- Minimum Academic Achievement Standards for Student Receiving Department of Defense Tuition Assistance
- Advising Point of Contact
- Education Plans for Military Service Members and Veterans
- Department of Defense Return of Tuition Assistance Funds
- Military Deployment and Re-Enrollment
Minimum Academic Achievement Standards for Student Receiving Department of Defense Tuition Assistance
In addition to the University's Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, in order for a Service member student to continue to receive Tuition Assistance (TA) military education benefits for TA-funded courses, the following minimum academic standards must be achieved.
The Department of Defense requires reimbursement from the Service member if a successful course completion is not obtained. For the purpose of reimbursement, a successful course completion is defined as a grade of ''C'' or higher for undergraduate courses, a ''B'' or higher for graduate courses and a ''Pass'' for ''Pass/Fail'' grades. Reimbursement will also be required from the Service member if they fail to make up a grade of ''I'' for incomplete within the time limits stipulated by the educational institution or 6 months after the completion of the class, whichever comes first.
Students using TA must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher after completing 15 semester hours/23 quarter hours, or equivalent, in undergraduate studies, or a GPA of 3.0 or higher after completing 6 semester hours/9 quarter hours, or equivalent, in graduate studies, on a 4.0 grading scale. If the GPA for TA funded courses falls below these minimum GPA limits, TA will not be authorized and Service members will use alternative funding (such as financial aid or personal funds) to enroll in courses to raise the cumulative GPA to 2.0 for undergraduate studies or 3.0 for graduate studies.
The Secretary of the Military Department will establish recoupment processes with the Service member directly for unsuccessful completion of courses.
Advising Point of Contact
Military students are encouraged to ask about academic support, financial aid advising, disability services or career counseling that is made available on campus. Students in campus-based programs should contact the Financial Aid department for financial aid advising, their Academic Counselor for academic support and the Dean of Student Affairs or the Campus Director & Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations for disability services and career counseling. Students in online programs should request information from their Academic Counselor, Financial Aid Advisor or Admissions Representative.
Education Plans for Military Service Members and Veterans
Educational plans will be developed and sent to all of our new and reentry military service members and veteran students. The educational plan will detail how the student will fulfill all of the requirements to graduate from the educational program as well as the expected timeline of program completion.
A second, updated student educational plan, will be provided to the student within 60 days after full acceptance to the University or after all required academic transcripts are received by the school or the student completes 9 quarter credit hours, whichever is achieved first.
A subsequent educational plan will be provided should the student change programs or if anything changes to the student's education goals. The plan will be provided to the student within 60 days of the change occurring.
The student should be cognizant of the length of time it is expected for you to complete the program, as well as the remaining number of months the student may be eligible to receive military education benefits. The student may need to adjust the number of hours you schedule each term or period to assure maximization of your education benefits.
Department of Defense Return of Tuition Assistance Funds
The institution will return any unearned tuition assistance (TA) funds on a proportional basis through 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 a covered course. In instances when a service member stops attending due to a military obligation, the school must receive official activation or mobilization orders documentation in order to accommodate solutions that will not result in student debt for the for the returned tuition assistance portion.
Military Deployment and Re-Enrollment
Allow enrolled members of the Armed Forces, including Reserve Components and National Guard to be readmitted if such members are temporarily unavailable or must suspend enrollment by reason of serving in the Armed Forces.
Notification of Military Service
The student (or an appropriate officer of the Armed Forces or official of the Department of Defense) must give oral or written notice of such service to South University as far in advance as is reasonable under the circumstances. This notice must demonstrate that the interruption to enrollment/attendance is related to fulfilling a military service obligation, but does not have to indicate whether the student intends to return to South University. Alternatively, at the time of readmission, the student may submit an attestation of military service that necessitated the student’s absence from school.
Notification of Intent to Return to School
Active duty military students whose attendance is interrupted by military service must give oral or written notice of their intent to return to South University within three years after the completion of the period of military service. Students have up to five years after the completion of the period of military service to return to South University without having to requalify for admission. A student who fails to re-enroll within these periods is subject to South University general readmission policies.
Re-enrollment in South University
Active duty military students whose attendance is interrupted by military service will be re-enrolled in their original program of study and placed in the same academic status as at the time of withdrawal. This academic status means being admitted to the same program to which the student was last admitted, unless the student chooses a different program. The student will be enrolled with the same number of credit hours previously completed, unless the student is readmitted to a different program to which any portion of the completed credit hours are not applicable. The student will be readmitted with the same academic standing (GPA). If the University no longer offers the students original academic program, the University will work with the student to enroll in an alternative program that aligns with the student’s interests.