Background

VA educational programs have been around since World War II. As one program ends another replaces it. Veterans programs exist to help the soldier, sailor, airman, and marine adapt to civilian life and to help pay for some of the expenses incurred as he/she adjusts to life outside the military services.

A few of the terms associated with VA and VA benefits are listed below:

Audited Course

Any course that a student attends as a listener only with no credit for the course expected. GI Bill benefits for that course are not payable under any circumstances while auditing.

Certificate of Eligibility

VA form 22-1993a is issued to the student by VA. It shows approval to pursue a stated program of education, the remaining entitlement of the student, and the ending date of the student¿s eligibility.

Certifying Official

The person at an institution who has been delegated authority to sign enrollment certifications, other certifications, documents and reports relating to VA benefits. The certifying official at Broward Community College is the Veteran's advisor who is not an employee of the US Government.

Confirmed Enrollment

An enrollment certification dated and signed by the certifying official on or after the first day of an enrollment period. A new student who is in Chapter 1606 or 35 must be certified as confirmed enrollment, meaning this school cannot certify he/she until on or after the first day of class.

Delimiting Date

The expiration date for educational benefits. It is generally ten years and one day from the veteran's last release from active duty.

File Number

Most veterans have their Social Security numbers assigned as their VA file number. Dependents or survivors of veterans eligible for Chapter 35 benefits are assigned generally the veterans file number plus a letter or number suffix.

Mitigating Circumstances

Unanticipated and unavoidable events beyond a student's control which are responsible for the student¿s inability to complete a course or courses or result in the receipt of a non-punitive grade (W). Generally, a student will be required to submit corroborative evidence to substantiate his or her reasons for being unable to complete the course or courses with a grade of A, B, C, D, or F.

Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE)

DD Form 2384. A form the student retrieves from his/her unit stating eligibility for the Montgomery GI Bill & Selected Reserve. This form should be less than 120 days old when applying for benefits.

Non-College Degree (NCD)

A course or program of education which does not lead to a standard college degree. An example would be any BCC certificate program which is approved for VA training.

Punitive Grade

A grade that affects the criteria to be met by the student for graduation. It is a factor in computing the student's GPA.

Remedial/Deficiency Courses

Required training for entrance to or preparatory to the successful pursuit of a college educational program. At Broward Community College, it is a course number that begins with "00" i.e. MAT0024.

Selected Reserve

The term means, the Army Reserve, the Naval Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, the Coast Guard Reserve, the Army National Guard of the United States, and the Air National Guard of the United States.

Standard College Degree

An associate or higher degree awarded by an institution of higher learning that is accredited as a collegiate institution by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency. Broward Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges.

State Approving Agency (SAA)

An agency appointed by the Chief Executive of a state to approve institutional programs of education and training for payment of benefits under the various laws administered by VA.