Requirements for Students Receiving Veterans Education Benefits

Academic, Conduct, and Attendance Requirements for Students Receiving Veterans Education Benefits

Public Law 95-908 (the GI Bill^®) requires that each educational institution approved for Veterans to receive education benefits must establish written policies that clearly state what is expected of the Veteran in the areas of academic progress, class attendance, and conduct.

Veterans whose benefits are terminated for unsatisfactory progress, lack of attendance, or misconduct must receive counseling before they can be re-certified for education benefits. The required counseling sessions may delay reinstatement of benefits from two to four months.

Standards of Academic Progress for Veterans

Students receiving Veterans education benefits are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress towards their degrees, which is defined as a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Progress evaluations are made at the end of each term.

The following standards of academic progress are reviewed each semester for all students receiving Veterans education benefits:

Satisfactory – The student is currently maintaining a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and is eligible for certification of benefits.
Probation – Cumulative GPA is below 2.0. Students must report immediately to the Veterans Services office for counseling referral to be eligible for further certification of benefits.
Suspension (termination to VA benefits) – Cumulative GPA is below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters. Veterans are not eligible for certification of benefits for the next enrolled semester or until cumulative GPA is above 2.0; however, students may continue in college at their own expenses. Suspension status will be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Reinstatement – After one semester without certification of benefits, students may request reinstatement of benefits for the next term of enrollment. Students must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA for reinstatement.

Attendance Requirements for Veterans

All students are expected to pursue good faith attendance by limiting absences to 15 percent or less of the total contact hours required in the course for the semester. If a student receiving Veterans education benefits must drop a course, the student must notify Durham Tech Veterans Services immediately. College officials are required to report the student’s last day of attendance; this information is forwarded to the regional Veterans Administration office. Certification ceases to be in effect as of the last day of attendance for dropped courses.

The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

Note: A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to education assistance under Chapter 31 (Vocation Rehabilitation and Employment) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) benefits.

Consistent with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Section 3679 of Title 38, United States Code, Section 103, Durham Technical Community College shall not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees or the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or require the a Covered Individual to borrow additional funds in order to meet financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

A Covered Individual shall be permitted to attend or participate in the approved course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the College a Certificate of Eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 (a “Certificate of Eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for Chapter 31) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the Certificate of Eligibility.

Procedures for Determining Conduct for Veterans

Conduct requirements are the same for Veteran and non-Veteran students.

Course Substitutions for Veterans

Students receiving Veterans education benefits are ordinarily limited to two course substitutions in their programs of study, not including substitutions resulting from changes in course numbers.

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 website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Durham Tech Veterans Services office provides support for students eligible for Veteran Education Benefits with benefit certification, documentation, and navigating college procedures. Eligible students include:

U.S. Veterans
Active-duty military personnel
Members of the Selected Reserves
National Guard members

To receive Veteran Education Benefits at Durham Tech, students must:

Be admitted to an approved Durham Tech curriculum program
Have official high school transcripts on file
Submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges

All prior college credits must be evaluated and applied to your Durham Tech program when applicable. Transcript waivers are not permitted.

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