Veterans Educational Benefits

All students receiving Veterans’ Educational benefits must maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the regularly prescribed standards and practices of the institution in which the student is enrolled. If the student is not making satisfactory academic progress according to those standards and practices, educational benefits will be discontinued for the student. Veteran and non-veteran students alike will be referred back to Student Services/Admissions for counseling to a program that may offer the possibility of success.

1. Attendance reports must be submitted monthly to the school’s VA certifying official. Students must attend classes regularly; all absences will be recorded and maintained by the school. Veterans must maintain 90% attendance upon evaluation every two months otherwise you will be placed on Warning for the next month. After the next two months if you do not meet 90% attendance then you will be terminated.
2. All absences are considered unexcused unless otherwise documented. These criteria are considered excused absences: illness of self, illness or death of immediate family member, jury duty or active military service. Extenuating circumstances may occur and if so, the VA student will have one week to request a waiver after notification that their VA benefits will be terminated due to the attendance policy. The Senior Director may waive the OCPS VA attendance policy once as long as the situation has been resolved and attendance from that point on is expected to be good. Documentation supporting absences must be given to the VA Certifying Official immediately upon student returning to school.
3. Satisfactory attendance is defined as compliance with existing school attendance policy and the VA attendance policy. One may be stricter than the other. It is the students’ responsibility to adhere to both, in order to continue the educational program and receive monetary VA benefits.
4. Satisfactory academic progress is defined as a grade of at least 70 percent during an evaluation period. Academic progress will be reviewed by a VA Certifying Official every two months on the student timesheet.
5. Two consecutive unsatisfactory student timesheets during an evaluation period will result in termination of Veterans’ Education benefits for program enrolled. The DVA will be notified by the school’s VA Certifying Official if the veteran does not maintain satisfactory academic progress or satisfactory attendance.

It is the responsibility of the Financial Aid Office to maintain a file on each student receiving Veterans education benefits. At the end of eight weeks, the instructor submits a written report to the Financial Aid Office indicating progress and attendance.

VA Educational benefits discontinued due to unsatisfactory attendance may be reinstated after successfully completing eight weeks of satisfactory attendance (meet 90% attendance). VA Educational benefits terminated due to unsatisfactory academic progress may be reinstated upon completion of eight weeks of satisfactory academic progress. Documentation must be in the student’s file before VA benefits are reinstated.

A VA benefited student may receive additional hours toward a program length for basic remediation that is required for program completion. The student may receive up to an additional 300 hours credit if the student is attending a program of 750 hours or greater in length. The student may receive up to an additional 150 hours credit if the student is attending a program less than 750 hours in length.

A VA benefited student is required to transfer previous training credits from an accredited institution to one of the campuses. Credit for previous training will be evaluated by the instructor and granted, if appropriate. Upon acceptance of the transfer credits, the training time may be reduced. The DVA and the student will be notified if previous training credit is granted. The evaluation will be performed within the first 90 days of enrollment.

Any veteran or other eligible student who receives VA benefits may be granted a partial deferment, if warranted, once per academic year. Chapter 33 tuition and supply fees will be deferred as the money is sent to the schools. If, however, there is a break in training or a delay in the receipt of VA benefits, an additional deferment may be granted. The veteran will make a partial payment based on the school’s established procedures at the time of registration and the balance as scheduled by the Business Office. Failure to meet this obligation will result in the student being withdrawn from classes. For short term programs, balance is due no later than the last day of enrollment prior to receiving completion certificate. Deferments will not be granted when there are outstanding fees on a student’s account.

The College Finance Plan is available at the Financial Aid Office.

Veterans please go see the Financial Aid Office to sign an informational form pertaining to the Isakson and Roe requirements.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code § 3679 subsection (e), Orange Technical College – Main Campus, Avalon Campus, Eatonville Campus, East Campus, South Campus and West Campus adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill^® (Ch. 33), Veteran Readiness & Employment (Ch. 31) or Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program (CH 35) of title 38 or Montgomery GI Bill^® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program (CH1606) of Title 10 benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. Orange Technical College Campuses will not assess fees for up to 90 days following certification of veteran beneficiary enrollment to VA:

• 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 will be required to:

Provide the enrolling institution with a copy of his/her VA Certification of Eligibility (COE) - A “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website; eBenefits; or an Electronic Authorization from the VR&E.

No other school criteria are necessary to qualify for this provision.

Florida State Board of Education Rule 6A-14.0305 (Florida Colleges & Florida Career & Technical Schools)

1. Schools shall waive out-of-state fees for (tuition and fees charged to a student who qualifies for the out-of-state fee waiver under this subsection may not exceed the tuition and fees charged a resident student enrolled in the same program):
   1. Honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed and Reserve Forces (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy) and the National Guard (Army and Air) or any other student who is entitled to and uses educational assistance provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who physically resides in Florida while enrolled as a degree or certificate seeking student.
   2. Active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States residing or stationed outside of Florida who are enrolled as a degree or certificate seeking student.
2. Schools shall adopt written policies and procedures for determining student eligibility to include verification of eligibility for educational assistance provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Evidence of eligibility includes (find this on Orange Technical College Residency form):
   1. A current Florida driver license or Florida identification card or other documentation to demonstrate physical residence in Florida.
   2. Military separation documentation such as the most recent Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (i.e., DD Form 214) to demonstrate veteran and discharge status.
   3. Documentation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that the student requesting the out-of-state fee waiver is eligible for educational assistance.
3. A student will be required to pay tuition at one hundred (100) percent of the full cost of instruction upon the third attempt of a course unless the Florida College System institution has granted an exception due to extenuating circumstances.

Rulemaking Authority 1009.26 FS. Law Implemented 1009.26 FS. History New 7-28-15, Amended 10-30-16.