Executive Order 13607 – Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions
On April 27, 2012, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13607, Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other Family Members. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that educational benefits programs for veterans are providing the information, support, and protections they deserve. These principles were developed to strengthen oversight, enforcement, and accountability of educational programs, which will assist veterans in making better informed decisions about their educational benefits.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs strongly encouraged institutions to commit to the establishment of Principles of Excellence, thus publicly recognizing the importance of transparency and providing students with appropriate information. In agreement, Heritage Christian University has submitted its statement of intent to comply with those principles and is among institutions committed to those principles on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website http://www.gibill.va.gov. Click here to see how HCU currently complies with the Principles of Excellence.
Isakson and Roe Act Section 1018
Apply for Military Education Benefits
Federal Tuition Assistance
Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program (ANGEAP)
Filing the FAFSA – Where to Start
Federal Grant Program
Loan Programs
VA Entitlement Benefits and Satisfactory Standards for Veterans
Return of Unearned TA Funds Policy
Veterans Educational Benefits/ Enrollment Certification Procedures
Veteran Students Called to Duty Policy
Veterans Benefits at HCU
Heritage Christian University is committed to helping to remove barriers for student veterans transitioning to college life. Our goal is to assist veteran students in pursuing educational objectives by certifying enrollment for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), answering general questions about veterans’ benefits, and monitoring student degree plans and academic progress.
In addition, Heritage Christian University is pleased to announce its participation in the Yellow Ribbon GI Bill® Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program). As a benefit of this program, eligible military veterans can attend HCU at little to no out-of-pocket tuition cost. For More Information please contact our VA School Certifying Official at 800-367-3565 ext. 303.
Although we work to ensure that VA regulations are satisfied, we have no authority to make judgments regarding VA benefit status. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines the eligibility of individuals for veterans’ educational benefits and approves or denies payment of benefits.
The VA requires that students receiving benefits attend class regularly and maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP), as defined on the HCU Financial Aid web page. The VA will only pay benefits for courses that are part of your degree program, and will not pay benefits to repeat a course in which you have received a passing grade.
Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress may result in loss / repayment of benefits. The law requires that the VA must collect all benefits paid for a course in which the grade assigned is not used in computing the requirements for graduation (including incomplete grades and withdrawals), unless mitigating circumstances can be demonstrated.
Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant Awards are for Pell eligible student whose parent or guardian died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, may receive increased amounts of Federal Student Aid if the student was less than 24 years old when the parent or guardian died, or was enrolled at least half-time an institution of higher education at the time of the parent or guardian’s death. There are two different provisions for such students, depending on whether the student has an EFC that falls within the range for Pell eligibility or not.
Provision 1: Zero EFC Treatment for Children of Soldiers – Pell eligible students will receive the Zero EFC maximum Pell Grant Award. HCU will use an EFC of 0 to package all Federal Student Aid if the student meeting the above criteria. Exception: The award may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance.
Provision 2: Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant – Non-Pell Eligible students will receive the Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant equal to the amount of a maximum Pell Grant Award. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants are made under the same terms and conditions as Pell, and disbursements for each payment period are calculated in the same manner as Pell. Exception: The award may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance.
VA Complaint Process
Any VA complaint against Heritage Christian University should be directed through the VA GI Bill® feedback system at https://www.benefits.va.gov/
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.
