Veterans

Guilford complies with the Principles of Excellence and is a Military Friendly School. To remain compliant with the North Carolina State Approving Agency each recipient of VA benefits must submit official transcripts from each prior college or university attended along with their official high school/GED transcript.

Veterans and dependents/spouses of veterans must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving educational benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

Students may continue obtaining VA educational benefits in the support semester.  However, VA benefits are terminated based on missing any of the following standards of academic progress set by Guilford College and the NC State Approving Agency for compliance:

  1. Missing your checkpoint in a support semester (see “Satisfactory Academic Progress” in the College catalog) which will result in Academic Suspension for one semester
  2. Earning a cumulative GPA below a 2.0, the minimum GPA to graduate from Guilford College, for two consecutive semesters

If a student was suspended due to credit hours, but has a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, VA benefits are reinstated after serving one semester under suspension and upon readmission to the College.   

If a student’s VA benefits are terminated due to earning a cumulative GPA below a 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, VA benefits are reinstated if the student is eligible to be enrolled at Guilford College and after a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is reached.

Summer Coursework

While summer coursework does not have any bearing on a student’s academic standing within the College, summer courses can impact VA educational benefits.  VA benefits are terminated if summer coursework along with grades from either spring or fall results in a student earning a cumulative GPA below a 2.0 for two consecutive semesters.  

Withdrawal/Refund Policy for Students Called to Active Duty During a Semester

With a copy of their orders, students may withdraw for military reasons without academic penalty. If the student has paid for the term, they will receive a 100 percent refund, regardless of when they are withdrawn. If the student is receiving financial aid during the semester, the aid will be prorated and returned, based on the effective withdrawal date, according to federal and state regulations. Students will be accountable to the Department of Education and/or Guilford College for any outstanding balances.

Upon return, students will need to complete a readmission application but the fee will be waived if a copy of their orders is provided.

POLICY FOR VA EDUCATION BENEFIT CERTIFICATION

  1. The School Certifying Official (SCO) will only certify classes that are in your program of study.
  2. The SCO will only certify classes that are needed for graduation requirements.
    1. If you have completed a required area on your degree audit, only the SCO is aware that this requirement is met, other classes that fall within your major but that do not contribute toward advancing progress toward your graduation requirements will not be certified.
    2. “Rounding Out” the final semester is an exception to the previous item.
    3. The SCO reserves the right to correct any certification that has been certified in a manner that does not meet VA or State Approving Agency guidelines.
  3. It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to notify the SCO of any changes in the student’s schedule as soon as it happens.
    1. The SCO has to report changes within 30 days of the change in status.
    2. Withdrawals can negatively affect the continuance of receiving V educational benefits.
    3. If there are mitigating circumstances surrounding a withdrawal, please notify the SCO of these circumstances and provide proper documentation.
  4. If the STUDENT changes majors, the student should notify the SCO, within two weeks of the change.
  5. This institution does not participate in advance payments.
  6. This institution certifies one semester at a time. This certification takes place at the beginning of each semester after the drop/add period. Each semester the student must notify the SCO of any classes being taken that need to be certified.
  7. This institution will certify “Guest Students” once the student has completed a Letter of Good Standing form and the classes have been confirmed to go towards the program of the parent institution.
  8. This institution requires a Certificate of Eligibility and military transcripts (if applicable) for certification.