Not “Deemed Approved”
Cinda Quattrini, Education Liaison Representative
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
June 2013
Facility Codes
• The facility code is an eight character code assigned by the
VA to each school, training institution, National Exam or
approved license/certification with programs approved for
VA benefits.
• The ELR assigns the facility code to differentiate approved
facilities from one another, based on the facility’s individual
characteristics.
• Each facility code has 4 parts: profit status, type training,
name, and location.
• Know your facility code! It determines the type of program
approval you must pursue for your school and the payment
method for tuition and fees.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Facility Codes
The numerical code is assigned by the VA to an institution in part,
to identify its profit status. This is done with the 1st digit.
• First Digit:
– 1 = Public
– 2 = Private for Profit
– 3 = Private; Non-Profit
• Facility code determines the type of program approval you must
pursue for your school.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Facility Codes
The facility code determines how Ch33 tuition and fees payments are
made to your institution.
• First Digit:
1 = Public – Tuition & Fees payments not capped
2 = Private for Profit – Annual Cap applies
3 = Private Non-Profit – Annual Cap applies
• Facility code determines the type of program approval you must
pursue for your school.
Note: All payments prorated for eligibility tiers
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Facility Codes
The facility code also identifies the type of training offered at the
school. This is done with the 2st digit.
• Second Digit:
1 = University, College, Professional, or Technological
2 = Hospital
3 = Teacher’s College
4 = Junior (Community) College
5-9 = Technical NCD, Business NCD, Vocational NCD, etc.
0 = OJT or Apprenticeship Establishment
• The second digit also plays a role in the type of program
approval you must pursue for your school, as well if VRAP
benefits are payable at your school.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Non-Deemed Approved
Non Deemed-Approved Facilities
― Existing Approval Process remains in place for
all For-Profit schools and all Stand-alone NCD
institutions
 Requests for approvals or changes must be
submitted to SAA for approval
 SAA approves programs; notifies school and ELR
of approval
 ELR then accepts approvals for VA
―
SAA also approves all new facilities, including
Public and Non-Profit Private Deemed Approved schools
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
5
What Is “Deemed Approved”?
Section 203 of Public Law 111-377, effective
August 1, 2011, deemed certain programs of
education to be approved for the purposes of
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational
benefit programs (Title 38, United States Code).
It also gives VA the authority to approve and
disapprove certain programs of education and
the ability to utilize State Approving Agencies
(SAAs) for compliance and oversight of schools.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
6
What Is “Deemed Approved”?
The following programs are deemed to be approved effective August 1, 2011, subject to
sections 3675 (b)(1) and (b)(2), 3680A, 3684, and 3696 of Title 38, United States Code:
• Accredited standard college degree programs and non-college degree programs offered at an
accredited public or accredited not-for-profit proprietary educational institution, that is accredited
by an agency or association recognized for that purpose by the Secretary of Education.
• A flight training course approved by the Federal Aviation Administration that is offered by a certified
pilot school that possesses a valid Federal Aviation Administration pilot school certificate.
• An apprenticeship program registered with the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) of the Employment
Training Administration of the Department of Labor or a State apprenticeship agency recognized by
the Office of Apprenticeship.
• A program leading to a secondary school diploma offered by a secondary school approved in the
State in which it is operating.
• A licensure test offered by a Federal, State, or local government is deemed to be approved for
purposes of this chapter.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
7
Approval Comparison Chart
All institutions Prior to 8/1/11
New
Approvals
Schools and institutions request approval for programs in a new school or
facility from their State Approving Agency
Approval
Criteria
Set by Statute (38 USC chapter 36)
Modifications Information was submitted to the State Approving Agency
to Programs
Compliance
Suspension/
Withdrawal
Effective 8/1/11 for Public & Non-Profits
New schools and facilities will continue to
contact their State Approving Agency
Programs deemed approved are subject to Title
38 USC 3675 (b)(1) and (b)(2), 3680A, 3684, 3696
School and facilities will forward modification
information for programs deemed approved
directly to VA’s Education Liaison
Representatives (new programs and changes to
existing programs using the Notification Form for
Modification to Programs
State Approving Agencies performed supervisory visits, VA conducted
compliance surveys
State Approving Agencies and the VA will
perform compliance surveys
SAAs notified schools/facilities of suspension or withdrawal for noncompliance with applicable statutes
VA has the authority to suspend/ withdraw
programs if school’s or facility’s programs do
not meet statutory requirements
Schools and facilities:
Maintain adequate records to show progress and grades and to show
satisfactory standards relating to conduct and grades are enforced.
