Transcript North Carolina State Approving Agency

North Carolina State
Approving Agency
Dr. Joseph Wescott II, Executive Director, NC SAA
Presented by
Elizabeth Kelly, Program Specialist, NC SAA
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
History
1944
FDR signs GI Bill of Rights
1945
Congress recognizes responsibility
of States to determine education
of their citizens
Late
1940’s
State Approving Agencies created;
overseen by Governor, but funded
by the VA
Today
A cooperative and successful
combined federal-state program!
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA Staff
 Joseph Wescott II, Executive Director
 Program Specialists
○ Elizabeth Kelly
○ Jay Fitzgerald
○ Meghan-Joy Woodall
○ John Pritchett
 Kathy Nicholson, Program Assistant
 NCSU Intern: Sara Brown
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
The Players
 The “Triad”
○ VA
○ SAA
○ Institution/SCO
 Other players
Mutual trust,
Mutual dependence!
○ DoE
○ DoL
○ FAA
○ Accrediting agencies
○ State L&C agencies
And of course--THE VA-ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
It Takes A Team!
 SAA & VA collaborate to help you
VA
VA Central Office
(VACO)
Regional Processing Office
(RPO)
Education Liaison Rep
(ELR)
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Interpret laws and regulations
Maintain integrity of programs
Train the SCOs
Encourage greater use of VA benefits
Help your school better serve veterans!
State Approving Agency
(SAA)
School Certifying Official
(SCO)
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA
Mission & Responsibility
 To ensure quality instruction, appropriate administration, and
fair and equitable practices for every veteran (and eligible
person) who enters a NC SAA-approved educational program.
 We do this by:
o Validating and approving educational courses and programs to
be pursued by veterans and eligible persons
o Overseeing North Carolina’s educational institutions, and
ensuring compliance with federal and state guidelines
o Ensuring the interests and prerogatives of the State are
preserved in both processes
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA
Program Specialists’ Assignments*
 All: Public and Private Universities, Community Colleges
 Elizabeth Kelly: On-Military-Base, Truck, Beauty, Barber
 Jay Fitzgerald: Religious Exempt Institutions & Nursing
 Meghan-Joy Woodall: Trade, Business, Hospitals, Massage
 Joseph Wescott: Flight, High Schools, L&C, new applications
* Note: Some assignment overlap occurs based on workload
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA
Our Partnership with You
Approvals
 Evaluate educational programs for approval
 Provide written evaluations and approvals to VA and the schools
Inspections and Compliance Survey Visits
 Visit and inspect each new/active educational institution
 Confirm compliance for approved courses and programs
Technical Assistance
 Respond to institutional and veteran requests for information
and assistance
 Provide written reports to DVA, as requested
 Maintain records and files for the State of North Carolina
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA
The Approval
This is THE document that actually conveys State / DVA approval
for educational programs to be considered for payment under the
GI Bill™.
Your Approval contains…
 General information about your school
 Programs and hours that are approved (or EXCLUDED…)
 Calendars, tuition and fees
 Unique programs or policies (Remedial / Branches, others…)
 Requirements specific to your institution
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA
The Approval, cont.
 Remember:
o Every approval is different! It is specific to your school or
institution, and is based upon your catalog and applicable
state and federal law.
o You should read/review your approval annually, and comply
daily.
o Many of your questions are answered here. Keep it handy!
NC SAA
The Approval, cont.
 The Addendum…
o A unique NC SAA Form that contains…
 The General Information section from the Approval, AND
 A specific change to the Approval
o Corrects or changes some portion of an Approval
o Examples:
 Changes to the academic calendar date (after published)
 Change of policy in Requirements section
 Delete a program or change the hours approved for a
program
NC SAA
The Approval, cont.
 The Addendum…
o Addenda are mailed or emailed to you, with instructions
o Supersedes the original information in the Approval
o Print a copy of the Addendum and add it to the Approval
o Comply with the Addendum changes
Also Note:
Remedial Training
• Computer based remedial content may be certified if
it meets the following conditions:
o
o
o
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It is delivered in a classroom on campus (set time and place).
Attendance is taken.
An instructor is present at all times to facilitate and answer questions.
Coursework is organized in such a fashion that students are working
on the same material during the class period.
• Remember: Remedial courses may not be certified if
they are offered as independent study, distance
learning, or hybrid course delivery.
