South Piedmont is proud to serve you as you begin your next mission: advancing your education.
At South Piedmont, veterans follow the same admissions procedure as non-veteran students.
After submitting your application, transcripts, and other required documents, it’s important that you work with College staff to secure your veteran educational benefits. Here are important details related to the major forms of veteran educational assistance.
Veterans Administration Benefits
If you are receiving Veteran Administration benefits, you may select any program that is approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs and will lead to a degree from South Piedmont.
Please refer to the Veteran Student Checklist for helpful tools to guide you through the enrollment process. Before you register for classes, check with the Veterans Education Certifying Official within South Piedmont’s Financial Aid office to learn whether your program is approved by the VA.
Chapter 33 (The Post 9/11 GI Bill)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 aggregate days of active duty (AD) service on or after Sept. 11, 2001, who are still on AD or who were honorably discharged, as well as individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. The Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective for training on Aug. 1, 2009. More eligibility information on the Post 9/11 GI Bill® provided on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Chapter 35 (Survivor’s and Dependents Educational Assistance program/DEA)
The spouse, child, stepchild or adopted child of a veteran who is deceased (service-connected) or who is 100-percent disabled (service-connected) may qualify for Chapter 35 benefits. Visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information.
Chapter 30 (Veterans GI Bill)
This is an educational assistance program available to fully honorably discharged veterans who meet the eligibility criteria. Learn more about Chapter 30.
Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation)
Any veteran receiving at least 10-percent permanent, service-connected disability from the DVA can apply for this benefit. Approval is made on a case-by-case basis and is managed at the state level. Learn more about Chapter 31.
Chapter 1606 (Reserves/National Guard)
This program may be available if you are a member of a selected reserve and/or National Guard. More eligibility information on Chapter 1606.
Chapter 1607 (Reserve Educational Assistance Program)
REAP provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the president or Congress. More information on REAP.
Certification of Enrollment
For all chapter benefits, the certifying official must notify the VA of your enrollment each semester. It is your responsibility to contact the Financial Aid office each semester when you are fully registered for a term. Your enrollment will be certified with the certifying official shortly thereafter. Each time you add, drop or withdraw following certification, you must contact the certifying official.
What documents should be provided to South Piedmont’s certifying official?
- DD-214 Member 4 Copy (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). Please turn this document in to the Financial Aid.
- Copy of official transcripts from all previous colleges and military transcripts (if applicable) should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.
- Copy of Kicker Program documentation (if applicable)
- Notice of basic eligibility (NOBE), if you are in the Reserves.
- Certificate of Eligibility (you will receive this from the regional VA office once a determination on your eligibility is made). Prior to receiving your COE, you may submit a copy of the screen showing your eligibility as listed from on your eBenefits and WAVE Benefits page.
- Copy of Veteran’s Request for Certification (coming soon)
Veterans Resources
IMPACT
Return of Tuition Assistance Funds
Per Department of Defense policies, South Piedmont Community College will return unearned tuition assistance funds through the 60% point of the semester. This amount will be on a prorated basis, based on the withdrawal date from courses.
Return of Unearned Tuition Schedule
8-Week Course: Withdrawal Submitted
Before or during week 1: 100% return
During week 2: 75% return
During weeks 3-4: 50% return
During week 5: 40% return (60% of course completed)
During weeks 6-8: 0% return
16-Week Course: Withdrawal Submitted
Before or during weeks 1-2: 100% return
During weeks 3-4: 75% return
During weeks 9-10: 40% return (60% of course completed)
During weeks 11-16: 0% return
Withdrawal / Break of Attendance for Military Obligation
Veterans withdrawing from courses or facing attendance concerns should contact the education certifying official immediately. It is the veteran or dependents responsibility to alert our office of any changes to their schedule. Failure to do so may result in VA overpayments. If schedule adjustments are a result of mitigating circumstances, please provide documentation immediately to the education certifying official. If a student must stop attending due to service obligations, students may attend the following semester without needing to re-apply to the College. After two semesters, the student may need to re-apply. The student must provide military orders for mitigating circumstances.
Withdrawing and dropping courses after the “drop period” may result in a reduction of benefits unless mitigating circumstances are determined.
Examples of mitigating circumstance:
- Illness or injury afflicting you during the enrollment period
- Illness or death in your immediate family
- Unavoidable change in your conditions of employment
- Unavoidable geographical transfer resulting from your employment
- Immediate family or financial obligations beyond your control that require you to suspend pursuit of the program of education to obtain employment
- Discontinuance of the course by the school
- Unanticipated active military service, including active duty for training
- Unanticipated difficulties with childcare arrangements that you have made for the period you are attending classes
The last date of attendance must be verified by the instructor for all withdrawals.
Failure to notify the VA Education Benefits Office of withdrawals and continued acceptance of educational funds may result in overpayments and suspension of benefits. Students are encouraged to register courses they intend to complete.
Recruitment, Marketing, and Advertising to VA affiliated Students
South Piedmont Community College does not authorize fraudulent and aggressive recruiting tactics at any venue, nor mischaracterizations of intuitional values, programs, or mission statements.
This includes non-military students who are designated as prospective, current, or returning students.
South Piedmont meets all state authorization requirements consistent with those issued by the United States Department of Education.
No employee of South Piedmont may engage in high-pressure recruitment tactics. High-pressure recruitment tactics include unsolicited contacts (by phone, email, or in-person) and the facilitation of same-day recruitment and registration of the aforementioned students.