Only courses that satisfy requirements outlined by the curriculum guide, catalog, or graduation evaluation form can be certified for VA purposes. If a student takes a course that does not fulfill a program requirement, it cannot be certified for VA purposes. Excessive free electives, online remedial courses, and audit courses, for example, cannot be certified.
Repeating Courses
Classes that are successfully completed may not be certified again for VA purposes if they are repeated. However, if a student fails a class, or if a program requires a higher grade than the one achieved in a particular class for successful completion, that class may be repeated and certified to VA again.
Example 1: if a Nursing program requires a “B” or better in Biology, then that class may be repeated if a “B” or better was not earned. That requirement must be in the school catalog.
Example 2: If a course is required for graduation, a student may repeat the course and be certified for it until it is successfully completed. No further information needs to be provided to VA regarding those courses.
Example 3: If a student chooses to repeat a course that was successfully completed, just to improve their GPA, that course cannot be certified to VA.
Guest Students
A student may take courses at more than one school that apply to his or her degree. The school that will grant the degree is the student’s “primary” school. All other schools are “secondary” schools. You must have a “primary” school letter for MVCC to certify your courses. Please see the Coordinator of Veteran Affairs for more information.
Rounding Out
A VA student can round out a schedule with non-required courses to bring his/her course load up to a full-time schedule in his/her last term only. This allows students to continue to receive benefits at the full-time rate in their last term of enrollment, even though fewer credits are required to complete the program.
This procedure can be done only once per program.
In rounding out a full-time schedule, VA students may use any credit hour unit subject, including a subject that has previously been successfully completed (received a passing grade). Students who wish to “round out” their schedule must complete a rounding out contract before being certified for the term.
Credit for Military Service
Veterans of United States military service may be granted credit for their military service training. Credit is given only to honorably discharged veterans who have one year or more of active military service. To receive credit, a veteran must provide the Records Department with a copy of the Separation Record (Form DD214) and an evaluation request form. Evaluation request forms are available in S101 and S103, Building S.
Military Transcripts
Based on your military experience and training, you may be eligible for potential college credits. Your credits could be used towards your Associates Degree and or Certificate Program. The first step in the process is to obtain a copy of your Military Transcripts through Joint Service Transcripts (JST). The ACE Military Guide can also be utilized to provide recommendations for formal course articulations offered by all branches of the military.
- Joint Service Transcripts – https://jst.doded.mil
- American Council on Education Military Guide (ACE) - http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Guide-Online.aspx
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
IVG and ING - ISAC administers two programs, the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program and the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program that provide benefits to assist you with paying for college. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents are available to highlight important facts about both the ING Grant Program and IVG Program, and applications for both programs can be accessed on the Applications at isac.org.
According to state guidelines, students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA), which includes developmental and remedial courses, to remain eligible for the grant. Student records will be reviewed at the end of each semester (including summer).
If a student’s GPA is below 2.0, a letter will be sent to the student stating the criterion for academic progress has not been met. A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA must be achieved in the next semester of enrollment for continued eligibility. A student will not be eligible for the grant until the criterion has been met.
Illinois MIA/POW Scholarship (for spouses and dependents)
If you are the dependent of a person who was an Illinois resident at the time he/she entered active duty and has been declared to be a prisoner of war, missing in action, dead as a result of a service-connected disability, or disabled with a 100 percent disability as the result of a service-connected cause as recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Defense, you may be eligible to receive the MIA/POW Scholarship. This scholarship may be used at public colleges in Illinois, and is administered by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.
For more information, visit the website for the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Combining Federal and State Benefits
For many eligible veterans, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides more attractive benefits than other veteran education benefit programs, however, veterans should carefully review all their options before making the irrevocable decision to apply for and utilize Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
When considering different scenarios, students should pay careful attention to the differences that occur when changing from full-time to half-time enrollment status, as well as to the amount of the monthly basic allowance for housing (BAH), which will vary based on the location of the school.
In addition to reviewing the amount of monetary benefits, students should also consider the following:
- What type of training or education are you planning to pursue?
- Is the timeframe to utilize benefits important to you?
- Are you eligible for the transfer of entitlement benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Program?
- Do you have remaining entitlement under other VA education programs?
Combining the Post-9/11 GI Bill with the IVG or ING Grant
For those with 100% eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, it is often the best option to use Post-9/11 instead of IVG or the ING Grant. However, for those with less than 100% eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill, it may be necessary to also use IVG or the ING Grant to help cover remaining tuition and fee charges not covered by the VA.
Effective July 1, 2015, for veterans who are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at less than 100% and who use those benefits with IVG or ING Grant programs in the same term, the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will be applied first (VA will be first payer), and any remaining eligible tuition and fee charges would be covered by IVG and/or ING Grant, and the amount of IVG and ING Grant benefits used will be prorated based on the percentage of the charges that are covered by the ISAC programs.