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA
Important Special Interest Items
 Prior Credit
 High School Transcripts
 The DVA Form 22-8794
 Continuing Education
NC SAA
Important Special Interest Items, cont.
Prior Credit
 Must be evaluated and recorded (by law…) prior to enrollment
OR within 2-terms.
 This means you must have official transcripts of all previous
training on file.
 Must have proof of prior credit evaluation in the student file.
NC SAA
Important Special Interest Items, cont.
Prior Credit
 Military Transcripts:
 Obtain them in accordance with your applicable school policy
 If your institution has signed the DoD MOU, then you must obtain
military transcripts, and they must be evaluated for possible
transfer credit
 If a student has attended degree programs through the military
(e.g., Community College of the Air Force), then you must obtain
official copies of those transcripts, regardless of your school
policy, and evaluate for possible transfer credit
NC SAA
Important Special Interest Items, cont.
High School Transcripts: Are they required?
 Depends on your school and on your Approval…
 If HS transcripts document “part” of admission process, YES!
○ Schools that teach degree / IHL programs generally
require HS transcripts for new (freshmen) admissions
○ Private and Proprietary schools are “generally” required
to meet State standards
 NCD / Diploma / Certificate programs generally require
“proof of high school completion” OR “ability to benefit”
NC SAA
Important Special Interest Items, cont.
VA Form 22-8794 “Designation of Certifying Officials”
 When there are changes, submit a new form to DVA
and a copy of same to NC SAA.
 Be sure to include full contact information for each
certifying official
o Name, phone and fax number and e-mail address for each
certifying official in the appropriate box.
o The Approving Official must sign box 7.
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
Important Special Interest Items, cont.
Continuing Education Courses
 Generally these courses are not approved.
 All courses must lead to a vocational objective, i.e. a
job.
 Few exceptions: state licensed, state mandates, etc.
 Contract courses:
o Both the contractor and host institution must be approved.
o Questions of academic quality control, awarding of credit,
certification and records management.
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA
Compliance Surveys
○ NC SAA assists DVA with this responsibility
○ Former “Supervisory Visits” were more focused on SCO
training and process improvement
○ Compliance Survey primarily an audit of federal
entitlement program; focus shifted from academic
programs to more emphasis on finances
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NC SAA
Compliance Survey Process
 NC SAA schedules visits with the institution
 NC SAA Program Specialist conducts on-site visit reviewing:
○ Process Management (prior credit evaluation, timeliness/accuracy of
certifications, attendance, etc.)
○ Records Management (required documentation is present)
 Visit reports maintained at NC SAA with copy sent to DVA
 Inspection discrepancies (if any) require resolution with documentation of
corrective action to NC SAA (approval issues) or referral to DVA (payment
issues).
 Expanded audits:
 ≥ 30% Financial discrepancies
 ≥ 50% Discrepancies of any type
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
Record Keeping Requirements
ADMISSIONS/REGISTRATION
DOCUMENTATION
A.
B.
C.
D.
Copy of student’s Application for Admission
Copy of high school transcript for Entering Freshman
and Transfer Students
Copies of transcripts for all post secondary education
with chosen Curriculum “Transfer Credit” clearly
documented.
Copy of student’s current Curriculum with: (1) All todate credits and transfer credits clearly identified
and, (2) If applicable, a prior credit reassessment if student changes programs with
new Curriculum record annotated accordingly.
E.
Copy of Remedial/Deficiency test scores (if applicable)
F.
Copies of Student Schedules with “non-Curriculum”
course selections, i.e. not VA benefit eligible,
clearly identified.
G.
H.
Copies of completed Drop/Withdrawal forms
Copies of Plan of Study course substitution approvals
(if applicable)
Copy of current academic transcript
Copy of student ‘Attendance Records’ for clock-hour
programs (if applicable)
I.
J.
VA DOCUMENTATION
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
(Optional) Copy of Application for VA Education
Benefits (VA Form 1990) if available
Copies of all Enrollment Certifications (VA Form 221999) to include Remedial/Deficiency CH (if
applicable) identified separate from Curriculum
CH
Copies of all Changes in Student Status (VA Form
1999b); Amend, Adjust, Terminate
Copies of Request for Change of Place of Training
(VA Form 1995/5495)
(Optional) Copies of DD-214s, Certificate of Eligibility
and NOBEs as available
Reporting fees usage
NC SAA
Changing Laws, Changing Roles
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The Post 9/11 GI Bill
Public Law 111-377
Public Law 112-249
Principles of Excellence (Executive Order 13607)
Public Law 113-146
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
Post 9/11 GI Bill
 Became effective on August 1, 2009
 A complex program!
