1. a. A public institution of higher education shall readmit an undergraduate student who withdrew from the institution due to the student's service in the uniformed services, including service in the Armed Forces, or as a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under federal or State authority. The institution shall readmit the student with the same academic status as the student had when the student last attended the institution.
b. Readmission shall be granted upon written request by the student for the next academic semester beginning after the date of the request. An institution shall not charge an application or other fee for a readmission request made pursuant to the provisions of this section.