Veteran Services
The Veteran Success Center is dedicated in helping student veteran succeed in their transition to civilian life. This is done by first ensuring their well-earned VA educational benefits are processed in a timely and compliant manner. Secondly, through the campus student veteran clubs we encourage them to connect with each other and the rest of the student body. Thirdly, we partner with community resources such as the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, the county vet centers and other non-profit organizations for assistance with their medical, housing, and financial concerns. We endeavor to always educate, advocate, and guide each student veteran and their dependents journey in attaining their educational and career goals.
- VA Educational Benefit Requirements:
- Basic document requirement to be certified for benefits is submission of;
- Certificate of eligibility (COE)
- DD214 (not applicable for dependents)
- VA certification request (each semester)
- Note: VA mandates that student veterans order their military transcripts to grant credit as appropriate in their program of study.
- Semester Course Load and Housing/Stipend Reference:
- Credits taken in an accelerated/condensed time frame have a higher value towards housing/stipend payments then those taken in the standard full Fall or Spring semester.
- Fall and Spring full semester credits are calculated at face value, no conversion is required.
- Contact Veteran Services for further explanation of semester housing/stipend scheduling.
- Use table below to see credit equivalency accelerated/condensed semester sessions.
Accelerated/Condensed Credit Equivalency Table
|
Weeks of Session →
Credits Enrolled in Session ↓ |
12 weeks |
8 weeks |
6 weeks
|
| 10 Credits Enrolled |
- |
-
|
-
|
| 9 Credits Enrolled |
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 8 Credits Enrolled |
12
|
- |
-
|
| 7 Credits Enrolled |
10.5 |
-
|
-
|
| 6 Credits Enrolled (common) |
9
|
13.5 |
- |
| 5 Credits Enrolled |
7.5
|
11.2
|
-
|
| 4 Credits Enrolled (common) |
6 |
9 |
12 |
| 3 Credits Enrolled (common) |
4.5
|
6.7
|
9 |
| 2 Credits Enrolled |
3 |
4.5 |
6 |
| 1 Credit Enrolled (common) |
1.5 |
2.3 |
3 |
- Chapter 33 students withdrawing or auditing (after the add/drop deadline) from certified courses will result in tuition debt to Palm Beach State College in accordance with section 1019 of Public Law 116-315. Additionally, it will result in a housing and book stipend debt to VA education. Contact Veteran Services before withdrawing for assistance in making an informed decision.
- Military Tuition Assistance:
- VA out of state fee waiver: Established in s. 1009.26 (12)(a), F.S., the Congressman C.W. Bill Young Veteran Tuition Waiver Program requires a Florida College System institution to waive out-of-state fees for an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Reserve Forces or the National Guard who physically reside in Florida while enrolled in the institution. The waiver covers the applicable portion of the fees up to 110 percent of the required credit hours for the degree or certificate program of enrollment.
- Veterans will be expected to provide the following documentation to be eligible for this out-of-state fee waiver:
- Proof current Florida residency. This documentation may include but is not limited to, a Florida driver’s license or Florida identification card.
- Proof of honorable discharge. This information may be on the veteran’s DD214, discharge certificate, or other documentation as deemed appropriate by Palm Beach State College Veteran Services.
- In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school 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 Veteran Readiness and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school 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) or Chapter 31 payment authorization by the first day of class;
- Submit a request to be certified;
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.
- VA Tuition Deferment:
- In accordance with 1009.27 F.S., students eligible for VA educational benefits may request a tuition deferment. Students will not be eligible for subsequent deferment if previous debt is not paid.
- The Purple Heart Waiver, established in s. 1009.26 (8), F.S., provides tuition waivers for Florida military veterans who have received a purple heart OR combat decoration that is “superior in precedence.”
- The waiver covers the tuition toward a degree or certificate program up to 110% of the required hours for the program of study.
- To be eligible, the veteran or active military member:
- Must be a current Florida resident for tuition purposes.
- May be a full-time or part-time student.
- Must be enrolled in a certificate or degree program. Non-degree seeking does not qualify for the waiver.
- Must submit documents showing receipt of the Purple Heart.
Note: It is the responsibility of the veteran to advise the Veterans Affairs Office of any changes in status, i.e., address, withdrawal from class, etc.