Most programs of study at P&HCC are approved for Veterans Administration educational benefits by the State’s Veteran Department of Education. The Financial Aid Office serves veteran students, completes their certification process, and maintains accurate enrollment and student status records. All veterans receiving educational benefits must be enrolled in an official curriculum leading to a certificate or degree. Veterans are reminded that changes in course load (add/drop, cancellations, etc.), may affect their educational benefits. Veterans who are enrolled in non-standard classes (dynamic or accelerated classes) must note that their pay rate will be adjusted with the Department of Veteran Affairs when the classes begin or end. This change must also be reported on the monthly verification for Chapter 1606, and Chapter 30. In addition to these certification requirements, veterans are cautioned that only those courses applying toward graduation requirements in their curriculum and only classroom instruction refresher courses will be certified to the Veterans Administration Regional Office for payment of educational benefits.
Educational benefits are suspended when the veteran fails to maintain minimum standards of academic progress or to submit the required information.
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program - Tuition Waiver
The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides educational assistance to children of certain armed forces veterans. The program provides free tuition and required fees. To be eligible for assistance under this program, an applicant must meet the following basic eligibility requirements:
- The applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 29.
- The applicant’s parent must have served in a branch of the armed forces of the United States, and the parent must have been killed or permanently disabled due to injury or disease, a prisoner of war, or missing in action during a time of war or armed conflict; and
- The applicant’s parent on which eligibility is based must have been a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia at the time of entry into active military duty; or
- The applicant’s parent on whom eligibility is based must have been a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for at least five consecutive years immediately prior to the date of application.
- The applicant must establish an account through the VMSDEP portal and complete the VMSDEP application.
- Approval from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs must be provided to the state-supported educational institution.
- The applicant must maintain satisfactory academic progress for continued eligibility.
- Dependents eligible for the VMSDEP will be considered in-state and the in-state rate will be waived.
- Approved dependents must use their portal account to request the waiver for each term of attendance.
Veterans’ Choice Act
In 2014, Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Veterans Choice Act), which was codified in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c). Under Section 702 of this law, certain veterans and their dependents utilizing military education benefits would be eligible for in-state tuition at public institutions.
The following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate, or otherwise considered a resident, for tuition purposes:
- All public institutions understand that Chapters 30, 31, 33, and 35 students can only be charged in-state tuition and fees according to the Veteran Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 and the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness Act of 2021, effective August 1, 2022, with amendments as required under 38 USC 3679:
- PL 116-315 Section 1005 updated to require in-state tuition regardless of when the covered individual transitioned from service. This replaces the three-year requirement.
- A veteran using educational assistance under either chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty Program) or chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®), of Title 38, United States Code, who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence).
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits who lives in the state where the IHL is located, and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service serving on active duty.
- A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) or chapter 35 (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence).
- An individual using educational assistance under chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence) effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning after March 1, 2019.
- Anyone described above remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. The described person must be enrolled in the institution and use educational benefits under either chapter 30, chapter 31, chapter 33 or chapter 35 of Title 38, United States Code.
Policy on Refunds, Credits, and Reinstatement as a Result of Military Service
Pursuant to 23-9.6:2 of the Code of Virginia, and corresponding SCHEV Guidelines, each community college shall have a policy statement providing for the tuition relief, refund, and reinstatement of students whose service in the uniformed services has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from their enrollment. Military services is defined as service (whether voluntary or involuntary) on active duty in the Armed Forces, including such service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve, when mobilized or deployed for a period of more than 30 days. Dependents of military members may also be given consideration under this policy. Dependents are defined as any civilian qualifying as a military dependent under 37 USC 401 currently or as otherwise amended. Each community college shall provide for the following:
- Tuition and Required Fees - Should a student be ordered to active duty (for reservists) or be mobilized (active military) as described in the Code of Virginia, Section 23-9.6:2 and the State Council’s Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines, and the student requests to be withdrawn from the college after the census date, the student may elect either to be deleted from the registration file and be awarded a full refund or to be administratively withdrawn with no refund and assigned a grade of “W”. Each community college shall also have a policy statement regarding the granting of refunds of Miscellaneous Education, General Program, Auxiliary Services, and Student Activity fees to students. The college shall provide, at the option of the student, for such refunds to be retained and to be applicable to tuition and fees charged in the semester or term in which the student returns to study.
- Deposits - Each community college shall have a policy statement regarding the granting of refunds of deposits to military or military-dependent students.
- Textbooks - Each community college shall process refunds for textbooks for military or military-dependent students according to contractual arrangement with bookstore vendors.
- Academic Credits and Grades - Military students who are called to active duty or are mobilized, meaning serving in the uniformed services, as described in Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines, and military-dependent students should have the opportunity to receive an incomplete grade (“I”) instead of receiving a tuition refund and a grade of “W” (withdrew). All course requirements shall be completed within one year from the date of release from active duty or mobilization. Students may be given the option of taking their examinations prior to regularly scheduled exams.
- Reinstatement - Military or military-dependent students who are called to active duty or are mobilized shall be assured a reasonable opportunity to be reinstated in the same programs of study without having to re-apply for admission if they return to the same community college after a cumulative absence of not more than five years so long as the student provides notice of intent to return to the institution not later than three years after the completion of the period of service.
- Dissemination of Information - Community college officials should make every effort to ensure that the aforementioned VCCS policies relative to tuition relief, refund, academic credit and reinstatement for military and military-dependent students are well disseminated and carefully explained in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Virginia, Section 23- 9.6:2, and the Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines in the appropriate college publications. Moreover, the college shall designate an administrative unit to ensure that these policies are properly disseminated and administered.
GI Bill® Delayed Payment Policy
On December 31, 2018, the President signed into law the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018. It contains a provision (Section 103) that takes effect on August 1, 2019.
Beginning August 1, 2019, any student using Ch.33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Ch. 31 VocRehab benefits, even though VA has not yet paid tuition and fees, Patrick & Henry Community College policy does not in effect:
- prevent enrolling,
- assess a late penalty fee,
- require securing alternative or additional funding, or
- deny access to any school resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) that are available to other students that have paid.
GI Bill® and VR&E beneficiaries (Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 beneficiaries) are allowed to attend a course of education or training for up to 90 days from the date the beneficiary provides a certificate of eligibility or valid VAF 28-1905. This allows a student to attend the course until VA provides payment to the institution.
However, Patrick & Henry Community College can and does require that such students be required to:
- produce the VA’s Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class, and
- provide a copy of page four of the DD214 (only veterans receiving benefits)
All veteran students are covered under the Student Grievance Policy in the Student Handbook contained in this catalog. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact the Virginia State Approving Agency at ssa@dvs.virginia.gov. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
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