Course Scheduling Preference for Veterans

1. Policy:

Act 46 of 2014 requires public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to provide veteran students, as defined in the Act, with preference in course scheduling. Non-compliance may be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by submitting the Higher Education Student Complaint Form, found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website. This policy complies with PA Act 46 and defines the requirements for veteran students and others to receive course scheduling preference under Act 46.

2. Definitions:

Course scheduling preference means that veteran students receive an earlier registration time appointment than students with the same class standing during the registration period for credit based courses.

Veteran students, for this policy, meet the following criteria defined in Act 46:

1. The student has served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the National Guard;
2. The student was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable;
3. The student has been admitted to the public institution of higher education; and
4. The student resides in Pennsylvania while enrolled in the public institution of higher education.

Veteran students, as defined in the above criteria, may or may not be using veterans' educational benefits at IUP.

Other students for whom this policy is applicable are: individuals using educational benefits under the GI Bill.

Procedures and Responsibilities:

To verify eligibility for course scheduling preference for the next registration period, a veteran student must provide one of the following documents to the director of IUP's Military Resource Center by the end of the second week of classes in the fall or spring semester:

1. DD-214
2. Copy of their Certificate of Eligibility for education benefits
3. Copy of discharge papers from National Guard or reserves

Veteran students only need to provide this information one time to the Military Resource Center for it to be verified. Once verified, veteran students will continue to receive course scheduling preference each semester. The director of the Military Resource Center will provide the Office of the Registrar a list of veteran students who are eligible for course scheduling preference. The Office of the Registrar will assign these veteran students a priority registration time appointment.

The Office of Financial Aid will identify individuals using educational benefits under the GI Bill and will notify the Office of the Registrar so that these students also receive course scheduling preference.

Students will be notified of this policy through publication in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. This policy will also be posted on IUP's website and in the Military Resource Center.

3. Recision:

This policy will not be rescinded or modified except by action of the IUP president, following consultation with the University Senate, and in accordance with University Senate By-Laws and Constitution.

Approved November 4, 2014