Oct 10, 2024  
2024-2025 Southern Academic Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Southern Academic Catalog

Military, Veterans, and Dependents



Compliance with Military Selective Service Act

State law provides that a male person who has attained the age of eighteen (18) years may not enroll in a state-supported institution of postsecondary education unless he is in compliance with the Military Selective Service Act (50 U. S. Code, Appendix §451, et seq. and the amendments thereto). Also, a male person may not receive a loan, grant, scholarship, or other financial assistance for postsecondary higher education funded by state revenue, including federal funds or gifts and grants accepted by this State, or receive a student loan guaranteed by the State unless he is in compliance with the Military Selective Service Act. Selective Service Act registration information is available online at www.sss.gov.

Federal Shopping Sheet

As a condition under the Executive Order on Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other Family Members (E.O. 13607), Southern provides access to the Federal Shopping Sheet for each veteran, dependent, and service members enrolled at the institution. The Shopping Sheet is accessed online through the student’s mySouthern student account on the Financial Aid tab. The information on the Shopping Sheet is updated once the student has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and has been awarded financial aid.

Military Credit

Academic credit may be awarded based on the American Council on Education recommendations for educational experiences in the Armed Forces. Veterans must submit transcripts from CCAF or JST to the Registrar’s Office for evaluation of their armed services educational experiences. Southern may also grant a maximum of four hours of physical education credit for military service. A copy of the veteran’s DD-214 must be submitted in order to receive credit.

Military, Veterans, and Dependents

Persons assigned to full-time active military service in West Virginia and residing in the state shall be classified as in-state students for tuition and fee purposes. The spouse and dependent children of such individuals shall also be classified as in-state students for tuition and fee purposes.

Under Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act), “covered individuals” will be charged in-state tuition and fee amounts. A “covered individual” is defined in the Choice Act as:

  • a veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty of 90 days or more.
  • a spouse or child using transferred benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  • a spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learing is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

Veteran’s Assistance

Through the Records Offices, veterans seeking educational benefits are furnished with appropriate forms and given instructions regarding the procedures required to enroll. Upon enrollment, the forms are then certified by the school’s Veterans Certifying Official and copies forwarded to the appropriate Veterans’ Administration (VA) Office. Benefits, which are determined by the VA, are calculated based upon the number of credit hours attempted in the veteran’s academic program; the courses attempted are closely scrutinized to ensure that all classes are required in the degree program in which the veteran is enrolled. Classes that are not required will not be certified. For more information contact Central Records at the District Office at 304.896.7443.

As a recipient of VA educational benefits, students must immediately report any change in credit hour and/or program of study to the Veterans Representative. Furthermore, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and be in good academic standing each academic term. Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress and be in good standing as long as each academic term’s grade point average is 2.0 or above.

Student Class Attendance

Southern offers priority registration to students using veterans’ educational benefits, veterans, and military members one day prior to the designated date for registration. The Academic Advisors listed serve as points of contact on each campus for veterans and dependents.

In accordance with SIP-4672, the class attendance policy is determined by each instructor and plainly stated to each student in the course syllabus. Regular class attendance is necessary for successful academic work.

Students receiving Veteran’s Educational Benefits who register for and never attend classes may be responsible for repayment of funds.

Called To or Volunteered For Active Duty

Service members called to or volunteering for active duty missions will be granted the following:

  • If students meet ¾ of the academic term, they will receive their grade as it stands on the ¾ mark.
  • If students do not reach the ¾ point of the academic term, they will be backdated out of the academic term and all Tuition Assistance paid will be reimbursed to the entity that paid it.
  • Upon return from active duty, students will be able to continue with their degree pursuit as if they had never left the institution.

Veteran Affairs Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Southern adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch.31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. 

Southern will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to    the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:
• Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
• Provide a written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as
  described in other institutional policies

”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 at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”

Veterans Club

The Veterans Club at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is an organization that provides a social group setting to help veterans adjust and become successful in civilian and college life. Members work to accomplish several goals, including:

  • promoting college spirit
  • establishing and maintaining fellowship between veterans and students on campus
  • assisting with the dissemination of valuable information to veterans
  • integrating veteran students into social and campus activities

Who Can Join?

Membership is open to all Southern veteran students, dependents of veterans, and veteran alumni. Additionally, membership is open to any member of Southern’s staff, faculty, and administration who is a veteran.

Meeting Times

Meetings are held on various days. For information on upcoming meetings, contact an advisor or look for the posted fliers around campus. Southern faculty, administrators, staff, and employees may attend the meetings.

Veterans Contact Information

Teri Wells, Registrar, 304.896.7443, teri.wells@southernwv.edu
Campus Student Success Advisors as listed below:

Brian Carter
Logan Campus
304.896.7375 or 304.307.0715
brian.carter@southernwv.edu

Roger Williamson
Williamson Campus
304.236.7003
roger.williamson@southernwv.edu

Elijah Hooker
Boone/Lincoln Campus
304.307.0702
elijah.hooker@southernwv.edu