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Many levels of eligibility
Confusing concurrent eligibility
New benefits similar to original WW II GI Bill
Difficult to understand and administer
 SAAs took on new “consultant/trainer” role
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
Public Law 111-377
 Became effective October 1, 2011
 Many positives
○ More programs now covered by Post 9/11 GI Bill
○ More potential beneficiaries
• A “Game-Changer” for SAAs
o Changed State/Federal approval authorities
o SAAs acquired new role of assisting VA with Compliance
Surveys
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
Public Law 111-377, cont.
 Changed States’ authority to approve programs
○ Accredited, public & non-profit degree programs “deemed”
approved without continuing State review
○ States no longer process approvals for public and non-profit private
institutions
○ Approval AND disapproval authority given to U.S. Secretary of
Veterans Affairs
○ Schools with deemed approved programs provided approval/change
notifications to ELR with courtesy copy of catalog/forms to NC SAA
○ SAAs retained jurisdiction over for-profit schools, and NonCollege Degree (NCD) programs at all schools
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
BUT…
Big Change Last Year
 Effective October 1, 2013, VA no longer accepts
modification form--all requirements for approval go
to NC SAA.
 All NC institutions must submit an approval package
to the NC SAA.
 All approval related concerns and questions must
come to the NC SAA.
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
Public Law 112-249
Improving Transparency of Education
Opportunities for Veterans
Public Law 112-249, signed on January 10, 2013, mandates,
among other things...
 A centralized mechanism for tracking/publishing feedback
from students and SAA regarding quality of instruction,
recruiting practices, and post-graduation employment
placement of institutions of higher education.
 SAA’s will share with accrediting agencies or associations
information regarding the SAA’s evaluation of an IHL.
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
New This Year
VA & NASAA Initiatives
• National VA Online Feedback (Complaint) System
o A centralized online reporting system; launched in Jan 2014
o Report violations of the Principles of Excellence (E.O. 13607)
 Report negative experiences with educational institutions
 Identify and address unfair, deceptive, misleading practices
o Ensure high quality academic and student support services
• VA Online Comparison Tool
o Launched in February 2014
o Easier to calculate Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and learn more
about VA’s approved colleges, universities and other
education and training programs across the country.
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
Also This Year…
H.R. 3230 – Veterans Access, Choice, & Accountability Act of 2014
• Signed into law August 8, 2014, as Public Law 113-146
• Primarily addresses veterans’ health matters
• Expands Fry Scholarship eligibility to spouses
• Effective January 1, 2015
• Entitlement expires 15 years after servicemember’s death
or the date the spouse remarries, whichever is earlier
• If also eligible for Chapter 35 (DEA), must make irrevocable
election of one chapter
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
P.L. 113-146, cont.
Veterans Access, Choice, & Accountability Act of 2014
• Public IHLs and In-State Tuition
• Beginning July 1, 2015: Cannot approve programs for
•
which “covered” students, regardless of residency, are
charged T&F that are higher than the in-state rate
“Covered individuals” are
• Ch 30 and Ch 33 vets discharged or released from active duty (≥ 90
days) less than 3 years before enrollment in the program, and
• Ch 33 Fry Scholarship beneficiaries and TOE recipients
• But: IHL may require covered individual to demonstrate
intent to become resident
• Can require any type of proof of intent except “physical presence”
STAY TUNED FOR GUIDANCE FROM VA
Carolina
AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINAStateNorth
Approving Agency
NC SAA
Responsibilities include:
 303 separate institutions of learning, plus 47 branch locations
Our Service to You:
 Conducted 76 Compliance Survey visits
 Processed requests for new approval, resulting in 41 new
institutions
 Reviewed and completed 175 applications for program re-approval
(new catalogs)
 Evaluated and approved over 1,000 individual programs
Hundreds of technical assistance phone calls and e-mails

*As of September 1, 2014
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
Thank you!
Any (more) questions?
North Carolina
State Approving Agency