1. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Maryland State Approving Agency VETERANS AFFINITY GROUP MEETING HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE APRIL 12, 2013 Trish Gordon-McCown State Approving Agency Director/ VA Coordinator Brian Gibbons State Approving Agency Senior Analyst Shawn Grove State Approving Agency Analyst

2. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Staff Directory Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES: VAEDUCATIONBENEFITS@MHEC.STATE.MD.US VA Contact – General Inquiries 1-888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551) Monday – Friday 7am – 7pm NamePosition TitlePhoneEmail Trish Gordon-McCownState Approving Agency Director410-767-3098tmccown@mhec.state.md.us Brian GibbonsSenior Veterans Affairs Analyst – IHL Specialist410-767-3067bgibbons@mhec.state.md.us Shawn GroveVeterans Affairs Analyst – NCD Specialist410-767-3091sgrove@mhec.state.md.us NCD/Private Career Schools Only Amy KaniaEducation Analyst-Career/Workforce Education410-767-3296akania@mhec.state.md.us Stephanie BakerEducation Analyst-Career/Workforce Education410-767-3297sbaker@mhec.state.md.us MHEC Switchboard Operator410-767-3300

3. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Maryland State Approving Agency Financial Offset, Tuition Assistance/ Sequestration Update – Brian Gibbons Financial Offset, Tuition Assistance/ Sequestration Update – Brian Gibbons Compliance Survey – Trish Gordon-McCown Compliance Survey – Trish Gordon-McCown VRAP – Shawn Grove VRAP – Shawn Grove 3

4. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Maryland State Approving Agency Financial Offset Tuition Assistance & Sequestration Update 4

5. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 TREASURY OFFEST PROGRAM How does an offset occur? What should I do? Who should I contact? –Debt Management Center (800) 827-0648 Debt Management Center website: www.va.gov/debtman –SCO Hotline (855) 225-1159 Must have your facility code & file number available 5

6. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 DEBT COLLECTION NOTICE Institution receives a debt collection notice from the Debt Management Center –Do not take action until you receive a letter Submit checks to Debt Management Center in Minneapolis –Keep a copy of the transaction in the students VA file 6

7. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 2 nd NOTICE If you do not respond, the VA will notify the Treasury which will pull money from your schools funds SCO Handbook (Pages 88 – 89) 7

8. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013REFUNDS If a student receives a refund during drop/add period: –Advise the student (preferably in writing) explaining the refund and he/she should expect to repay the VA. –Keep a copy of the memo/notice in the students VA file. 8

9. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 TUITION ASSISTANCE UPDATE Notification from Department of Defense (DoD) of Tuition Assistance Suspension Notification from Department of Defense (DoD) of Tuition Assistance Suspension Included Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and the Coast Guard Included Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and the Coast Guard Navy did not suspend Tuition Assistance Navy did not suspend Tuition Assistance Army lifted its suspension on April 10, 2013 Army lifted its suspension on April 10, 2013 9

10. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 CONTACT INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DoD) WWW.DODMOU.COM (850) 452-1111, ext. 3175 10

11. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Maryland State Approving Agency THANK YOU!!! QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 11

12. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Compliance surveys are conducted in order to ensure that schools and training establishments, and their approved courses, are in compliance with all applicable provisions of the laws administered by VA. (Public Law 111-377, Section 3673) Assist the school and beneficiaries in understanding laws as they apply to VA beneficiaries Verify and assure the correctness of VA educational benefit payments 12 WHY COMPLIANCE SURVEYS

13. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Academic Records –Application for Admissions –VA applications and Certificates of Eligibility (COE) –All Enrollment Certifications & Change in Student Status Forms –Students Unofficial Transcripts –Registration Information –Drop/Add Slips –Prior Credit Evaluation Proof of an evaluation process, documentation and/or waiver(s) 13 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & RECORDS

14. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Student Catalog(s) and Schedule of Classes –For the survey period time Student Payment Records –Schedule of Tuition & Fees Tuition & Fees Payment Ledger –Full payment ledgers including all transactions –Clearly detail VA transactions 14 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & RECORDS

15. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Documents Verifying compliance with the 85-15% ratio –Number of total students enrolled and number of VA students by Chapter Schools Advertising Materials The following items may not apply to all institutions: VA Tutorial Assistance VA Work Study Yellow Ribbon Program 15 ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR REVIEW

16. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 KEY PLAYERS SCHOOL CERTIFYING OFFICIAL(S) REGISTRAR – BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER FINANCIAL AID DIRECTOR/REPRESENTATIVE DEAN/DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION 16

17. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE VISIT Entrance Interview Tour of the facility Records Review –Enrollment Certifications Reporting of changes in student status Termination/Graduation of student –Transcript Review –Payment Ledger Review –Review of advertising materials, student catalogs, handbooks Exit Interview 17

18. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 WHAT TO EXPECT THE VISIT WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE VISIT SAA Finalizes the Compliance Survey Reports & identifies corrections needed Compliance Summary Letter sent to School Officials Compliance Survey is sent to ELR/VA Regional Office 18

19. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Maryland State Approving Agency THANK YOU!!! QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 19

20. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Maryland State Approving Agency VRAP April 12 th 2013 Shawn Grove State Approving Agency – VA Analyst

21. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Benefit Payments Fulltime payment rate under Montgomery GI Bill $1,564 Monthly (Effective October 1 st, 2012) Application submission deadline is October 1, 2013 No payments for attendance after March 31 st, 2014 VA determines fulltime status* * Refer to page 55 in SCO handbook (2 nd Edition)

22. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Rate of Pursuit Must attend fulltime Non-Standard Terms VA determines fulltime status

23. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Certification Accuracy Academic Probation Graduations, Withdrawals, and Dismissals VA determines fulltime status

24. April 2010 April 12 th, 2013 Maryland State Approving Agency THANK YOU!!! QUESTIONS & ANSWERS