Veterans

Information and advising are available for those eligible for educational benefits under the various laws aiding veterans and their dependents. Under U.S. Code Title 38 (cf. Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606, and 1607) and the Post 9/11 GI Bill, a veteran is required to be degree seeking to be eligible for benefits, and he or she may attend college full time or part time. It is important for the veteran to meet with a student success advisor prior to registration each term.

The Veteran Services Office completes the Veteran’s Certification for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Benefits are paid on a sliding scale:

Full-time Benefits: 12 or more credit hours
3/4 Benefits: 9 to 11 credit hours
1/2 Benefits: 6 to 8 credit hours
Tuition only: 1 to 5 credit hours (Post 9/11 GI Bill only)

All veterans and dependents (except those served under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act and Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) are responsible for paying all College fees within the appropriate deadlines. Registration fees may be deferred, when necessary, up to sixty days. If the term is less than sixty days long, the deferment is ten days less than the length of the term (whichever is earlier). Fees may be deferred only once per Academic Year.

Veterans (and their spouses and dependents) qualify for a waiver of the out-of-state portion of tuition at Polk State College. The student must submit the appropriate DD214 Form showing honorable discharge to the Admission and Registrar’s Office prior to the Drop Deadline for classes. More information regarding submission of this form can be found in the Catalog section on Defining a Florida Resident for Residency Fee Purposes.

VA regulations require a veteran to progress at a regular rate toward graduation. The veteran is expected to maintain the same academic standards of progress as a student who receives federal financial aid. Details regarding the current Polk State College policy for meeting these requirements are available in the Financial Aid Office on the Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses. The veteran should contact the Veteran Services Office for assistance with completing the appropriate paperwork.

Note: Any student who does not successfully pass the first two attempts of a course is charged the full cost of instruction on the third attempt.

VA Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 of US Code 3679 subsection (e), the College adopts the following additional provisions for any student using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) or Veteran Readiness and Employment Act (Chapter 31) benefits. While payment to the institution is pending from the VA, the College does not:

Prevent the student’s enrollment.
Assess a late-penalty fee to the student.
Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding.
Deny the student access to any resources (i.e., access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fees to the institution.

To qualify for this provision, the student may be required to:

Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class.
Provide a completed Veteran Certification Request Form, signed by: Academic Advising, to be certified.
Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

Note: Veterans will not receive any penalty, late fee, denial of access to classes, libraries, and/or Polk State College facilities due to the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to delayed VA disbursement of a payment provided by the Secretary under Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 of Title 38 U.S. Code.

Note: Class sizes are based on room capacity of 25 students. Flight Lab Instructors are assigned as 1 on 1 training with most flight training periods lasting 2 hours.

Note: Veteran students must have a 1^st or 2^nd Class FAA Medical Certificate from an FAA-authorized Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) prior to any flight lab being funded by the VA. More information and a list of authorized Aviation Medical Examiners (AME) can be found on the FAA’s website www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/.