Mount Aloysius College Veteran Student Benefit and Scheduling Information

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Section 3679 of Title 38 US Code Amended

On December 31, 2018, the President signed into law the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018. It contains a provision (Section 103) that takes effect on August 1, 2019 and potentially impacts an institution’s tuition and fee policies.

Effective August 1, 2019, for any student using Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill or Ch. 31 Voc-Rehab benefits, even if the VA has not yet paid tuition and fees, no institution (public, private, for profit, not for profit), can have a policy in effect that:

• prevents enrolling,
• assesses a late penalty fee,
• requires securing alternative or additional funding, or
• denies access to any school resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) that are available to other students that have paid.
   

However, an institution can require that such students be required to:

• produce the VA’s Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class,
• provide additional information needed by the educational institution for proper certification
• Require additional payment or impose a fee for the amount that is the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement

Mount Aloysius College requires all of the above.

• Mount Aloysius College requires that the VA’s Certificate of Eligibility or an Awards letter showing remaining eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33, be submitted to the VA Certifying Official each semester, prior to the first day of class. A “Certificate of Eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website, eBenefits, or a VA Form 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes.  A copy of the document will be kept in the military student’s file and a copy will be given to the Business Office as proof of eligibility.
• Students must provide additional documents needed for certification (DD-214 or Notice of Basic Eligibility -NOBE, confirmation of transfer of benefits if applicable, copy of VA form 22-1990e confirmation for transferred benefits if applicable, copy of Kicker Contract if applicable, signed contract provided by VA Certifying Official, etc.)
• Require additional payment or impose a fee for the amount that is the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement.

Veteran Priority Registration Policy

Mount Aloysius College provides service members (not including dependents or non-veteran spouses) as defined below, with priority registration:

• The student has served in the United States Armed Forces, a Reserve component or National Guard or the student is an Active Duty service member and
• The student was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable or provides documentation (Notice of Basic Eligibility) showing eligibility

To receive priority registration, the student must submit proof of military status by providing one of the following documents to the VA Certifying Official:

• DD-214 showing other than dishonorable discharge
• Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) from their unit

Priority Registration Process

When the student submits the necessary documentation, they are coded within the registration system, to receive priority registration privileges.  Students must meet with their advisor, prior to registering, to be cleared for registration.  Students who are given service member’s priority privileges are permitted to register on the first day of registration, regardless of their class status. An announcement is distributed over the portal, that shows the date and time that the student may register.

Military service members with questions regarding this process may contact the VA Certifying Official at sweber@mtaloy.edu or registrar@mtaloy.edu.