Accreditation | Maintenance of Records | Offices | Applying for Benefits

Degree Program | Fee Extensions | Attendance | Express Sessions | Telecourses

Status Changes (Withdrawals, Drops and Incomplete Grades) | Standards of Progress | Other Assistance

Accreditation

St. Petersburg College is approved for education and training by the State Approving Agency.

Maintenance of Records

Complete academic records are maintained on each veteran who is certified as eligible for benefits under the public laws. The records show continuous pursuit and the rate at which progress is being made. They include final grades in each subject for each term, record of withdrawal from any subject to include the last day of attendance for a course and record of enrollment in subjects from which there was a withdrawal.

Complete academic records are maintained of previous college level academic training, and these records clearly indicate the amount of credit accepted which proportionately shortens the training period; the Veterans' Administration and the student are so notified. The record is a cumulative record in that it shows the result of each term of enrollment, subjects taken and grades earned.

Offices

The campus Scholarships and Student Financial Assistance office houses the Veterans' Services Offices (VSO) which are located on both the St. Petersburg/Gibbs (Administration Building, Room 100) and Clearwater (Administration Building, Room 108) campuses and at the Tarpon Springs Center (Administration Building, Room 126). Inquiries concerning benefits should be directed to the campus Scholarships and Student Financial Assistance office.

Applying for Benefits

Veterans making a first-time application should complete VA form 22-1990. Veterans under the Delayed Entry Program who went on active duty after December 31, 1976 must also submit a copy of DD4C (Enlistment Contract) in order to qualify for the G.I. Bill. Other documents must be submitted to claim a spouse and/or child as dependents. Reservists applying under Chapter 1606 benefits must submit DD Form 2384 (Notice of Basic Eligibility) from their Reserve Unit.

Transfer students should complete VA form 22-1995. A widow, wife or dependent of a 100 percent permanently disabled veteran should check with the VSO to see if they are eligible and should fill out VA form 5495.

Allow 6 to 8 weeks from the drop/add date of the term before expecting to receive a check from the VA unless an advance payment has been requested at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the session. A St. Petersburg College Admissions Application must be filed and student must be registered for classes before an advance payment can be requested.

Degree Program

The VA will pay benefits only if the veteran is seeking a degree (A.A., A.S. or A.A.S.) or an approved Certificate. As a degree-seeking student, a veteran must submit transcripts of work attempted at any other college or university by the end of the first semester of attendance.

Failure to do so will result in termination of VA benefits. Also, the veteran, while in attendance, must follow the course of study as outlined in the catalog. For an A.A. Degree, the VA will only pay for courses which satisfy the basic A.A. Degree. Contact the VSO for details. The VA will not pay for courses which do not count toward fulfilling graduation requirements (this includes auditing a course and repeating any course in which a grade of "D" or above was received with the exception of Gordon Rule courses which require a grade of "C" or better).

Fee Extensions

Florida statutes provide for the deferment of payment of matriculation and tuition fees for veterans and other eligible persons until 60 days after the beginning of the term. The extension can only be used once in an academic year and the student must complete the application and promissory note after registration and before the due date indicated on the registration form. If this procedure is not followed, the veteran's registration will be canceled and re-registration will be necessary. A minimal fee per credit hour is charged to receive the extension.

If classes are not officially dropped during the drop/add period through the admissions/registration office, the student will continue to be responsible for the repayment of the deferred fees even if the student is not attending classes. The obligation can be canceled only through qualification for a refund, which may be used to offset the amount due.

Attendance

The veteran should be aware of each instructor's policy concerning absences. In the case of veterans enrolled in A.A., A.S., A.A.S., or Certificate programs, students exceeding more than three unexcused absences within 1 semester will be dropped for non-attendance, terminated from veteran's benefits for unsatisfactory progress, and the VA will require a refund of any monies received. Excused absences will be granted for extenuating circumstances only and must be documented.

Express Sessions

These courses are less than full term and have different beginning and/or ending dates. As a result, the VA must calculate the rate of payment. Contact the VSO for additional information. Express Session courses take longer for approval, so funds may not be received until later in the term.

Telecourses

Credit hours taken on open-circuit television may not always be totaled with classroom credits for half-time, three-quarter or full-time benefits. Check with the VSO to determine the impact of televised courses on your benefits.

Status Changes (Withdrawals, Drops and Incomplete Grades)

It is the veteran's responsibility to inform the VSO any time a course is dropped, added or audited. Each student receiving Veterans' Benefits must report their schedule to the VSO as soon as their new schedule has been confirmed by admissions/registration. Any delay in doing so could mean a corresponding delay in receiving VA benefits.

If a veteran decides not to attend classes before the term begins and he/she has a fee extension, all classes must be officially dropped or the veteran will be liable to the College for the tuition and fees. If the term has already begun, formal withdrawal must be made through the associate provost and the VSO must be informed of these actions.

Veterans who drop a course during the term may owe a repayment of their veterans' benefits. They must be sure to read all correspondence from the VA carefully so that financial liability can be avoided.

Standards of Progress

A veteran or other eligible person will be considered to have made unsatisfactory progress if unable to complete graduation requirements within the approved length of time. These requirements are based on a 60-credit hour graduation requirement for the Associate in Arts degree; or the number of credit hours as shown in the required program when the degree is the Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science in an occupational specialty. In addition to the VA standard of progress outlined above, based on new college-wide Standards of Probation and Suspension, a veteran or other eligible person will be placed on academic warning when he fails to maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA or better anytime after completing a minimum of 7 semester hours of credit. If the student falls below a 1.5 GPA after being placed on academic warning, academic probation will occur. Also, if a student fails to raise his cumulative GPA to 2.0 after 1 semester of academic probation, certification for veterans' benefits will be denied until reinstated by the VA. All other policies regarding academic probation and suspension are the same as indicated in other areas of the catalog.

Other Assistance

Check with the Veterans' Services Office for further information concerning tutorial assistance or VA Work-Study Program.