Veteran Services Policies

Post

Behavior

Each student is expected to adhere to the Campus Rules and Student Code of Standard as defined in the College Catalog.

Academic Progress

Each student is to adhere to the Long Beach City College’s Standards for Academic Progress (as defined in the College Catalog). If a student does not comply by the SAP for two consecutive semesters (e.g., Fall and Spring), further certifications of their GI Benefits at Long Beach City College will be suspended. If a student continues to be out of compliance for an additional semester, the students GI Benefits may be suspended indefinitely. 

 If after suspension a student continues to not meet SAP, the student’s progress will be immediately reported to the Department of Veteran Affairs. 

 F/NP

In accordance to the Department of Veteran Affairs standards, if a student receives all non-passing grades for a semester, the last date of attendance must be obtained for each course. This information is garnered directly from the instructor(s) no later than the final day of the following term.

Transcripts

In accordance to federal code, students are required to submit an official transcript to every institution of higher learning that they have attended. Students are given two consecutive semesters (e.g., Fall and Spring) to submit transcripts to Long Beach City College and/or the Veteran Services Office.

If a student does not submit transcripts in the delineated time, further certifications of their GI Benefits at Long Beach City College will be suspended.

Students are responsible for obtaining official transcripts for Long Beach City College; any debt or legal matter that bars a student from obtaining a transcript is held as a responsibility to the student.

Educational Plans

In accordance with Executive Order “Principles of Excellence,” students are required to obtain and submit a comprehensive Educational Plan (with a definitive major) to the Veteran Services Office. Students are given two consecutive semesters (e.g., Fall and Spring) to submit a comprehensive Educational Plan to the Veteran Services Office.

If a student does not submit an Educational Plan in the delineated time, further certifications of their GI Benefits at Long Beach City College will be suspended.

Tuition and Fees

It is the student’s responsibility to pay the Long Beach City College Health Services Fee within 72 hours after registering for classes (regardless of GI Bill Benefits). If the student’s GI Bill will pay for the tuition and fees, the student’s payment will be refunded in the proper procedure.

Any debt created that is not the responsibility of the Department of Veteran Affairs is then the responsibility of the student.

For Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) students: The Department of Veteran Affairs will only pay in-state tuition rates. Any remaining balance for out-of-state tuition rates is the responsibility of the student.

Certification 

Certification will only take place after a student has enrolled in courses and submitted a Request for Benefits for the appropriate semester.

Certification of courses will be determined by the student’s intended educational goal as defined by Long Beach City College and varying articulation agreements; this is assisted by the comprehensive Educational Plan but is not guaranteed to adhere to the courses listed. Only required courses will be certified. Final determination is based upon the Veteran Certifying Official’s professional judgment. Any challenges to the certification must be supported by published educational criteria for the program/course in question. 

Certifications will be completed at a first come, first serve basis.Certifications can take 5-40 business days dependent on workload and case-by-case circumstances.

Long Beach City College will certify upwards of one year prior to the Request for Benefits submittal date.

Any change to a student’s schedule must be reported to the Veteran Services Office. It is the student’s responsibility to report changes. It is the Veteran Certifying Official’s responsibility to make the appropriate adjustments, amendments and terminations.

Debt

Any debt created in relation to tuition and fees is the responsibility of Long Beach City College. If a debt letter is sent to the student in regards to tuition and fees, the student must submit the debt letter to the Veteran Services Office so that the Bursar may rectify the debt.

Any debt created in relation to Basic Allowance for Housing, Monthly Allowance for Housing, VA Book Stipend, or other VA monthly stipends are the responsibility of the student.

Record Keeping

A student file is required for all students utilizing a GI Bill. A student file is required to have demographic information, a signed agreement of institution requirements, SAP tracking, copies of applicable transcripts, a comprehensive Educational Plan, and a “Request for Benefits” form for every certified semester. If available, a certificate of eligibility and DD214 is also requested.

All student files will be kept until deemed inactive. Student files become inactive after a student has ceased enrollment for at least one-semester. Inactive files are kept in-office for a minimum of 3 years. After 3 years, the student files are transferred to the LBCC warehouse for 2 additional years. After 5 years of inactive status, the student files are destroyed.

Rate of Pursuit

Rate of pursuit is defined by the Department of Veteran Affairs. While the VA has provided the Veteran Certifying Official with a rough determinate table, it is not accurate to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Any question on certainty of rate of pursuit must be obtained directly from the VA.

Military Training

Long Beach City College does not evaluate any Joint Services Transcripts at this time.

If a student has at least 1 year active service as recorded on their DD214, Long Beach City College will award the student upwards of 4-units of health credits to satisfy the Health requirements of the Plan A and/or Plan B GE Requirements.

Priority Registration

Priority registration will be awarded to any veteran enrolled at Long Beach City College with less than 100 credit units, an electronic educational plan on file, LBCC Online Orientation completed, and an assessment test completed (or waiver form completed) Students must submit proof of military history (e.g., DD214 or Military ID) to be awarded priority registration.

Due to the nature of the registration system, veterans must submit proof at least four-weeks prior to the priority registration date to guarantee a priority date.