​​Veteran and Active Duty Military - Course Scheduling​

Kutztown University Policy ACA-082

  1. Purpose

    To provide course scheduling preference to veteran students, active duty service members, and individuals using veteran’s educational benefits under the GI Bill®. 

  2. Scope

    This policy applies to all individuals who qualify under Act 46 of 2014 (Act of May 14, 2014, P.L. 667, No. 46), active duty service members, and individuals using veteran’s educational benefits under the GI Bill®.   

    Act 46 of 2014 requires public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to provide veteran students, as defined in the Act, with preference in course scheduling.  Non-compliance may be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by submitting the Higher Education Student Complaint form found at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education. 

  3. Keywords and phrases 

    “Veteran student” refers to an individual who: (a.) has served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component and National Guard; (b.) has been discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable; (c.) has been admitted to Kutztown University; and, (d.) resides in Pennsylvania while enrolled at Kutztown University. 

    “Active duty service member” refers to an individual who (a.) is serving in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component and National Guard or Department of Homeland Security; (b.) has been admitted to Kutztown University; and, (c.) resides in Pennsylvania while enrolled at Kutztown University. 

    “Individual using veteran’s educational benefits under the GI Bill®” refers to an individual who (a.) is a child or spouse using veterans’ educational benefits under the GI Bill®; (b.) has been admitted to Kutztown University; and, (c.) resides in Pennsylvania while enrolled at Kutztown University. 

  4. Policy & Procedure(s)

    Each semester, all Kutztown University students are notified by the Office of the Registrar of the date and time students will be able to view their specific registration appointment time in MyKU; this date varies from semester to semester.  The University will provide a student who qualifies under this policy with the opportunity to register for classes earlier than a student who does not qualify to enable this student a better chance of enrolling in a full course load and maximizing veterans’ education benefits before they expire.   

    A veteran student who is not receiving benefits but has self-identified as a veteran is responsible for providing documentation (e.g., DD214 Member 4 copy) to the Kutztown University Office of Veterans Services showing that he or she was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than “dishonorable,” in order to be eligible for early registration. 

    The Higher Education Course Scheduling Preference for Veteran Students Act Guidelines can be obtained online at: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/veterans-education/gi-bill.

    Questions regarding this policy can be addressed to the Office of the Registrar or the Office of Veterans Services.  

    “GI Bill®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.  

    Effective August 1, 2019, the State Approving Agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State Approving Agency, shall disapprove a course of education provided by an educational institution that has in effect a policy that is inconsistent in the areas below: 

    NOTE: A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits.  

    • Your policy must permit any Covered Individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website e-Benefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for Chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates: 

      1. The date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution. 

      2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility. 

    • Your policy must ensure that your educational institution 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 covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from the VA under Chapter 31 or 33. 

  5. Effective Date:

    Spring, 2015

  6. Approved By:

    University President Approved – November 2014 

  7. Last Review

    August, 2015 
    August, 2016 
    August, 2017 
    August, 2018 
    August, 2019 
    August, 2020
    April, 2026