MVSC Policies

IMPERIAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT 
Policy Prohibiting Commissions, Bonuses, or Other Incentives on Service Member Enrollments 

1. Purpose
   Imperial Valley College complies with the Department of Defense (DoD) ban on inducements, commissions, bonuses, or other incentive payment and high- pressure recruitment tactics intended to secure the enrollment of current military service members in the DoD Memorandum of Understanding paragraph 3.j.(2). 
2. Policy Statement
   Imperial Valley College prohibits providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including Tuition Assistance funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admissions activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance. 
3. Definitions
   A. Military Service Member
   Active member of the “uniformed services,” consisting of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Services. 
4. Scope
   This policy applies to all Imperial Community College District staff, affiliates, and third parties under the control of the Imperial Valley College who engage in financial compensation or incentives or engage in current military service member recruitment or enrollment. 

 

IMPERIAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT 
Policy Military Readmission 

1. Purpose
   Imperial Valley College acknowledges that students may be required to suspend their studies in order to perform military service obligations. In accordance with federal regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 668.18 and the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Imperial Valley College will promptly readmit military service members who seek readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation. 
2. Policy Statement 
   A returning military service member student will be readmitted into the same academic program they were enrolled in prior to the military service obligation. If the exact program no longer exists, the student must be admitted to the program that is most similar, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to a different program. They will be reenrolled with the same enrollment status, number of completed credit hours, and academic standing as the last academic year of attendance.
   In accordance with federal regulations, returning military service member students who receive a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) are not eligible for readmission under this policy. However, service members who receive dishonorable or bad conduct discharge may remain eligible for readmission even though they will not be entitled to the benefits outlined in this policy. 
3. Definitions 
   A. Military Service Member 
   Active member of the “uniformed services,” consisting of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Services.
4. Scope 
   This policy applies to military service members who are unable to attend classes for more than 30 consecutive days. Service members who are unable to attend classes for less than 30 days when such an absence would result in a withdrawal from the college. 
5. Procedures 
   Under this policy, a student is eligible for readmission if during an absence, the student performs uniformed service, voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserve, active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard (under federal authority). A student must provide oral or written notification and their DD-214 to the SCO, who can be reached at ana.velazquez@imperial.edu 
6. Financial 

   To align with Chapter 3 of Volume 2 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook. A returning military service member student will be charged the same tuition and fees in effect during the last academic year the student attended, unless veterans’ education benefits or other servicemember education benefits will pay the amount in excess. For subsequent academic years, the returning student may not be charged tuition and fees in excess of what other students in the program are charged. 

   IMPERIAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT 
   Policy Return of Unearned Military Tuition Assistance (TA) to Department of Defense (DOD) 

1. Purpose
   This policy serves to fully inform Imperial Valley College students receiving military tuition assistance (TA) of the required actions the College must take to comply with the DOD Memorandum of Understanding Return Policy for Military Tuition Assistance (TA) funds rules and align with the return of unearned student aid rules applicable to the Federal Student Aid as required under section 484B of the Department of Education Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. 
2. Policy Statement
   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 the Department of Defense (DOD) policy, Imperial Valley College, will return any unearned TA funds 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 based upon when a student stops attending.
   In instances when a military service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Imperial Valley College will work with the affected military service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion in compliance with the DOD policy.
3. Definitions
   A. Military Tuition Assistance (TA) 
   TA is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. Congress has given each service the ability to pay up to 100% for the tuition expenses of its member. Each service has its criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application processes, and restrictions. This money is usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services. This policy only applies to this type of educational benefit. The TA program is a benefit that is available only while the student is in the service. This policy does not apply to Veterans or Veterans benefits. 
   
   B. Military Service Member 
   Active member of the “uniformed services,” consisting of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Services. 
4. Scope 
   This policy applies to all students receiving Military Tuition Assistance (TA) for the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. 
5. Procedures 
   

   To remain in compliance with the Department of Defense’s policy, Imperial Valley College will return any unearned TA funds through at least 60% of the semester on a prorated basis. The amount of unearned TA that is returned is based on the date of withdrawal from the course. 
   
   After 60% of the semester has passed, TA will not be evaluated for a return to the DOD. 
   Schedule for returning unearned TA: Bold type identifies the 60% complete point
   5-Week Course: Withdrawal submitted 

   Day 1 - 7	100%	Return
   Day 8	77%	Return
   Day 9	74%	Return
   Day 10	71%	Return
   Day 11	69%	Return
   Day 12	66%	Return
   Day 13	63%	Return
   Day 14	60%	Return
   Day 15	57%	Return
   Day 16	54%	Return
   Day 17	51%	Return
   Day 18	49%	Return
   Day 19	46%	Return
   Day 20	43%	Return
   Day 21	40%	Return (60% of course is completed)
   Day 22	No Funds will be returned

    

   8-Week Course: Withdrawal submitted
   Before or during week 1	100% return
   During week 2	75% return
   During weeks 3–4	50% return
   During week 5	40% return(60% of course is completed)
   During weeks 6–8	No Funds will be returned
   16-Week Course: Withdrawal submitted
   Before or during weeks 1–2	100% return
   During weeks 3–4	75% return
   During weeks 5-8	50% return
   During weeks 9–10	40% return (60% of course is completed)
   During weeks 11–16	No Funds will be returned

    

   For courses that have durations differing from those listed above: 
   Unearned TA funds will be returned on a prorated basis, depending on the length of the course. To determine the amount of TA that needs to be returned, the institution will determine the date the withdrawal was submitted, and then divide that by the number of days in the term to determine the percentage of TA that was earned by the student. 

   Example: The service member is enrolled in a course scheduled to meet for 30 days. The service member submitted a withdrawal on the 14th day. The institution would perform the calculation to determine how much TA was earned by the student’s attendance: (14 divided by 30 equals 46.6%. 47% of the TA authorized was earned by the student, which means 53% of what was authorized will be returned to the DOD). 

IMPERIAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT 
Policy Prohibiting High Pressure Recruitment Tactics on Service Member Enrollments 

Reference: 
United States Department of Defense: Voluntary Education Institutional Compliance Program; DoD MOU, Paragraph 3.j,(3) 

1. Purpose
   Imperial Valley College complies with the Department of Defense (DoD) ban on high-pressure tactics to for the purpose of securing Service member enrollment at Imperial Valley College, as specified in the DoD Memorandum of Understanding paragraph 3.j.(3).
2. Policy Statement
   Imperial Valley College bans high-pressure recruitment tactics such as multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Service member enrollments.
3. Definitions
   A. Military Service Member
   Active member of the “uniformed services,” consisting of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Services.
4. Scope
   This policy applies to all Imperial Community College District staff, affiliates, and third parties under the control of the Imperial Valley College who engage in financial compensation or incentives and/or engage in current military service member recruitment or enrollment.