Veteran Tuition Waivers
Veterans who served for at least 90 days active duty during wartime, were honorably discharged or discharged under honorable conditions, and who are domiciled in Connecticut at the time of acceptance for admission at public colleges in Connecticut may be eligible for free tuition from General Fund courses. Connecticut National Guard members also can receive tuition waivers. Active duty military stationed in Connecticut, including spouse and dependents, are now eligible for in-state tuition at Connecticut Community Colleges.
NOTE: “Public Law 18-47” effective 1 OCT 18, extends the CT Veterans Tuition Waiver to certain Veterans with Other than Honorable discharge.
To use the tuition waiver, veterans must submit a copy of their DD-214 to the QVCC Veterans’ Services Office for evaluation. National Guard members must apply to their education unit for a DD-2384.
Those eligible for a National Guard tution waiver must reapply with their units each semester and have the waivers mailed to the QVCC Business Office prior to registration. These waivers do not cover Extension Fund, summer, winter intersession, non-credit courses, student fees, or books.
Veterans’ Monthly Benefits
Veterans, some spouses, and dependents of deceased or disabled veterans and current members of the Selected Reserves may be eligible for educational benefits.
To receive and maintain monthly benefits:
- Apply for GI BILL® benefits through the VA website, www.benefits.va.gov/gibill, that contains updated information regarding educational assistance and benefits.
- Complete the process for enrollment to QVCC. Matriculate into a VA-approved program of study. You must ensure the program of study is approved for education benefits prior to enrollment. Provide an official transcript of all previous college credits that apply to the QVCC program of study.
- Submit a Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the QVCC Veterans’ Services Office.
- Meet with the College’s school certifying official in the Veterans’ Services Office each semester to be sure that all courses are required for the agreed plan of study. Only courses pertaining to the major are certifiable. This includes any developmental courses that may be necessary.
- Register with the QVCC Veterans’ Services Office each semester by completing the Request of Veteran Benefits Form. Complete this form each semester to continue receiving benefits.
- The VA will contact all affected students via text or email and let them know that they need to begin enrollment verification. VA indicates that students will be contacted via the phone number or email address registered with the agency. Students who have not been contacted by the end of the month should contact the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). Students can also update or verify their contact information online on the VA website.
- Notify the QVCC Veterans’ Services Office of any change of program or change in credits during the semester. Changes in credits could impact your education benefits.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations require that all students receiving VA educational benefits meet the College’s satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standard and the College’s academic standing policy as stated in the college catalog. Students failing to make SAP will have their VA educational benefits discontinued in accordance with the institution’s policy in the Advising section of this catalog. Students who are suspended (dismissed)* for failing to meet the college’s academic standing policy will be reported to the VA . Students may appeal their academic suspension (dismissal)* in accordance with the policy located in the Advising section of this catalog. Should the appeal be successful, the student’s enrollment will be reported retroactively to VA for the enrollment period to which the appeal applies.
Check with the Veterans’ Services Office for further information.
Section 103 of PL 115-407, ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018’, Title 38- US Code 3679 Amendment
SEC. 103. DISAPPROVAL FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF CERTAIN COURSES OF EDUCATION THAT DO NOT PERMIT INDIVIDUALS TO ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN COURSES PENDING PAYMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(e) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, beginning on August 1, 2019, a State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State approving agency, shall disapprove a course of education provided by an educational institution that has in effect a policy that is inconsistent with any of the following:
“(A) A policy that permits any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of this title and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
“(i) The date on which the Secretary provides payment for such course of education to such institution.
“(ii) The date that is 90 days after the date on which the educational institution certifies for tuition and fees following receipt from the student such certificate of eligibility.
“(B) A policy that ensures that the educational institution will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33 of this title.
“(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of this title.
“(3) The Secretary may waive such requirements of paragraph (1) as the Secretary considers appropriate.
“(4) It shall not be inconsistent with a policy described in paragraph (1) for an educational institution to require a covered individual to take the following additional actions:
“(A) Submit a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance not later than the first day of a course of education for which the individual has indicated the individual wishes to use the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance.
“(B) Submit a written request to use such entitlement.
“(C) Provide additional information necessary to the proper certification of enrollment by the educational institution.”.
(b) PROMPT PAYMENTS. —
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the Secretary makes a payment to an educational institution on behalf of an individual, who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of title 38, United States Code, and who is using such assistance to pursue a program of education at the educational institution, not later than 60 days after the date on which the educational institution certifies to the Secretary the applicable tuition and fees for the individual.
(2) SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than May 1 and October 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a semiannual report summarizing any cases in which the Secretary failed to make a payment described in paragraph (1) within the period set forth in such paragraph and an explanation for each delayed disbursement of payment.
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—In a case in which an individual is unable to meet a financial obligation to an educational institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33 of such title and the amount of such disbursement is less than anticipated, nothing in section 3679(e) of such title, as added by subsection (a), shall be construed to prohibit an educational institution from requiring additional payment or imposing a fee for the amount that is the difference between the amount of the financial obligation and the amount of the disbursement.
Veterans’ OASIS
(Operation Academic Support for Incoming Servicemembers)
The QVCC Veterans’ OASIS provides a comfortable place where student veterans may meet, socialize, study, access information about veterans’ benefits, and support one another while pursuing their education.
The OASIS Center is located in the large grey modular building directly behind the cafeteria at the Danielson campus. Available in the OASIS are computers, a study area with chairs, coffee maker, microwave oven, small refrigerator, television, dvd player, free books on federal benefits for veterans and dependents, brochures, and valuable information regarding the GI BILL®, tuition waivers, disability benefits, and more. The space offers privacy for veterans to meet with various service providers who come to campus.
Military Friendly School
QVCC has been named to the 2021-2022 Military Friendly Schools list by Victory Media magazine, a leader in the world of military education and post-military employment. The list honors the 15 percent of the country’s colleges and universities that do the most to welcome military veterans and enhance their experience as students. This is the ninth consecutive year that QVCC has been named to this elite list.
Not only did QVCC hold its distinction as a Gold Status Millitary Friendly School in 2019-2020, we exceeded this honor and were recognized as a Top 10 Military Friendly School ranked #5 in the small community college category.
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