Policies Specific to Veteran and Military Students

Delayed Payment of GI Bill

Effective August 1, 2019 and per Section 103 of Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (section 3679 of title 38), students using Ch. 31 (VocRehab) or Ch. 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill) benefits:

Covered individuals that are currently enrolled cannot be denied the right to attend courses, if the following documentation is provided:

Certificate of Eligibility (COE), prior to the first day of session
Written request to use such entitlement
Additional information as required to submit proper certificate of enrollment, including but not limited to, domiciliary documentation, social security number, etc.

Will not receive penalty, including late fees, denial of access to classes, libraries or school facilities, or be required to borrow additional funds due to his or her financial obligations to LFCC as a result of delayed payments by VA for education assistance under Chapter 31 or 33. This period will begin on the date student provides the COE (or statement of benefits from eBenefits) and will end on the earlier of the following dates:

The date on which payment from VA is received by LFCC
90 days after the date LFCC certified tuition and fees in VA Once

Will not be denied access to any school resource available to any current student
Will be required to pay tuition and fees minus the anticipated VA payment, if they have less than 100% eligibility

To see the full policy, please go to www.lfcc.edu/policies.

Eligibility for In-State Tuition

Anyone not eligible through his or her own domicile or that of a parent or legal guardian, or spouse, may be eligible under the military exception, the military spouse or dependent exception, or a special arrangement contract. Those interested should contact the Enrollment Services Office for additional information. Domicile guidelines may be referenced at State Council of Higher Education for Virginia at http://www.schev.edu/index/tuition-aid/in-state-residency and at LFCC.edu/militarydomicile.

State Military Domicile Exceptions - SCHEV (State Council on Higher Education for Virginia)

Domicile Exceptions for Active Duty Members

Domicile Exceptions for Family Active Duty Members

Domicile Exceptions for Veterans and Family Members

Federal Military Domicile Exceptions

Lord Fairfax Community College, in compliance with title 38 United States Code Section 3679(c), shall provide in-state tuition rates in accordance with the following qualifying exceptions:

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 his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
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 his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
An individual using educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning after March 1, 2019
Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. The person so described must have enrolled in the institution prior to the expiration of the three-year period following discharge or release as described above and must be using educational benefits under either chapter 30, chapter 33, or chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.

Domicile Appeal Process

Any applicant denied in-state tuition has the right to appeal according to the following process:

A member of Enrollment Services will make the initial determination.
Upon appeal, an intermediate review will be conducted by the Registrar.
Final administrative review will be made by a domicile appeals committee.

Additional information regarding the domicile appeal policy is available in the student handbook and from the Enrollment Services Office.

GI Bill Beneficiary Grievance Procedure

The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. This office investigates complaints of GI Bill beneficiaries. Complaints should initially follow the school complaint policy and if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact the SAA office at saa@dvs.virginia.gov.

Refunds, Credits, and Reinstatement as a Result of Military Service

Lord Fairfax Community College shall provide tuition relief, refund, and reinstatement of students whose service in the uniformed services has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from their enrollment. For more information, please visit www.lfcc.edu/policies.

Return of Unearned Department of Defense Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with Department of Defense policy, Lord Fairfax Community College will return any unearned TA funds to the Department of Defense (DOD) on a prorated basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided.

TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned to the DOD based upon when a student stops attending. Return of funds to the DOD may result in student debt, for which the student will be responsible.

Unearned TA funds will be returned to the DOD on a prorated basis, depending on the length of the course. If a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, LFCC will identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

Any student may drop a course(s) without financial encumbrance within the College’s established last date to drop and qualify for a refund period. During the refund period, LFCC will return 100% of tuition assistance paid funds to DOD on behalf of the student. After the allowable drop period and when a student receiving tuition assistance funds from DOD withdraws or ceases attending, LFCC will return unearned tuition assistance funds to the DOD on a proportional basis through the 60% portion of the period for which tuition assistance funds were provided. The returned amount of unearned tuition assistance will be added to the student’s LFCC financial account. This is in accordance with LFCC’s tuition policy. Within 45 days, the student will be notified by LFCC as to the portion of the funds to be returned to DOD and to LFCC. For more information, please visit www.lfcc.edu/policies.

Transfer Credit for Military Experience

LFCC awards credit for military experience/schooling. Those interested should contact the Office of the Registrar.

Tuition Refund Exception for Military Students

It is the policy of LFCC to provide for the tuition relief, refund, and reinstatement of students whose active military duty during a time of national emergency has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from their enrollment. For more information, please visit w ww.lfcc.edu/policies.

Veterans Educational Benefits

Veterans who have served in the military or children, wives or widows of veterans may be eligible for educational assistance through the U.S. Department Veterans’ Affairs (VA) or the Virginia Department of Veteran Services (DVS). For information concerning the VA and educational assistance, contact LFCC Veterans Services, http://www.lfcc.edu/veterans, http://www.gibill.va.gov, or https://www.dvs.virginia.gov. The Veteran Services Office at LFCC provides information about VA educational benefits to veterans, service members and eligible dependents. The office also certifies student enrollment with the VA, VANG, VMSDEP and Federal TA.