Veterans Affairs Office

In-State Tuition Policy

Pursuant to the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, effective August 1, 2021:

Western Piedmont Community College will NOT charge a tuition rate higher than the rate charged for residents of North Carolina to any covered individual receiving VA Education Assistance under Chapters 30, 31, or 33, as long as the covered individual is currently living in North Carolina (regardless of the covered individual’s State of legal residence). In addition, the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021 now includes Chapter 35 beneficiaries as covered individuals for the purpose of receiving in-state tuition rates.

VA Retention Requirement

Students receiving VA Educational Benefits must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Failure to maintain a 2.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters will result in the termination of VA Education Benefits. Conditions for re-entrance are listed below.

CH 33 and CH 31 Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Western Piedmont Community College adopts the following additional provisions for any student 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 institution is pending from VA. Western Piedmont Community 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 are required to:

• Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
• Provide additional information as needed (i.e., Course Registration Schedule, prior college transcripts, etc.) to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional and VA policies.

VA Course Repeat Policy

VA Standards of Attendance

Students are expected to be present for all regular class meetings and examinations for which they are registered. A student who fails to participate in an academic related activity for a period of 14 consecutive calendar days may be dropped from the class roll and the instructor will notify the Registrar by submitting a withdrawal form. Additional or alternate attendance requirements may be established for individual courses. Students may be readmitted only with the permission of the instructor.

1. Students legitimately dropped from a course by an instructor cannot be readmitted without that instructor’s permission.
2. Students are considered to remain in membership in a course until students officially withdraw or transfer to another course section or are officially withdrawn from the course.
3. Students will not be carried in membership after 14 consecutive calendar days of non-participation in the course, or after withdrawal.
4. Students who are withdrawn or who withdraw from a course will receive VA benefits only for the hours in membership reported through the last attendance date in class.
5. Students who return to class after having been withdrawn may not include those class hours from the time students were withdrawn until students were readmitted.

VA Standards of Conduct

Western Piedmont’s policy on student conduct is the same for all students, veterans included. (See the College’s Student Code of Conduct.) If a veteran is dismissed from the College for misconduct, veteran’s benefits are terminated immediately.

VA Conditions for Reentrance

Western Piedmont operates under an open-door policy. No student is denied readmission after having been dropped for unsatisfactory progress or conduct. However, certain conditions must be met before a student receiving Veterans Educational Benefits will be recertified for those benefits. Those conditions are the following:

1. Reevaluation of program objectives to determine if students would be better suited to another program.
2. Student will receive counseling at Western Piedmont in an effort to identify and eliminate the cause for unsatisfactory progress or conduct.
3. Student will carry a half-time load until reaching a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
   
   

In accordance with federal regulations under 34 C.F.R. 668.18 the College will promptly readmit service members who seek readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation.

Return of Department of Defense Military Tuition Assistance

Department of Defense Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.

To comply with Department of Defense policy, Western Piedmont Community College will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. These funds are returned to the military Service branch.

Prohibition of High-Pressure Recruitment Tactics

In accordance with Federal regulations, 34 C.F.R 668.71-668.75 and 668.14, and as mandated by the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-315) Western Piedmont Community College prohibits inducements, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimis amount, to any individual or entity, or its agents including third party lead generators or marketing firms other than salaries paid to employees or fees paid to contractors in conformity with all applicable laws for the purpose of securing enrollments of Service members or obtaining access Tuition Assistance funds.

Western Piedmont Community College prohibits the payment of any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid, including Tuition Assistance, to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.

Western Piedmont Community College prohibits high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Service member enrollments in non-credit courses/programs.