Registration &
Adding, Dropping, Repeating Classes

It is the responsibility of the student to confirm enrollment and that all courses apply toward completion of his or her program with the Chemeketa Veterans' Services Office within the first two weeks of each term for which benefits have been requested. Failure to follow the above guidelines could result in termination of benefits and creation of a VA overpayment obligation that the student will be responsible to repay.

A student who has requested VA benefits must follow normal school procedures for add/drops. All add/drops must immediately be reported to the Veterans' Services Office.

If a student drops below the number of certified hours before the end of the fourth week of the term, the VA will pay benefits through the last date of attendance in the class or classes.

If a student drops below the number of certified hours after the fourth week of the term, the VA will probably charge an overpayment back to the beginning of the term. If there are mitigating circumstances, and they are accepted by the VA, the overpayment may be reduced or waived. The student must submit the mitigating circumstances in writing to the VA if he/she wishes a waiver of overpayment to be considered. The student's statement needs to be accompanied by a statement from an involved person (such as a doctor, employer, family counselor, etc.)

Repeating Courses

VA will not pay for any course that has been successfully completed through any previous education. This includes any course taken at another institution or accepted as credit from military experience. This is one reason that it is very important for students to have all previous education and experience evaluated at the earliest opportunity. If credit from a prior institution transfers in and the student is enrolled in the course or it has been taken at Chemeketa, benefits will be reduced for the term the repeat course was taken. This could result in an overpayment obligation to the VA. VA does allow students to repeat a course if the original grade was not high enough to meet program requirements and a successful completion of the course is required to obtain the degree or certificate. "R" grades for repeated course can cause VA overpayments-see below.

Requesting an "R" Grade

Students who repeat Chemeketa courses and receive a higher grade the second time may request to have the original grade changed to an "R". The first grade must have been punitive (B, C, D, or F). I, M, N, and X are non-punitive grades and cannot be changed to an R which is also non-punitive (meaning that it is not calculated into the GPA). Both courses must have been taken at Chemeketa. Courses transferred from another institution are not eligible for an "R" grade. Please be aware that VA only allows payment for punitive grades that are calculated in GPA and apply toward completion of the certified program. If a student who has ever applied for veterans' educational benefits has a grade changed to an R, the VA is notified and will create an overpayment situation for the term the course was originally taken if the reduction due to the R changes the certification status. Any student using veteran educational benefits should contact Chemeketa Veterans' Services to discuss the consequences prior to submitting the request form.

Updated July 29, 2008 by Chemeketa Veterans' Services