Maintain a written record of previous education, ensuring prior credit is
given. Bartending and sales programs are prohibited as well as programs
Statutory
avocational or recreational in nature. Independent study only if leading to
Requirements standard college degree or certificate by an IHL. Courses by radio and farm
cooperative training prohibited. Programs must meet the 85/15 ratio and
proprietary profit and proprietary non-profit must not be operating for less
than two years. Must report without delay enrollment or termination. Must
not utilize any erroneous, false or misleading advertising or practices. This
list is not a complete listing of statutory requirements.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Same
8
Your SAA
• Connecticut Office of Financial & Academic Affairs for Higher Ed
Veterans Program Approval - School Approval Unit
61 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105-2326
Phone: 860-947-1816
• Delaware State Approving Agency
35 Commerce Way
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: 302-857-3313
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Your SAA
• District of Columbia SAA and ELR, Robert Dumas
VA Regional Office
1722 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20421
Phone: 202-530-9102
• State Approving Agency for Veterans Education Programs
University of Maine System
147 Water St., Suite 2
Randolph, ME 04346
Phone: 207-582-2100
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Your SAA
• Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 N. Liberty Street, 10th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-767-3098
• Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
454 Broadway, Suite 200
Revere, MA 02151
Phone: 617-391-6086
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Your SAA
• New Hampshire Department of Education, Div. of Higher
Education, Veterans Education Services
21 South Fruit Street, Suite 20
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603-271-8508
• New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs/SAA
Eggert Crossing Road
PO Box 340
Trenton, NJ 08625-0340
Phone: 609-530-6849
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Your SAA
• New York Bureau of Veterans Education
2 Empire State Plaza, 17th Floor
Albany, NY 12223
Phone: 518-474-7606
• Division of Veterans/Military Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: 717-787-2414
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Your SAA
• Rhode Island Office of Higher Education
The Shepard Building
80 Washington Street, Suite 525
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-456-6000
• Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Education and Training Program/SAA
118 State Street, Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05602-4401
Phone: 802-828-1082
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Your SAA
• Virginia Department Veterans Services
State Approving Agency
900 East Main Street, 6th Floor, West Wing
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-786-2083
• Foreign Schools SAA and ELR, Gerald Miller
VA Regional Processing Office
130 South Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone: 716-857- 3143
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
WEAMS
WEAMS (Web Enabled Approval Management System)
• WEAMS is VA’s On-Line Approval Database that provides approval
information for all educational establishments.
• The Long Term Solution (LTS) interfaces with WEAMS for automated
processing
• VCEs refer to WEAMS to determine approval criteria prior to processing
enrollment certifications
• WEAMS is a full internal database with detailed information about each
approved training facility and approved programs at each of those sites
• Additionally, WEAMS has an external search engine available at
www.gibill.va.gov, located in the “Choosing a School” section
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
WEAMS
WEAMS (Web Enabled Approval Management System)
• WEAMS is VA’s On-Line Approval database the provide approval
information for all educational establishments.
•
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
The WEAMS Report
• When a new approval or reapproval action is completed by
your SAA and accepted by your ELR, the ELR enters the
program approval data into WEAMS under your facility code.
• A WEAMS Report, also called a 1998 Report, is generated by
the ELR and sent to the School Certifying Official(s).
• You may only certify programs on student enrollments as they
are indicated on the 1998 Report. If you have new programs,
or existing programs have changed (including the name of a
program), contact your SAA for an updated approval.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
WEAMS Report
You r
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
The WEAMS Report
• Enter the programs into VA-Once or on the VA Form 22-1999 exactly as
they appear on the 1998 Report. The Veterans Claims Examiners (VCEs)
reference WEAMS when processing claims, as does the Long Term
Solution (LTS)
• You may certify up to the maximum number of total hours for a program
on the enrollment cert as indicated on the 1998 Report. If a program is
approved for 180 clock hours and the student attends 18 clock hours per
week, the reported term can be no longer than ten weeks long.
• If the student fails to complete the program as initially certified, you
can’t merely extend the end date without reducing a period within the
originally reported dates or reporting a period of leave of absence.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Course & Objective Codes
OBJECTIVE CODES
•
•
•
•
•
•
For IHL Schools & programs only
Denotes the degree (i.e. bachelors)
If your degree is not listed, use N.E.C.
code
IHL School/program must have both
an objective and course code
Added on your standard programs
page
Make sure your Bio screen reflects
the correct type of training (IHL vs.
NCD) & the program name you enter
matches your SAA approval or
catalog.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
COURSE CODES
•
•
•
For both IHL & NCD schools & programs
Denotes the program (i.e. accounting)
If your program is not listed, use the
closest N.E.C code
•
NCD school/program will have only a
course code. VA Once will populate the
Objective code field with the same code
as you choose for the course code.
Added on your standard programs page
•
•
The VA Once Flip Book power point on
the GI Bill website has been updated with
instructions for course/objective codes.
See slides 29-41
21
Course & Objective Codes
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
22
Course & Objective Codes
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
23
Courses Precluded From Payment
VA Education Benefits are not payable for all types of courses or all types of
programs – even at schools that are “deemed approved.”
Payment of VA Education Benefits will always be prohibited for the courses indicated
below:
•
Bartending and Personality Development. Any bartending or personality development courses
(38 CFR 21.4252(a)).
•
Radio: Any course(s) given by radio (38 CFR 21.4252(d)).
•
Private Pilot's Training. Vocational flight training for a private pilot's certificate. However, flight
training at the private pilot's level may be pursued under all chapters at an IHL (Institution of
Higher Learning) for credit toward a standard college degree (38 CFR 21.4252(c)).
