Federal Tuition Assistance
Per DoDI 1322.25, Voluntary Education Programs, paragraph 1.c.(1)(b),
Heartland Community College does not use unfair, deceptive, and abusive recruiting practices. In accordance with federal laws, regulations, and the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the college:
- Bans the payment of any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) for Service Members to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.
- Refrains from high pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Service Member enrollments.
- Bans inducements, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals, or other item having a monetary value of more than an insignificant amount to any individual or entity, or its agents including third-party lead generators or marketing firms other than salaries paid to employees or fees paid to contractors in conformity with all applicable laws for the purpose of securing enrollments of Service Members or obtaining access to TA funds.
- Allows educational institution sponsored scholarships or grants and tuition reductions available to military affiliated students.
Federal Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance (TA) is a government benefit offered to current service members of all branches of the Armed Forces to assist with the cost of tuition only. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility. The application process can be different for each branch.
How to Get Started?
- Contact your unit’s Educational Services Officer (ESO) or representative as the first step.
- Visit your local installation education center, or you can go online to a virtual education center. The following links are provided for each branch:
Prior to Enrollment
You may be required to develop an education plan or complete TA orientation.
Military tuition assistance may only be used to pursue degree programs at colleges and universities in the United States that are regionally or nationally accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S Department of Education. A quick way to check the accreditation of a school is by visiting the Department of Education.
Your service’s education center must approve your military tuition assistance before you enroll in a course.
Return of Unearned Military Tuition Assistance (TA) ONLY
- Return any TA Program funds directly to the military service, not to the service member.
- Up to the start date, return all (100 percent) TA funds to the appropriate military service when the service member does not:
- begin attendance at the institution, or
- start a course, regardless of whether the student starts other courses.
- Return any TA funds which paid for a course that is cancelled by the institution.
- Return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60-percent portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based on when a student stops attending. In instances when a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the institution will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.
*This does not apply to Financial Aid (Title IV) attendance or recalculating of aid.
Course Drop Policies
| Week of Class | Return Amount |
|---|---|
| Before or during week 1 and 2 | 100% return |
| During week 3 through 4 | 75% return |
| During week 5-8 | 50% return |
| During week 9 through 10 (60% of course completed) | 25% return |
| During week 10-16 | 0% return |
| Week of Class | Return Amount |
|---|---|
| Before or during week 1 | 100% return |
| During week 2 through 4 | 75% return |
| During week 5-6 | 50% return |
| During week 7 (60% of course completed) | 25% return |
| During week 8-12 | 0% return |
| Week of Class | Return Amount |
|---|---|
| Before or during week 1 | 100% return |
| During week 2 | 75% return |
| During week 3-4 | 50% return |
| During week 5 (60% of course completed) | 40% return |
| During week 6-8 | 0% return |
| Week of Class | Return Amount |
|---|---|
| Within the first two days of class | 100% return |
| Days 3 through 7 | 75% return |
| Days 8 through 14 | 50% return |
| Days 15 through 17 | 25% return |
| Day 18 and after | 0% return |
Readmission of Service Members
In accordance with federal regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 668.18 and the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Heartland Community College will promptly readmit service members who seek readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation.
This policy shall apply to:
- Service members who are unable to attend classes for more than 30 consecutive days; and
- Service members who are unable to attend classes for less than 30 days when such an absence would result in a withdrawal from the college.
A student is eligible for readmission under this policy if, during an absence, the student performs uniformed service, voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserve, active duty, active duty for training or full-time National Guard (under federal authority). The cumulative length of all absences for uniformed service (service time only) must not exceed five years.
A student must provide orders or written notice by Commanding Officer of a Uniformed Service Obligation, such as Temporary Duty (TDY), etc., to the Chief Student Affairs Officer or designee as far in advance as possible, unless precluded by military necessity. Such notice does not need to indicate when the student will return to the college.
Notice of Intent to Return
The student must also give oral or written notice of Intent to Return to ECTC within three years after the completion of the period of service. Immediately upon the student's return to school, the student must provide notice that he/she may be entitled to the tuition and enrollment benefits outlined in this policy.
The student is required to provide official military obligation documentation to the Chief Student Affairs Officer or designee.
Tuition and Fees
A returning student must be charged the same tuition and fees in effect during the last academic year the student attended, unless veterans' education benefits or other service member education benefits will pay the amount in excess. For subsequent academic years, the returning student may not be charged tuition and fees in excess of what other students in the program are charged.
Readmission Requirements
A returning student will be permitted to reenroll in the next class(es) scheduled in the same academic program, unless the student requests a later date of reenrollment or agrees to a different program. A returning student will be readmitted into the same academic program the student was enrolled in prior to the military service obligation. If the exact program no longer exists, the student must be admitted to the program that is most similar, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to a different program. Returning students will be reenrolled with the same enrollment status, number of completed credit hours, and academic standing as the last academic year of attendance.
If the college determines that a returning student is not prepared to reenroll in the same academic program with the same academic status or is unable to complete the program, the college must make reasonable efforts to enable the student to resume or complete the program at no additional cost to the student. If such efforts are unsuccessful or place an undue hardship on the college, the college is not required to readmit the student.
In accordance with federal regulations, returning students who receive a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) are not eligible for readmission under this policy. However, service members who receive dishonorable or bad conduct discharge may remain eligible for readmission even though they will not be entitled to the benefits outlined in this policy.