Per DOD (Department of Defense) MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), Paragraph 3.j.(2),

St. Charles Community College prohibits the payment of any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance, and:

St. Charles Community College prohibits high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Service member enrollments in non- credit courses/programs.

Return of Tuition Assistance (TA): Military TA is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded unless they have completed a minimum of 60% of the course.

St. Charles Community College will adhere to the DOD MOU Return of Military Tuition Assistance funds guidance when a military service member drops a course. SCC will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis following college refund policies. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stop attending. These funds are returned to the military Service branch. The student may owe a portion of his/her tuition to SCC and/or the appropriate military branch.

16 Week Course Withdrawal submitted

Before or during weeks 1-2 100% return

During weeks 3-4 75% return

During weeks 5-8 50% return

During weeks 9 40% return (60% of course is completed)

During weeks 10-16 0% return

12 Week Course Withdrawal submitted, 60% of course completed at 7.2 weeks

8 Week Course Withdrawal submitted

Before or during week 1 100% return

During weeks 2 75% return

During weeks 3-4 50% return

During weeks 5 40% return (60% of course is completed)

During weeks 6-8 0% return

5 Week Course Withdrawal submitted, the 60% of course completed at 3 weeks

The percentage of TA Funds to be returned for courses that are shorter or longer than 16 weeks will be calculated based on the actual start and end dates of the course.

P 424.2 Readmission of Students after Military Duty

In accordance with federal regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 668.18 and the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), SCC will promptly readmit members of the uniformed services who seek readmission with the same academic status they had when last attending the College or accepted for admission to the school to a program of study that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation. This requirement applies to any student who cannot attend school due to military service.

This requirement shall apply to:

1. Service members who are unable to attend classes for more than 30 consecutive days due to military service; and
2. Service members who are unable to attend classes for less than 30 days due to military service when such an absence would result in a withdrawal from the college.

Pr. 424.2 A student is eligible for readmission under this policy if, during an absence,

the student performs military services voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserve, active duty, active duty for training or full-time National Guard (under federal authority). The cumulative length of all absences for uniformed service (service time only) must not exceed five years.

Pr. 424.2 The student must notify SCC of their military service and intention to return to the College as follows:

Notification of military service – The student (or an appropriate officer of the armed forces or official of the Department of Defense) must give oral or written notice of such service to the SCC Director of Admissions and Registration (who shall forward the information to the SCC Office of Financial Aid/Veterans Services) as far in advance as is reasonable under the circumstances. This notice does not have to indicate whether the student intends to return to SCC and may not be subject to any rule of timeliness. (Timeliness must be determined by the facts in each case.)

Alternatively, at the time of readmission, the student may submit an attestation of military service that necessitated his absence from SCC. No notice is required if precluded by military necessity, such as service in operations that are classified or would be compromised by such notice.

Notification of intent to return to SCC – The student must also give oral or written notice of an intent to return to SCC within three years after the completion of the period of service. A student who is hospitalized or convalescing due to an illness or injury incurred or aggravated during the performance of service must notify SCC within two years after the end of the period needed for recovery from the illness or injury. A student who fails to apply for readmission within these periods does not automatically forfeit eligibility for readmission but is subject to the school’s established leave of absence policy and general practices.

Pr. 424.3 A returning student will be charged the same tuition and fees in effect during the last academic year the student attended unless veterans' education benefits or other servicemember education benefits will pay the amount in excess. For subsequent academic years, the returning student may not be charged tuition and fees more than what other students in the program are charged.

Pr. 424.4 SCC will promptly readmit the student into the next class or classes in the program beginning after they provide notice of intent to reenroll, unless they request a later date or unusual circumstances require SCC to admit them later. SCC will admit the student with the same academic status, which means:

• To the same program to which the student was last admitted or, if that exact program is no longer offered, the program that is most like that program, unless they choose a different program
• At the same enrollment status, unless the student wants to enroll at a different enrollment status
• With the same number of credit hours previously completed, unless the student is readmitted to a different program to which the completed credit hours are not transferable
• With the same academic standing the student previously had

The cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences from the school for military service may not exceed five years. Only the time the student spends performing service is counted. If SCC determines that a returning student is not prepared to resume the program or is unable to complete the program, the College must make reasonable efforts to enable the student to resume or complete the program at no additional cost to the student. If such efforts are unsuccessful or place an undue hardship on SCC, the College is not required to readmit the student.

The Higher Education Relief Opportunities For Students (HEROES) Act of 2003 aims to ensure that service members receiving student aid are not affected because of their military status. Among those who are eligible for the HEROES Act of 2003 are active-duty military and members of the National Guard serving during a war, along with their spouses and dependents.

You should also speak to your advisor about getting a course extension should you not be able to complete any work for a class because of a military obligation.

SCC also has a course withdrawal process specifically for active-duty students See Board Policy at 424 Military Duty (stchas.edu).

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a number of education programs for veterans, service members and dependents. Current information on each program, along with eligibility and payment rates, can be found on the VA Education & Training website.

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Some veterans are approved for the education benefits program known as Chapter 31. This program provides benefits to those veterans who have been determined to have a disability and need additional assistance. These veterans will meet with a VA Vocational Rehabilitation caseworker for program approval. If accepted into Chapter 31, VA form 28-1905 is required to be submitted to the VA School Certifying Official. A Certification Request Form should be completed before payment due date each semester. This will allow for the approval of the veterans courses to be secured in the system until payment has been made. The issuance of a credit for books and supplies and certification by the college's VA School Certifying Official will also require this approval process.

SCC is a participating institution for students using federal and state tuition assistance. For tuition assistance, prior to enrolling in classes, contact your Educational Service Officer or counselor within your unit to see how to apply for tuition assistance. If eligible, you must apply for these benefits through your service branch. If your request for tuition assistance is approved, you must contact the veteran services coordinator and provide proof of approval for tuition assistance. If your tuition assistance request is approved and you notify the veteran services coordinator prior to the tuition payment deadline, you will be held in your courses. If your tuition assistance request is not approved, or you fail to contact the veteran services coordinator prior to the tuition payment deadline, you will be responsible for paying any tuition and fee charges by the deadline to avoid being dropped from your courses. Failure to pay before the payment deadline will result in you being dropped from your courses.

SCC is a participating institution for students using MyCAA education benefits. If eligible, you must apply for these benefits through https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa. If your request for tuition assistance is approved, you must contact the veteran services coordinator and provide proof of approval for tuition assistance. If your tuition assistance request is approved and you notify the veteran services coordinator prior to the tuition payment deadline, you will be held in your courses. If your tuition assistance request is not approved or you fail to contact the veteran services coordinator prior to the tuition payment deadline, you will be responsible for paying any tuition and fee charges by the deadline to avoid being dropped from your courses. Failure to pay before the payment deadline will result in you being dropped from your courses.

This law provides that institutions of higher education that receive any state funds shall limit the tuition charged to combat veterans to $50 per credit hour, as eligibility is determined, for any program leading to an undergraduate certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree. A combat veteran is any person who served in armed combat after Sept. 11, 2001, who was a Missouri resident when first entering the military, and who was discharged from military service under honorable conditions. More information on the Act can be found on the MDHE website.

Background

Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 115-407, ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018,’ amends Title 38 US Code 3679 by adding a new subsection (e) that requires disapproval of courses of education, beginning August 1, 2019, at any educational institution that does not have a policy in place that will allow an individual to attend or participate in a course of education, pending VA payment, providing the individual submits a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33.

Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), St. Charles Community College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. St. Charles Community College will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
• Provide a written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).