Information Regarding:
South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program (NGCAP)
Veterans' Assistance
Spartanburg Community College is approved by the State Approving Agency for training service persons, veterans, dependents and reservists under Title 38, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, for the following VA educational benefits:
New G.I. Bill - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 30)
New G.I. Bill - Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606)
Survivors and Dependents (Chapter 35)
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607)
Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 (Chapter 33)
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is the only agency that can determine eligibility for and award this benefit. To determine eligibility, call the VA Regional Office at 1-888-442-4551. Then, contact SCC’s office to obtain the appropriate forms for certification.
Academic Requirements
Academic progress will be measured at the end of each term in which the VA student was enrolled. Failure by a VA student to maintain a program GPA of at least a 2.0 will result in the VA student being placed on academic probation for the next term of enrollment.
A VA student with a term GPA less than 2.0 after the academic probation term will be placed on academic suspension. A VA student with a term GPA of 2.0 or higher after the academic probation term but with a program GPA less than 2.0 will remain on academic probation. A VA student with a term GPA of 2.0 or higher after academic probation and with a program GPA of 2.0 or higher will be removed from academic probation and returned to good standing.
A VA student on academic suspension will have benefits suspended for and must sit out one academic term. To be readmitted and prior to re-enrollment, the student must meet with the Early Alert Counselor to identify written strategies to improve his or her academic performance.
A VA student who appeals being on academic suspension based on mitigating circumstances and is allowed to register is placed on academic probation. Mitigating circumstances are those circumstances which directly hinder pursuit of a course and which are judged to be beyond the student's control such as serious illness of the student or a serious illness or death in the student's immediate family.
For any VA student being certified after academic suspension (after sitting out or appealing), documentation that the student has a reasonable likelihood to maintain satisfactory attendance, progress and conduct in the future must be submitted to the SCC veterans affairs coordinator. The SCC veterans affairs coordinator must submit a statement with the recertification of enrollment that describes the conditions for the student's continued certification to VA. A VA student removed from academic suspension and placed back on academic probation is subject to academic suspension again if he or she fails to earn at least a 2.0 term GPA during the next period of enrollment.
Address Changes
VA students must notify the veterans affairs office of any address change by completing the address change form.
Advanced Payment Request
VA students should be prepared to pay tuition, fee, book and supply expenses when due; however, you may request advanced payment of the first VA benefit check. To qualify for advanced payment, the VA student must have been out of school for at least a full calendar month, completed the admissions process at SCC and completed a VA advanced payment application at least 45 days prior to the first day of class. The Department of Veterans Affairs mails the check to the College for disbursement. VA students must complete the registration process, including fee payment, before receiving the advanced payment check.
Class Attendance
VA students must adhere to the attendance policy established by the College. VA students who accrue more than the allowable number of absences will have VA benefits terminated.
Drops and Withdrawals
VA students must report course drops or a term withdrawal to the SCC veterans affairs office. To ensure timely notification to VA, reports will be run monthly to identify VA students who have dropped courses or withdrawn from the term. At the end of each semester, VA students who earn a grade of "F" with a course status of "AB=abandoned" are reported to VA with the last date of attendance.
Eligible Courses
VA students may receive benefits only for those courses that are required for graduation or are a prerequisite for courses required in the program of study.
Internet/Online, Hybrid and Video Courses
SCC offers a variety of course delivery methods within a certificate, diploma or degree program of study. Non-traditional course delivery methods are listed in the semester course schedule and on the College's web site. SCC expects students to participate in all instructional activities since these courses are comparable to resident (traditional classroom) courses. SCC requires that each course offered in one of these non-traditional formats meets prescribed academic standards.
Each course delivery method must include:
- a provision for an assigned instructor;
- a provision for instructor-student interaction on at least a weekly basis and a stipulation that this interaction is a regular part of the course/program;
- a statement that appropriate assignments are required for completion of the course;
- a grading system similar to the system used for resident (traditional classroom) courses;
- a schedule of time required for the course that demonstrates that the student will spend at least as much time in preparation and training as is normally required for resident (traditional classroom) courses.
Nonpunitive Grades/Mitigating Circumstances
Regulations prohibit payment of VA benefits for a course from which the student withdraws. Unless the student submits to VA documentation of mitigating circumstances, the student must repay to VA all the money paid to him or her for the pursuit of that course from the start of the term - not just from the date he or she dropped the course.
Prior Credit
VA students who have attended another college must submit all collegiate transcripts to the SCC admissions center for evaluation even if transfer credit is not requested.
Program Changes
VA students who change programs must complete a change of program form in the VA Office. Credit hours earned that fulfill requirements in the new program must be transferred as required by regulations.
Remedial Courses/Transitional Studies
Certification for enrollment in remedial courses numbering 011 through 099 (mathematics, reading and English) will be limited to a maximum of 30 credit hours. Exception will be granted only to a student who meets the academic requirements outlined above and has the approval of the Vice-President of Student Affairs or his or her designee.
Repeated Courses
VA students receiving educational benefits will not be certified for any course on a third attempt when a grade of "F" has been earned.
Tutorial Assistance for Veterans
VA students may receive monetary assistance from the VA to pay for a tutor if one is required.
South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program (NGCAP)
This program was established to provide financial assistance to members of the South Carolina Army and Air National Guard. NGCAP covers the cost of attendance as defined by federal regulations up to a maximum amount each award year. The maximum amount will be determined annually by the S.C. Commission on Higher Education (CHE). Students who have earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree are not eligible. To qualify, the student must be in good standing with the active National Guard at the beginning of each academic year and remain a member in good standing throughout the entire academic year, maintain satisfactory academic progress, be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident and satisfy additional eligibility requirements as may be promulgated by CHE. The S.C. National Guard is responsible for providing a list of all eligible Guard members to CHE which will in turn notify the College. To be awarded, the student must be on the list from CHE.