council shall consider and include the following elements when developing the rule:

(A) Discipline appropriate options which allow a student to withdraw from courses without penalty; earn credit for work completed in a course; receive an incomplete grade and make up the course work at a later time; or secure a leave of absence from course attendance;

(B) For students who withdraw from classes during an academic term and who do not receive full credit for completing classes in which they are enrolled, provision for obtaining a full or partial refund of tuition, fees and room and board fees paid to the institution; and

(C) Other measures as the commission and council consider necessary or effective to support, accommodate and encourage the students to continue and successfully complete their education programs.

(c) The rule required by this section is superceded by and may not conflict in any way with the following provisions:

(1) Educational leave of absence for active duty National Guard or other reserve components of the Armed Forces as set forth in section one-a, article one-f, chapter fifteen of this code for students who are subject to these provisions; and

(2) Applicable federal laws, rules or regulations.