Veterans, Active Duty & Military Dependents
Information regarding services to assist veterans, active duty personnel, and dependents who use military educational benefits at BRCC can be found at: https://www.brcc.edu/admissions/veterans/
The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. Our office investigates complaints of GI Bill® beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact our office via email saa@dvs.virginia.gov.
Veterans Services
Information regarding services to assist veterans, active duty personnel, and dependents who use military educational benefits at BRCC can be found at: https://www.brcc.edu/admissions/veterans/
The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. Our office investigates complaints of GI Bill® beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact our office via email saa@dvs.virginia.gov.
Veterans Educational Benefits
This institution is approved to offer GI Bill® educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency.
Application forms and assistance with veterans’ educational benefits are available in the Admissions and Records Office or at https://www.brcc.edu/admissions/veterans/. Most programs at the College are approved by the State Department of Education for the payment of veterans’ educational benefits. Students using their benefits for the first time must complete an “Application for Educational Benefits” (22-1990) and provide a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility (COE). In addition, an original or court certified copy of their discharge papers (DD-214) may be requested, plus documentation on dependents, if any. Veterans who are new to BRCC but who have used their educational benefits at another school must complete a “Request for Change of Program or Place of Training” (22-1995).
To receive veterans’ educational benefits, classes must be applicable to the veteran’s program of study as outlined in this catalog. The student is responsible for notifying the Admissions and Records Office of any changes in enrollment or curriculum.
When necessary, additional and updated policy information from the Veterans Administration and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services regarding educational benefits can be found in the Catalog Addendum.
VA Delayed Payment
In compliance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) ensures the following provisions for veteran students who may be defined as a Covered Individual.
For the purpose of this procedure, BRCC adheres to the Veterans Administration (VA) definition of a Covered individual as any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. A veteran is entitled to educational assistance at the point where he/she provides proof of eligibility for benefits (Certificate of Eligibility, Statement of Benefits, or Form VAF 28-1905).
BRCC permits any Covered Individual to attend and/or participate in a course of education beginning on the date the individual provides proof of eligibility and ending on or before the following instances occur:
- The date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution;
- 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following receipt of the Certificate of Eligibility.
BRCC will not impose any penalties on a Covered Individual, including but not limited to: late fees, denial of access to classes, libraries, institutional facilities or resources. BRCC will not require that a Covered Individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual's inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the VA under either Chapter 31 or Chapter 33.
*Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) will not engage in high-pressure recruiting tactics when recruiting Service members. BRCC will recruit Service members through standard Outreach protocols: email, phone or text follow-up to a new application or inquiry by the Service member. BRCC will not engage in repeated attempts to recruit Service members who have indicated they are no longer interested in attending BRCC.*
Military Exceptions to Domicile
Title 38 United States Code Section 3679(c)
The following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate, or otherwise considered a resident, for tuition purposes:
- A veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill® –Active Duty Program) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill), of Title 38, United States Code, who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence).
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits who lives in the state where the IHL is located, and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service serving on active duty.
- A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence).
- A spouse or child using benefits under Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance (Chapter 35) living in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence).
- An individual using educational assistance under chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of their formal state of residence)effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning after March 1, 2019
- Anyone described above remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. Therefore, the described person must be enrolled in the institution and use educational benefits under Chapters 30, 31, 33 or 35 of Title 38, United States Code.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/."
Active Duty Service Benefits
Active duty personnel may qualify for either VA assistance (contact the Admissions and Records Office) or for the tuition assistance programs of the Armed Forces. For information about the Armed Forces Tuition Assistance program, students should contact their Education Service Officer, who is available on their respective military branch base.
Military Service Policy
Pursuant to 23-9, 6:2 of the Code of Virginia, and corresponding State Council on Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Guidelines, Blue Ridge Community College has developed this policy providing for the tuition relief, refund, and reinstatement of students whose service in the uniformed services has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from their enrollment. Service in the uniformed services is defined as service (whether voluntary or involuntary) on active duty in the Armed Forces, including such service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve, for a period of more than 30 days under call or order to active duty of more than 30 days. BRCC shall provide the following:
- Tuition and Required Fees
Should a student be ordered to active duty (for reservists) or be mobilized (active military) as described in the Code of Virginia, Section 23-9, 6:2 and the State Council’s Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines and he/she requests to be withdrawn from the College after the census date, the student may elect either to be deleted from the registration file and be awarded a full refund or to be administratively withdrawn with no refund and assigned a grade of “W.” This policy also applies to refunds of Miscellaneous Education fees, General Program fees, Deposits, Auxiliary Services fees and Student Activity fees. - Textbooks
BRCC shall process refunds for textbooks according to contractual agreement with local vendors. - Academic Credits and Grades
Students who are called to active duty or are mobilized, meaning service in uniformed services, as described in Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines, will have the opportunity to receive incomplete grades (“I”) until released from active duty (for reservists) or mobilization (for active military personnel). All course requirements shall be completed within one year from the date of release from active duty or mobilization.
Students may be given the option of taking their examinations prior to regularly scheduled times as an exception to VCCS policy 5.6.1 in accordance with the Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines.
Careful consideration will be given and special options are available for students who receive student financial aid or Veterans Administration benefits. - Deposits
BRCC shall provide, at the option of the student, deposits to be retained and to be applicable to tuition, or fees charged in the semester or term in which the student returns to study. - Reinstatement
Students who are called to active duty or are mobilized will be provided a reasonable opportunity to be reinstated in the same programs of study without having to re-apply for admission if they return to BRCC after a cumulative absence of not more than five years, so long as the student provides notice of intent to return to the institution not later than three years after the completion of the period of service. - Dissemination of Information
In accordance with the requirements of Code of Virginia, Section 23-9, 6:2, and the Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines, BRCC will make every effort to ensure that the aforementioned VCCS policies relative to tuition relief, refund, academic credit and reinstatement are well disseminated and carefully explained. BRCC has designated the Vice President of Academic Affairs as the office to ensure that these policies are properly disseminated and administered.
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program
Section 23-7.1 of the Code of Virginia provides for free tuition and fees to attend state-supported institutions of higher education for children of persons deceased, disabled, prisoners of war, or missing in action as a result of any armed conflict involving the Armed Forces of the United States. For more information and an application, visit the web athttps://www.dvs.virginia.gov/benefits-services/education/virginia-military-survivors-dependents-education-program-vmsdep