Important Information for Veteran Students

visit with your Educational Service Officer prior to enrollment

Our Midland College student information system automatically sends an email to students who select one of the following on the ApplyTX application:

• Veteran (former U.S. military service member
• Current U.S. military service member
• Spouse of dependent of a veteran or a current U.S. military service member
• Spouse or dependent of , or a veteran or current U.S. military service member with an injury or illness resulting from military service (service-connected injury/illness)
• Spouse or dependent of a deceased U.S. service member

Daniel Ortega
Erin Williams

Veterans Resource Center
Scharbauer Student Center, Room 131 & 132
(432) 685-4511
mcvet@midland.edu

VA educational benefits in the Veterans Resource Center include:

• Efficient delivery of Veteran’s educational benefits
• Direct program oversight and will serve as the Certifying Official for educational benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Primary certifying official using VA once for Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606 and 1607
• Ensure all college processes align with VA requirements
• Assist Cashier's Office with verification of federal funds received for veteran students
• Assist veterans with academic and career planning
• Liaison between MC and the military community to develop and promote college services to veterans

To receive the max monthly housing allowance, students must be enrolled in fulltime hours:

• 16 weeks = 12 hours
• 8 weeks = 5 1/2 or 6 hours
• 3/4 time = Student receives National Average Basic Housing Allowance

Students may contact the Veterans Affairs for any payment questions at 1-888-442-4551 once courses have been certified.

Financial Aid Advisors

Steven Welch

Scharbauer Student Center, Room 227
(432) 685-5510
swelch@midland.edu

Responsible for students with last names that start with: A-G

Scharbauer Student Center, Room 221
(432) 685-4693
nesparza@midland.edu

Responsible for students with last names that start with: R-Z

Our Financial Aid Advisors assist MC students and Veterans in the following areas:

A student wishing to receive VA education benefits must complete VA Educational Benefits Agreement Form after you have registered for each enrollment period.

You may complete the form online, in person, or via email at mcvet@midland.edu.

VA Educational Benefits Agreement Form

Contact the Veterans Resource Center to ensure your certification was submitted. If it was submitted, you should call the VA at 1-888-442-4551. The VA representatives at this number can look up your file when you provide them with your VA claim number. They are able to verify or deny receipt of your certification as well as determine whether your payment has been processed.

The Veterans Resource Center must be notified of any and all changes to the student's information, major, or semester schedule of courses.

All adds, drops and withdrawals must be reported by the veteran in order to receive the applicable benefits correctly. Remember, the veteran will be held responsible for all overpayments.

Changes of address or direct deposit information MUST be reported by the veteran to the VA Processing Office. This can be done by phone at 1-800-442-4551 or on the VA website using the "Ask VA" feature.

A repeated course may only be certified by the VA if:

• a minimum grade of "C" is required by the department as stated in the catalog to advance to the next course.
  
  
• a course is failed with the grade of an "F" or "W".
  
  
• The last semester before graduation is considered a "round out" term. To receive full VA Benefits, you may take 12+ hours and are not limited to courses on your degree plan.

VA students must meet the criteria for satisfactory progress as put forth in the Midland College Catalog & Student Handbook. A student who remains on academic probation for two consecutive terms must be reported to the RPO as making unsatisfactory progress.

Once reported for unsatisfactory progress, benefits are terminated and cannot be resumed until the student attends and regains good academic standing at Midland College. The Veterans Resource Center will report to the RPO the student’s renewed eligibility for VA education benefits.

Fall and Spring semesters

Fulltime = 12 hours or more

8 weeks = 5 1/2 hours or 6 hours

3/4 time = 9 to 11 hours

1/2 time = 6 hours

Summer semesters

Full Time = 4 hours in each 6-week session; 6 hours in each 8-week session

3/4 Time = 3 hours in each 6-week session; 5 hours in each 8-week session

1/2 Time = 2 hours in each 6-week session; 3 hours in each 8-week session

The Hazlewood Act (Section 54.203, Texas Education Code) exempts Texas veterans from payment of tuition and certain fees at state-supported institutions of higher education. For more information, visit the Texas Veterans Commission website.

• Financial Aid - Hazlewood
• Texas Veterans Commission

Return of Unearned Tuition Assistance Funds

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period of 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 new Department of Defense policy, Midland College will return any unearned TA funds on a prorate 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. These funds are returned to the Military Service branch.

Instances when a Service member stops attending due to military service obligation, the educational institution will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

Institution's schedule for returning unearned TA to the government:

16-week course withdraw submitted

Before or during weeks 1 - 2	100% return
During weeks 3 - 4	75% return
During weeks 5 - 8	50% return
During weeks 9 (60% of course complete)	40% return
During weeks 10 - 16	0% return

 

8-week course withdraw submitted

Before or during week 1	100% return
During week 2	75% return
During weeks 3 - 4	50% return
During week 5 (60% of course complete)	40% return
During weeks 6 - 8	0% return