Oct 06, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

Veterans Services



We proudly support our military students by providing an on-campus Veterans Resource Center (VRC) located in the Amherst Building, Room 2126. The VRC consists of an office area for the Veterans Coordinator and a study area with computers and internet access for student veterans.

The Veterans Coordinator is your link between the college and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), assisting you in applying for educational funding, offering guidance on VA regulations, and certifying your enrollment to the DVA.

For more information go to our web page at: https://www.centralvirginia.edu/Student-Support/Veterans.

Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (Chapter 30)

The MGIB-AD program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service (Chapter 31)

VR&E’s primary benefit program is vocational rehabilitation services for veterans who have a service connected disability. To receive services a veteran must be found both eligible and entitled.

If you are using VocRehab benefits, you are required to provide Form 28-1905 or a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility as soon as possible. Once the form or COE is provided, no tuition payment is due from the student. Please note, in order to enroll for the next semester, the student is required to pay any remaining tuition balance.

Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

The Post 9/11 GI Bill® provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs. Benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. The Post 9/11 GI Bill® may pay the following: full tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and an annual book stipend.

If you are using Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits, you are required to provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility as soon as possible. Once the COE is provided, no tuition payment is due from the student. Please note, in order to enroll for the next semester, the student is required to pay any remaining tuition balance.

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program® (Chapter 35)

DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible spouses and dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs.

Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)

The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components.

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program

VMSDEP provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who served in covered military combat and has been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of such service. The program may pay for tuition and fees at any state supported college or university. Benefits are available for up to 4 academic years.

Dependent Children Tuition Waiver

The surviving spouse and any child between the ages of 16 and 25 of an individual who was killed in the line of duty while employed or serving as a law-enforcement officer, including as a campus police officer, sworn law-enforcement officer, firefighter, special forest warden, member of a rescue squad, special agent of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, state correctional, regional or local jail officer, regional jail or jail farm superintendent, sheriff, or deputy sheriff; member of the Virginia National Guard, or member of the Virginia Defense Force, is entitled to a waiver of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at any public institution of higher education.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Military Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which assistance is awarded. If a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the United States Department of Defense policy, Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least a 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. If a service member stopsattending due to a military service obligation, CVCC’s Business Office will work with that service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion (see Tuition Refund Exception Policy below).

Withdrawals

A student’s official withdrawal date is determined by using the last date of attendance that is documented and submitted to the Admissions and Records Office. This official withdrawal date is used to calculate the earned percentage of TA based on the following formula:

            Number of Days Completed            = Percentage of TA earned
Total Days of the Course (start to end date)

The amount of TA funding that is earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. For example, if a student completed 30% of the course, he/she earned 30% of the TA funds that he/she was originally scheduled to receive, therefore, this portion will be retained by CVCC and paid toward the student’s balance. The remainder of unearned funds (70%) would be returned to the TA program. If this results in an unpaid tuition balance, payment would be the responsibility of the student. Once the student has attended 60% of the period for which TA funds were approved, the student is considered to have earned 100% of the TA funds.

Interpretation

Authority for interpretation of this policy rests with the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services in conjunction with the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs.

Authority

Virginia Community College System Policy Manual, Section 4.3.2 “Tuition Refunds”

Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Tuition Guidelines (Military Students)

Tuition Refund Exception Policy (Military Students)

Purpose: Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) policy statement providing for the tuition relief, refund, and reinstatement of military students whose service in the uniformed services has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from continuing their education.

Policy: It is the policy of CVCC to provide for the tuition relief, refund, and reinstatement of military students whose active military duty during a time of national emergency has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from continuing their education, as described in the Code of Virginia (§23-9.6:2). The policy is consistent with the Code of Virginia (§ 23-9.6:2), the corresponding guidelines of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Policy 4.3.2.3 (Policy on Refunds, Credits and Reinstatement as a Result of Military Service).

Responsibilities: It is the responsibility of military students to initiate the processes outlined in the policy. Military students on active military duty who are called away due to a national emergency should notify the appropriate College officials and provide a copy of their Orders as soon as possible to initiate the processes outlined in the policy.

Procedures: For purposes of this section, military services are 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.

Tuition and Required Fees

Should a military student as defined above, be called to active duty after the census date, the military student should take the following steps:

The military student contacts the Veteran’s Coordinator to discuss their options and for assistance dropping or withdrawing from classes. If the military student is receiving active duty or veterans’ education benefits, tuition assistance, or financial aid, the military student is required to speak with the Veteran’s Coordinator to discuss implications/consequences of withdrawing. When applicable, CVCC will fully refund tuition and fees.

Textbooks

CVCC contracts with an external bookstore for textbooks. Refunds for textbooks are made according to the contracted bookstore’s policy and are handled independently.

Academic Credit

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, will have the opportunity to receive an incomplete grade (“I”) until released from active duty (for reservists) or mobilization (for active military personnel). 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 times as an exception to VCCS policy 5.6.1 in accordance with the Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines.

Careful consideration will be given, and special options are available for students who receive student financial aid or Veterans Administration benefits.

Reinstatement

General Provision: Military students as defined above 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 after a cumulative absence of not more than five years so long as the military student provides notice of intent to return to the institution not later than three years after the completion of the period of service.

Specific Program of Study: the military student shall be reinstated in the same program of study in which he or she had been enrolled prior to withdrawal. Exceptions may be made in cases where the program has been discontinued by the college or the program has specialized accreditation and selective admission requirements. In the latter case, reinstatement shall be consistent with any relevant standards of the respective accrediting agency. A student, who was admitted to a program but did not begin attendance because of service in the uniformed services, shall be allowed to defer his or her enrollment in the program until reinstatement to the college as described above. A student returning from active duty or mobilization should contact the Veteran’s Coordinator and submit the updated DD-214 to determine the impact of absence from the program and to review available options when a program is no longer available or suitable.

Deferral of Enrollment

A student who has been admitted to the College and/or to an academic program as well as called to active duty or mobilized before the last day to drop courses with tuition refund for the initial term of enrollment in the College or in that program’s courses, shall be permitted to defer enrollment in the College or the program’s courses under the same conditions delineated above for return to the College and/or program reinstatement. At the time of requesting deferred enrollment, the student must provide documentation of the call to active duty or mobilization and of the end of the period of service as required.

Documentation

Military students who are called to active duty must provide a copy of their Active Duty Orders to preserve his or her prerogatives under this policy and to initiate any of the above processes. The Orders must be provided as soon as is reasonably possible

Grievance Policy for Veterans

The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA), is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. Our office investigates complaints of GI Bill beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact our office via email saa@dvs.virginia.gov.