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Certifying

Certification is the process by which Davenport reports a student's enrollment to the VA. Davenport certifies VA students in two cycles as described below (certification adjustments will occur any time the student modifies their class schedule):

  1. Certification for credit hours is used by the VA to determine book stipend, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), monthly payment, etc., and is completed before the semester starts.
  2. Certification for tuition dollars and fees is completed after the drop/add period. This helps protect our VA students from incurring debt to the VA in the event that any may have changed his or her academic schedule for that particular semester. [Post-9/11 GI Bill® and VR&E only].

All VA students, regardless of chapter, will receive individual notification from "VA Once" when they have been certified or an adjustment has been made to their certification due to changes in class schedule.

Balanced Scheduling

The VA’s definition of "full-time status" and a school's definition of "full-time status" often differ. Davenport University defines full-time status as 12 credits taken within the time frame of one semester.

The VA has the same enrollment definition of 12 credits, however; the time frame is calculated on a daily basis throughout the semester and if a student is enrolled in a class that does not run the entire length of a traditional semester, then he or she risks being less than full time for a portion of the semester.

Below are the most common grouping of classes that result in full time for all chapters:

  • Four or more 3-credit classes which run for the duration of a 15-week semester, or three or more 3-credit classes which run for the duration of a 12-week semester. 
  • Two or more 3-credit classes which run for the duration of a 7-week semester.
  • Two or more 3-credit classes which run for the duration of a 15-week semester and one or more 3-credit classes which run for the duration of both Session I and Session II.

Withdrawal from a Course

Any change in enrollment will affect a student's certification.

  • MGIB-AD (Ch. 30), MGIB-SE (Ch. 1606), REAP (Ch. 1607), and DEA (Ch. 35): Withdrawing from a class will change your student status and reduce your monthly payments.
  • Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33): Withdrawing from a class will result in a reduction of MHA and create a debt to the VA. The student will be responsible for the prorated cost of the remainder of the class from which he or she withdrew.
  • VR&E (Ch. 31): A withdraw from a class without financial repercussion is possible, but you must notify your VR&E counselor. Additionally, withdrawing from a class will lengthen your time in school and might push you over the time limit set for your degree.

Grades other than Passing

'W', 'I', 'WF', 'PW', and 'PD' are considered 'non-earned grades' and the VA payment may not pay for classes which receive this grade grades.  Note that with "I" grades payment may occur when the grade is changed.

Failing a Class

GI Bill®: If you do not pass a class but you finish the course, you will still receive payments and/or the school will still be paid for that class.

Military Tuition Assistance: typically you must receive a grade of C (2.0) or better for payment to be issued for the class. Grade requirements vary by branch

Last Date of Attendance (LDA)

To be eligible for education benefits, your LDA must be within the last week of every class for which you are receiving funding. If you do not attend the class until the end (including completion of the final exam and/or assessment, as applicable), you risk owing to the VA. A debt will be issued from the VA for overpayment of benefits. Even if you are failing a class, it is in your best financial interest to attend the class to the end and "earn your F".  To remedy GPA issues, re-take the failed course at the earliest opportunity.