ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR VA STUDENTS

ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR VA STUDENTS

Students using veterans’ benefits to attend Graduate America College will have attendance monitored until the time the student drops, graduates or completes the program. Unsatisfactory attendance will be reported to the DVA even if the VA student has completed the required number of hours and no refund is due to the student and/or refund sources. Therefore, the attendance policy (20% of the total program and/or being absent fourteen (14) consecutive days) will apply throughout the student’s stay in school. All violations of the policy will be reported to DVA within 30 days at such time the student exceeds the allowed number of absences.

ALLOWING VETERANS TO ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN COURSES PENDING VA PAYMENT

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), Graduate America 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.  Graduate America 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).