Veterans Education Benefits
For complete information on eligibility, students should contact the Department of Veterans Affairs by calling 1-800-442-4551 or by going to the VA website. Students planning to attend GSTC using veterans benefits should consult the Financial Aid Office prior to enrollment. All programs of study must be approved by the State Approving Agency in order to be certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs for payment of benefits. As a student receiving Veterans Benefits, you are responsible for immediately notifying the VA Certifying Official of any changes in your program or reduction in your clock hours for any term.
Students using Veterans Benefits to pay for their tuition are considered self-payers since VA pays the student directly, not the institution (unless the student is using Post- 9/11 - Chapter 33 benefits). At the time of enrollment, veterans are responsible for their tuition payments, even if they have not received their first VA check. Deferment options are available. Contact the VA Certifying Official for details.
Note: On March 31, 2014, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law the "Congressman C.W. Bill Young Tuition Waiver Program", also referred to as the "Florida GI Bill", an initiative that waives out-of-state tuition fees for honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
- Attendance is reviewed monthly and students must maintain an attendance percentage of 83%, as measured by the ratio of clock hours attended to clock hours scheduled. Failure to meet the 83% threshold will result in the student being placed on Attendance Probation for thirty (30) days AND will have their VA educational Benefits terminated. While on Attendance Probation, students may not have more than two (2) absences. Students failing to maintain satisfactory attendance while on Attendance Probation may face an administrative withdrawal.
- Students whose VA benefits have been terminated may have them re-instated upon satisfactorily completing the Attendance Probation period.
- Students receiving VA benefits must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of "C" by the end of each course completion. Students failing to earn a grade of "C" or better will have their VA educational benefits terminated and may face an administrative withdrawal. Students may have their VA educational benefits reinstated upon successfully completing the course with a grade of "C" or better.
- Students receiving VA Educational Benefits are NOT eligible for a Leave of Absence. Veterans' Educational Benefits must be terminated during periods of absence.
