Veterans Educational Benefit Update/Training Session

1. Veterans Educational Benefit Update/Training Session Inform students of the most recent changes to educational benefits Inform students of new procedures concerning Shelton State Community College Inform students of certification process Other information

2. Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 On January 4, 2011, the President signed the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Improvements Act of 2010 into law (PL 111-377). The legislation amends the Provision of Chapter 33 of title 38 U.S.C, modifying the rules by which VA will make eligibility, award, and entitlement calculations. The provisions vary in their effective date, some effective on the date of enactment, and the last provisions effective on October 1, 2011.

3. Effective August 1, 2011 • Allows VA to pay MGIB (chapter 30) and MGIB-SR (chapter 1606) ‘kickers’, or college fund payments, on a monthly basis instead of a lump sum at the beginning of the term • Prorates housing allowance by the student’s rate of pursuit (rounded to the nearest tenth) • For Veterans and their transferees - simplifies the tuition and fee rates for those attending a public school and creates a national maximum for those enrolled in a private or foreign school (Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees;)

4. Effective August 1, 2011 cont. • Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike. 1) This means that when your semester ends (e.g. December 15th), your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only and begins again when your next semester begins (e.g. January 10th) and is paid for the remaining days of January; 2) Students using other VA education programs are included in this change. Monthly benefits will be pro-rated in the same manner; 3) Entitlement that previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment.

5. Effective August 1, 2011 cont. Allows those who are eligible for both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (chapter 31) benefits and Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) benefits to choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s monthly housing allowance instead of the chapter 31 subsistence allowance.

6. Effective August 1, 2011 cont. • the actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the institution for the program of education after the application of any waiver of, reduction in tuition and fees, any scholarships, or other Federal, State, institutional, or employer-based aid or assistance (excluding loans and Title IV funds) that is proved directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees. • This means, when submitting tuition and fees on CH 33 certifications, VA is no longer considered the “first payer”!  Any form of aid (excluding loans and Title IV funds) deemed for the purpose of tuition, must be subtracted.  This is now considered the “actual net cost” for tuition and fees to be submitted on CH 33 certifications.

7. Effective August 1, 2009 but Not Payable to Until October 1, 2011 Expands the Post-9/11 GI Bill to include Active Service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard; or under section 502(f) for the purpose of responding to a national emergency.

8. Effective October 1, 2011 • Housing allowance is now payable to students (other than those on active duty) enrolled solely in distance learning.  The housing allowance payable is equal to ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents. • The full-time rate for an individual eligible at the 100% eligibility tier would be $673.50 for 2011. • All tuition assistance will be done through GoArmyEdu.  SGT Benson will continue to process the National Guard Tuition Assistance through September 30, 2011.  This means that after the Fall 2011 semester, all tuition assistance will be through GoArmyEdu.

9. Payment Changes Students will not be able to carry forward a balance past the payment due date. If there’s a partial payment made on a student’s account and the remaining balance is not paid in full by the payment due date, your schedule will be dropped due to non payment.

10. Payment Changes cont. For CH 33 students, if you are current student or the Veterans Information Center has received a copy of your COE, Certificate of Eligibility, once you have registered and submitted a certification request to the VIC, your payment will be applied to your tuition. If you owe a balance once the CH 33 payment has been applied, you must pay that balance by the payment due date or your classes will be dropped.

11. Payment Changes Cont. Students that receive the ALGI Dependent Scholarship must submit a ALGI Payment Request to the Veterans Information Center to have payment(s) applied to semesters selected. Once payment has been applied, you must confirm payment with the Cashier’s Office and pay any balance by the payment due date. Failure to pay balance will result in your schedule being dropped.

12. Payment Changes Cont. Alabama Army National guard Alabama Army reservist • Guardsman must submit a copy of the Tuition Assistance application to have payment applied to their tuition . Before you submit your application online, print a copy of the application and submit to the Veterans Information Center • Must complete Tuition Assistance through GoArmyEdu. • Once you have entered your course information, notify the Veterans Information Center or bring in copies of TA authorization to have payment posted .

13. Certification Process All students must submit a certification request to the Veterans Information Center requesting to have enrollment certification sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Before submitting the certification request, you must ensure that you have a zero balance. Any student that has a balance after submitting the request, will not have their enrollment verified until the have cleared the balance with cashier’s office and notified the VIC of the change. (The doesn’t apply to CH 33 students)

14. Certification Process Cont. Ch 33 students CH 30, 1606, 1607, and 35 • When you submit your certification request, the office will have your payment applied. If you owe a balance after payment is applied, you must pay that balance by the payment due date or your schedule will be dropped. • You must complete an enrollment certification request each semester. • You must have a COE or be a current student to have your enrollment certification processed for payment. No student’s request will be processed without either • You may request to be certified for two semesters within an academic year. • You must also have a zero balance at the time of submission of request to be certified.

15. Certification Process Cont. New students and transfer students must have a complete admissions file before they can request to be certified. Failure to have a complete admissions file can result in your certification request not being processed. New students and transfer students also must submit a copy of their COE to be certified.

16. Other Important Information attendance Grades • All students who receive Veterans Educational Benefits will have attendance taken on them • All students who enroll in non degree programs will have their attendance monitored on a continuing basis throughout the semester. Once you have missed 15% of a course, your enrollment status for that course will be terminated. • Students receiving non-punitive grades (W), will have their enrollment changed to the effective date in which non-punitive grade was submitted. If you have mitigating circumstances, you must notify the VIC once you drop the course or certification will not reflect it.

17. Other Important Information Cont. Grades School policy • Students who receive punitive grades will have their attendance reviewed. After the review of attendance is complete and it is determined that you have met the attendance required for that course, your enrollment status will not be changed. • If students received a punitive grade and haven’t met the attendance requirement for the course, your enrollment status will change to the last day of attendance for that course, which can result in an overpayment of your benefit. • No student is exempt from following school policy. Failure to comply with the school policies and procedures can result in dismissal from institution.