1. Purpose
To establish the procedure for veterans utilizing educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
2. Scope
This procedure applies to Veteran Students utilizing Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 benefits.
3. Essential Information
Relevant Background Information
The recently enacted Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-407) requires the State Approving Agency (SAA) to disapprove all courses at educational institutions that have a policy inconsistent with the following criteria for recipients of Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 of the G.I. Bill™, effective August 1, 2019. The law is limited to tuition funds paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and enforced at Institutions of Higher Learning, Non-College Degree Programs, and Flight Schools. These educational institutions must have a policy that ensures that they will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 beneficiary borrow additional funds to cover the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by VA.
4. Responsibilities
Office of Veteran and Military Affairs – Verification of student Veteran status, program eligibility, and enrollment certification
Financial Aid – Yearly set-ups are completed for Federal Regulations of specific Veteran resources to not be included as a financial resource when determining complete financial aid package
Student Finance – Updates the student account to reflect tuition and fee resources expected and paid on student accounts
5. Procedure
Lansing Community College’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs will collect the Veteran’s certificate of eligibility and/or statement of benefits. During the verification process, LCC’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs will update the student account with a Veteran indicator. After verification of eligibility status, students are permitted to enroll in courses. LCC does not penalize or deny access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities for those confirmed eligible veterans.
LCC’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs will review and certify all veterans’ eligible enrolled courses.
Student Finance runs reports to identify enrolled veteran students that have completed all required steps for enrollment with the LCC Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, including certificate of eligibility or statement of benefits. Student Finance Third Party then processes all preliminary payments (memos) and are added to accounts for veteran students. Students that are not covered 100% by veteran and other financial aid resources must pay the uncovered balance in full or enroll in a payment plan to cover the difference between the financial obligation and the preliminary payments.
At the time that Financial Aid is disbursed to student accounts, Student Finance updates the veteran memos to a paid status on the student account in order or students to receive any excess financial aid refund. At this time, preliminary payments are treated as if LCC has already received the funds from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. LCC does not impose late fees or penalty due to the delayed pending payments from veterans’ enrolled certified courses.
Once the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs payment is received by the school, the actual payments are reconciled against the student accounts. Any discrepancies are reviewed by Student Finance and the LCC Office of Veteran and Military Affairs for accuracy. Additional follow-up may be completed by reviewing courses certified and a student’s eligibility with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Student accounts may then be updated based on the individual’s circumstances.