Full-Time Student Status: Va Benefits At Ashford University

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines a student's full-time status on a monthly basis, considering the number of credits they are taking each term (credit hours) and the length of the term. This calculation is particularly relevant for veterans, service members, and qualified dependents who can use their GI Bill benefits for college. While the VA initially approved Ashford University to offer education benefits to military and veteran students in 2017, it later retracted this decision, citing insufficient evidence from the Arizona State Approving Agency regarding its jurisdiction over Ashford's online programs. Despite this, Ashford University continues to serve military and veteran students, with specialized support staff composed of former service members.

GI Bill benefits for college

The GI Bill is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefit for members of Active Duty, Selected Reserve, and National Guard Armed Forces, and their dependents. The benefit helps service members and eligible veterans cover the costs of education or training. The GI Bill has several programs, depending on a person's eligibility and duty status.

GI Bill benefits can help you pay for school and cover expenses while you train for a job. Qualifying veterans and their family members can get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. The Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB), or Chapter 33, is available to those who have served on active duty after September 10, 2001, or are the qualified spouse or dependent child of a veteran who meets these service requirements. If you have two or more qualifying periods of active duty, you may be eligible for up to 48 months of benefits. You must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD).

The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) is for active-duty members who enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months and are then entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation. The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) is for reservists with a six-year obligation in the Selected Reserve who are actively drilling. If you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after September 10, 2001, and are still serving on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this VA-administered program.

The GI Bill Comparison Tool can help you explore your options, and a VA-accredited representative can help you apply for education benefits. You can also use the GI Bill School Feedback Tool to submit any concerns about your GI Bill school.

Monthly payment rates

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines a student's status on a monthly basis. This means that your monthly payment rate will depend on your monthly course load. The VA calculates your monthly payment rate based on the number of credits you are taking each term (credit hours) and your eligibility tier. For instance, the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) plans determine monthly rates based on the number of credits taken each term.

Ashford University is approved to offer VA education benefits through the Arizona State Approving Agency (Arizona SAA). This approval allows military and veteran students to use their GI Bill education benefits at the university. Ashford University has a dedicated support staff for military students, composed of former service members who understand the unique needs of veteran and military students.

It is worth noting that the VA's regulations have been deemed outdated, as they were written during the "brick-and-mortar" era of higher education. This has created complications for online institutions like Ashford University, where students, faculty, and facilities are geographically distributed. Despite this, Ashford University received approval from Arizona, which followed the correct procedures and acted within its delegated authority.

While the VA initially accepted Arizona SAA's approval, it later reversed its position, stating that sufficient evidence regarding jurisdictional authority over Ashford University's online programs had not been provided. This change in position has impacted the ability of veteran and military students to utilize their GI Bill benefits at Ashford University.

Full-time status

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines a student's full-time status on a monthly basis. This applies to students who use VA benefits to pay for school. The VA determines the monthly payment rate based on the number of credits a student takes each term (credit hours) and the length of active duty service (eligibility tier). The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) plans all use this method to determine the monthly rate.

Ashford University is an online educational institution that offers a globally available university experience. In 2017, the Arizona State Approving Agency (Arizona SAA) approved Ashford University to offer VA education benefits. However, the VA reversed this decision, stating that the Arizona SAA had not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate its jurisdictional authority over Ashford's online programs. This decision was based on outdated VA regulations that were written during the "brick-and-mortar" era of higher education and did not consider the emergence of online learning. Despite this setback, Ashford University has a dedicated support staff for military and veteran students, and more than 5,000 veterans, military service members, students, and supporters signed a petition urging the VA to allow veterans to choose Ashford University for their education.

To be considered a full-time student, the VA and educational institutions consider various factors. These factors include the number of credits taken per term, the length of the term, and the level of attendance (full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, or less than half-time). The VA's determination of full-time status is crucial for students utilizing VA benefits, as it impacts their benefit levels. It is important to note that the VA's definition of full-time status may differ from the requirements of other financial aid programs, such as Federal Student Aid (FSA).

Full-time equivalency (FTE) calculations are used to determine the number of full-time students enrolled in a program. This calculation involves adding the total number of students by their enrollment percentile, converted to a decimal. For clock hour programs, full-time measurement is typically 18 clock hours for classroom instruction and 22 clock hours for shop practice. These measurements are listed on the Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS) Report.

Online schools

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines a student's full-time status on a monthly basis, depending on their monthly course load. This includes the number of credits they are taking each term (credit hours) and the length of the term. This applies to both online schools and traditional universities.

In the case of Ashford University, an online school, there has been some controversy regarding its approval to offer VA education benefits. While the university received approval from the Arizona State Approving Agency (Arizona SAA) in September 2017, the VA reversed this decision in November of the same year. The VA claimed that the Arizona SAA did not provide sufficient evidence to establish jurisdictional authority over Ashford's online programs. This decision was based on outdated VA regulations that were written during the "brick-and-mortar" era of higher education and did not consider the emergence of online institutions.

Despite this setback, Ashford University continues to offer support to its military and veteran students. The university has a dedicated staff, including former service members, who understand the unique needs of this student population. More than 5,000 veterans, military service members, students, and supporters signed a petition urging the VA to allow veterans to choose Ashford University for their education.

It is important to note that the VA's determination of full-time student status is separate from Federal Student Aid (FSA) eligibility. Different enrollment status standards are used to determine aid eligibility for FSA.

State approval

To receive GI Bill funds for education, colleges and universities must be approved through a state approving agency. This is a straightforward process for physical universities with a central campus serving students in that geographic location. However, for online universities like Ashford University, the approval process is more intricate.

In September 2017, Ashford University received approval to offer VA education benefits from the Arizona State Approving Agency (Arizona SAA). This approval was based on the recognition that Arizona had followed the correct procedures and acted within the authority delegated to the states by Congress. However, the VA reversed its position in November 2017, claiming that the Arizona SAA had not provided sufficient evidence of its jurisdictional authority over Ashford University's online programs.

This change in position by the VA sparked controversy, with over 5,000 veterans, military service members, students, and supporters signing a petition urging the VA to allow veterans to choose Ashford University for their education. The university also has a dedicated support staff for military and veteran students, ensuring they can make the most of their present while planning for their futures.

While the academic quality of Ashford University's programs is not in question, the university continues to navigate the complexities of state approval to ensure its veteran and military students can access their well-deserved educational benefits.

Frequently asked questions