•
Self-Improvement Courses. Self-improvement courses such as reading, speaking, woodworking,
basic seamanship, or English as a second language, which may or may not lead to a certificate in
general studies. Although a certificate is awarded upon completion of a required number of
courses or subjects, it does not meet the legal requirements of an educational, professional, or
vocational objective.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
24
Courses Precluded From Payment
Avocational Courses
Any course which is avocational or recreational in character, or for which the advertising
contains significant avocational or recreational themes (38 CFR 21.4252(b)).
(1) The following courses are presumed to be avocational or recreational in
character and require evidence establishing that the course will be of bona fide use in the
pursuit of the business or occupation:
(a) Any photography or entertainment course; or
(b) Any music course, instrument or vocal, public speaking course, or course in
dancing, sports, or athletics, such as horseback riding, swimming, fishing, skiing, golf,
baseball, tennis, bowling, sports officiating, or other sport or athletic courses, except
courses of applied music, physical education, or public speaking which are offered by IHLs
for credit as an integral part of a program leading to an educational objective; or
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
25
Courses Precluded From Payment
Avocational Courses (cont.)
(c) Any other type of course which the Department of Veterans Affairs determines to be
avocational or recreational.
(2) The evidence required to prove a course is not avocational or recreational can
include, but is not limited to:
(a) A statement on the application by the applicant explaining the business or
occupational objective.
(b) A statement from someone in the business or from someone who employs persons
in the contemplated occupation showing the need and use of the course. Such statements
will not be required when the claimant applies for an approved correspondence course if
the stated objective is the one specified in the approval notice. In addition, when it has
been established by the SAA (State Approving Agency) and the VARO (VA Regional Office)
that an approved photography course in a particular school does lead to employment as a
photographer, such a statement will not be required.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
26
Courses Precluded From Payment
Courses Offered Under Contract
VA may not approve the enrollment of a veteran, servicemember,
reservist, or eligible person in a course as a part of a program of
education offered by any educational institution if the educational
institution or entity providing the course under contract has not
obtained a separate approval for the course from the appropriate
State Approving Agency or from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(38 CFR 21.4252(m))
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
27
Program Of Education
A Program Of Education:
Is a combination of subjects or unit courses pursued at an
educational institution. The combination generally is accepted as
necessary to meet the requirements for a predetermined
educational, professional or vocational objective. Except for
chapter 35, it may consist of subjects or courses which fulfill
requirements for more than one objective, if all objectives
pursued are generally recognized as being related to a single
career field.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
28
Program Of Education
A claimant's program must meet each of the following conditions:
• Meet the definition of a program of education. NOTE: VA will pay only for courses and
subjects which are part of an approved program.
• Have an acceptable educational, professional, or vocational objective.
• Be approved for VA training.
• The claimant must not be already qualified for the objective of the program.
Selection of an Objective
• A program of education must lead to one of three types of objectives: educational,
professional, or vocational.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
29
Objectives Defined
Educational Objectives:
• An educational objective leads to the awarding of a diploma, degree, or certificate
which reflects educational attainment as distinguished from a certificate or a license to
practice a profession or trade. The objective will be the name of the highest degree,
diploma, or certificate included in the program, such as a GED (General Educational
Development) certificate, high school diploma, bachelor degree, master degree, or Ph.D.
degree.
• Non-Degree Postdoctoral and Graduate Level Certificate Programs. A postdoctoral-level
certificate from an accredited college or university may be accepted as an educational
objective.
NOTE: Undergraduate-level certificate programs lead to vocational objectives.
(See 38 CFR 21.4230(b) and PL 107-103 Section 111)
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
30
Objectives Defined
Professional Objectives:
•
A professional objective leads to an occupation after an individual completes an extended
academic program of study. The program must be at the college level and be generally accepted
as necessary to satisfy the educational requirements for licensing or certification to practice the
identified profession.
•
Typical examples of professional objectives are lawyer, physician (M.D.), or high school teacher.
•
A program leading to a professional objective may include courses also leading to an educational
objective. For example, a BS degree in Secondary Education to become a teacher.
•
Bar review courses may be approved as part of an overall professional program for a
lawyer. Similarly, CPA (Certified Public Accountant) review courses can be approved as part of an
overall professional program for a CPA.
•
Clinical pastoral education programs may lead to either professional or educational objectives.
(See 38 CFR 21.4230(c))
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
31
Objectives Defined
Vocational Objectives:
• A vocational objective leads to an occupation ordinarily attained after completion of a
business, technical, trade, or other vocational school course, or an apprenticeship or
other on-the-job training program.
• A vocational objective must be a recognized employment objective.
• It should be of the type listed in the DOL (Department of Labor) Dictionary of
Occupational Titles found in the DOL "O*NET" database, at the following Internet
site:"www.doleta.gov/programs/onet".
• Examples of vocational objectives are barber, secretary, machinist, computer
programmer, automobile mechanic, and practical nurse. With respect to non-degree
certificate programs, an undergraduate level certificate from an accredited college or
university may be accepted as leading to a vocational objective.
(See 38 CFR 21.4230(c))
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
32
QUESTIONS?
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
33