The LCCC Veteran Services Department is here to guide you through a successful educational experience. If you have any questions about these policies, please call us at (440) 366-7685.

Section 103 of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

Lorain County Community College will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 recipient borrow additional funds to cover the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  

Repeating Courses

VA regulations prohibit repeating a course in which a passing grade (D grade or higher) was earned. However, if a C grade or better is necessary to progress to the next level (i.e., nursing clinicals), then your repeated course can be certified.    

Veterans Called to Active Duty

LCCC recognizes that veteran students may have unique challenges if they are still serving on an active or reserve basis. Veterans who are enrolled in the current semester who get called to active duty can petition for an administrative withdrawal with 100 percent tuition refund by providing the appropriate documentation to the associate provost of enrollment management and student success. Veteran students who get called to active duty near the end of the semester might consider pursuing an incomplete with their faculty member and finish the course through a time line established by both the student and the instructor.

    Guidelines for Students Called to Active Duty   

Monthly Monetary Award (MGIB) and Certificate of Eligibility (Post 9/11)

You may wonder how your eligibility and monthly monetary award is determined. It’s actually done by the Department of Veterans Affairs, not Lorain County Community College veterans certifying official.

Your responsibilities, as a student, include:

  • Knowing your financial obligation to LCCC if your educational benefits do not completely cover tuition and fees.
  • Providing LCCC a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility if you’re using the Post 9/11 GI Bill; this certificate outlines the percentage of benefits you’re entitled to.
  • Taking a letter of eligibility from your unit commander to the Student Financial Aid offices every term if you have tuition assistance through Ohio National Guard.
  • Contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs at (888) 442-4551 or (800) 827-1000 with questions about your eligibility and/or veteran education benefits.

Important: VA students are paid on a monthly basis based on current hours enrolled. This means that you need to be aware that taking courses in sub-terms (eight-weeks, five-weeks) may affect full-time status. It is your responsibility to check this with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

You are also responsible for reporting to the Department of Veterans Affairs the number of credits you are enrolled in at the end of each month. Chapter 33 (Post-9/11) and Chapter 35 (dependents/spouse) are excluded from verifying monthly enrollment. Reporting can be completed by phone at (877) 823-2378 or via the website.

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government web site.

Return of Unearned TA Funds to the Government

Return of Tuition Assistance: Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for 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 (DoD) policy, Lorain County Community 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 a military service obligation, LCCC will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

Schedule of 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                         40% return (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 10-16                    0% return

10-Week Course Withdraw Submitted
Before or during weeks 1-2      100% return
During weeks 3-4                        75% return 
During weeks 5                           50% return
During weeks 6                           40% return (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 7-10                        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                          40% return (60% of course completed)
During weeks 6-8                        0% return

5-Week Course Withdraw Submitted
Before or during week 1         100% return
During week 2                          80% return
During week 3                          40% return (60% of course completed)
During weeks 4-5                        0% return