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Veterans Tuition Waiver Eligibility Criteria

Introduction

In keeping with the spirit of Washington State House Bill 1174 (SHB 1174) wherein is stated "The legislature intends to honor active military and naval veterans, reserve military and naval veterans, and national guard members who have served on active duty for the public service they have provided to this country. ….community colleges may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees…"

It is therefore proposed that Skagit Valley College offer qualified veterans who are paying tuition and fees out of pocket a 20% reduction in tuition and fees.Washington State Substitute House Bill 1174 (SHB 1174), (Chapter 249, Laws of 2005) was signed into law May 2005. This law changes veterans' tuition waivers for institutions of higher learning. The following excerpt from Washington State Legislative web page is a brief summary of SHB 1174.

  • Creates a comprehensive veterans' waiver statute and repeals certain existing statutes, which previously dealt with tuition waiver for veterans.
  • Creates a definition of an eligible veteran or National Guard member.

1. Criteria for Eligibility

Under SHB 1174, "eligible veteran or national guard member" means a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States Military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters,…." Also, "eligibility turns on service in a war or conflict on foreign soil or international waters, or in another location in support of such service members." Looking at the history of the deployment of US Forces throughout the world, the United States has been involved in a "war or conflict", somewhere in the world, almost continuously since the end of WW II.

RCW 41.04.005(2) as amended in the laws of 2005 lists qualifying foreign conflicts for the purpose of deciding eligibility for various state benefits.

"A period of war includes:

  1. World War I;
  2. World War II;
  3. The Korean Conflict;
  4. The Vietnam era, which means:
    1. The period beginning on February 28, 1961 and ending on May 7, 1975, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period;
    2. The period beginning on February 5, 1964 and ending on May 7, 1975;
  5. The Persian Gulf War, which was the period beginning August 2, 1990 and ending on the date prescribed by presidential proclamation or law;
  6. The period beginning on the date of any future declaration of war by the congress and ending on the date prescribed by presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the congress; and
  7. The following armed conflicts, if the participant was awarded the respective campaign badge or medal: The crisis in Lebanon; the invasion of Grenada; Panama, Operation Just Cause; Somalia, Operation Restore Hope, Hati, Operation Uphold Democracy; and Bosnia, Operation Joint Endeavor; southern or central Asia, Operation Enduring Freedom; Persian Gulf, Operation Iraqi Freedom."
Requirements for Spouses and Children of Eligible Veterans to Receive Benefits

1.       Eligibility:  Children and spouses of eligible veterans or National Guard members who:  died, are permanently and totally disabled, are missing in action, or are prisoners of war.

2.       To be eligible,  a child must be a Washington domiciliary between 17 and 26.  A surviving spouse, to be eligible, must:  Be a Washington domiciliary; it must have been 10 years or less since the loss and must not have remarried.  Each recipient's continued eligibility is subject to the school's satisfactory progress policy.

3.       You must have a written documentation from the U.S Department of Veterans Affair (VA) stating you are eligible for education benefits under "Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Chapter 35" Or provide evidence  documenting your eligibility for this waiver.

4.       The status of the Veteran, upon which this request is based, should apply to one or all.

a.       Deceased

b.      100% Permanently Disabled

c.        Veteran is currently employed

5.       You must maintain a Washington State domicile.  (Your true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation) RCW28B.15.012 (4).


2. Washington Domiciliary

All Students eligible for the Washington State Veterans Tuition Waiver must have Washington State domiciliary, as stated SHB 1174, NEW SECTION, Sec.1.(3). Definitions of resident status and domiciliary are outlined in RCW 28B.15.012.

All active duty military members must have Washington domiciliary to qualify for the Washington State Veterans Tuition. Some active duty members qualify for residency status as per RCW 28B.15.012, para (2) (f), but must also qualify for domiciliary under RCW 28B.15.012, (4).

“RCW 28B.15.012, (2)(f). A student who is on active military duty stationed in the state or is a member of the Washington National Guard;”

“RCW 28B.15.012, (4). The term “domicile” shall denote a person’s true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation. It is the place where the student intends to remain, and to which the students expects to return when student leaves without intending to establish new domicile elsewhere. The burden of proof that a student, parent or guardian has established a domicile in the state of Washington primarily for purposes other then educational lies on the student.”

3. Honorable Discharge

All Armed Forces veterans must have received an Honorable Discharge, as stated in SHB 1174, NEW SECTION, Sec, 1. (5). Those members of the Armed Forces, still serving on active duty, are presumed to be currently serving in the capacity of honorable service.

4. Active Federal Service

  1. Eligible veterans must have served on active duty under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code. Active Federal Service, as stated in SHB 1174, NEW SECTION, Sec. 1,(5).
  2. Service Members of the Active Duty components of the Armed Forces meet active federal service requirements by virtue of their service in the Armed Forces. Those members of the Forces, still serving on active duty, are presumed to be serving in a capacity of honorable service.
  3. All members of a Reserve component of the Armed Services and all National Guard members applying for a Waiver of tuition and fees at Skagit Valley College must meet one of the following criteria.
    1. Service member served for period of time on active duty under either Title 10or Title 32 of the Untied States Code and has received any one of the campaign medals indicating service in a combat zone during a war or conflict, or
    2. Served for a period of time on active duty under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the Untied States Code And that such a period of active duty service is stated on DD-214 as being in support or a war or conflict.

5. Disclaimer

The veteran is responsible for the burden of proof for all official documentation necessary to show receipt of any campaign or service medal indicating active duty service in a combat zone.

All other cases not defined by these eligibility criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Determination of Eligibility Procedures

This proposal shall become effective at the start of Skagit Valley College’s Fall 2006 quarter or at a date established by competent authority.

The Veterans Education Office at Skagit Valley College will determine eligibility for all Veterans Tuition Waivers.

  1. Eligible veterans must produce an original or a clear and readable copy of the original DD-214; (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).
    1. The DD-214 must show Characterization of Discharge as “Honorable”.
  2. The Veterans Education Office will notify the Registration Office as to those students eligible for the Veterans Tuition Waiver.
  3. If a student is determined to be eligible for the tuition waiver after s/he has paid the full price of tuition, the Skagit Valley College Cashiers Office will refund the amount of the tuition waiver to the student.
  4. All eligible students must request the Veterans Tuition Waiver within the same quarter of attendance.
    1. If eligibility is not determined before the last day of the quarter, in which the student is requesting the Veterans Tuition Waiver, the student will not be granted the waiver for that quarter.
  5. The Veterans Tuition Waiver will not be retroactive to any previous quarters.
  6. The Veterans Tuition Waiver only applies to accredited college courses. Accredited college courses are reflected on the student’s transcript and are courses for which the credits apply and courses are required toward any one of Skagit Valley College’s accredited programs.