Section 1018 of Public Law 116-315, Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, adds new requirements for educational institutions participating in the educational assistance programs of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These new provisions became effective June 15, 2021 and apply to Institutions of Higher Learning and Non-College Degree institutions beginning August 1, 2021. Many of the requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Principles of Excellence, currently in Executive Order 13607; however, there are requirements in addition to those embodied in the Principles of Excellence, which schools must also satisfy to maintain approval for GI Bill® participation.
Universities will provide financial information to students using benefits under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 1606 of title 10, U.S.C. with a College Financing Plan (personalized shopping sheet) through the Financial Aid Office.
Additional information that may benefit student:
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
- Net Price Calculator
- GI Bill Comparison Tool
- College Navigator
- College Financing Plan (in SIS under View Financial Aid and click year)
Additional Financial Aid Information
Estimated total cost of the course that includes tuition, fees, books, supplies and any other additional costs
Cost of Attendance: the information is provided to assist students and families with financial planning. We include both direct costs (billed by Averett) and indirect costs (realistic allowances for things like transportation and personal expenses).
- Financial Aid at DCC
- Estimated Student Loan Information
- Tuition and Fees
- Graduation Rates
- Transfer Credit
- VMSDEP benefit for tuition/fee waiver
- Education & Training Rates through the VA
- Academic/Disability Counseling - (434) 797-8490
- Financial Aid/Veteran's Benefit Counseling - (434) 797-8506
Chapter 36 of Title 38 U.S.C. §§ 3672(b)(2)(A) and 3675(b)(4) requires accredited institutions to be eligible for and participate in the Federal Student Aid program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to be eligible to receive GI Bill® funds.
An institution may participate in any Title IV, HEA program, other than the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) and National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs, only if the institution enters into a written program participation agreement with the Secretary of Education, on a form approved by the Secretary of Education. A program participation agreement conditions the initial and continued participation of an eligible institution in any Title IV, HEA program upon compliance with the provisions of this part, the individual program regulations, and any additional conditions specified in the program participation agreement that the Secretary of Education requires the institution to meet.
As expressly stated above, a program participation agreement is a requirement for an institution to participate in any Title IV program. Aligned with these ED participation guidelines, VA considers a program participation agreement a requirement to prove an institution is approved for Title IV and participates in a program under Title IV. For State Approving Agency approval purposes, VA will accept a copy of the participation agreement or a snapshot of OPEID number and school name from the Department of Education website as evidence of Title IV.
NOTE: Institutions that only process education loan deferments do not enter into a program participation agreement with the Department of Education. Therefore, these institutions are not considered to be eligible for and participate in a program under Title IV.
Effective Date: This Policy Advisory is effective August 1, 2021. To provide evidence of Title IV with State Approving Agency approval packages, the effective date is the date of release.
Developmental Studies
Purpose – The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) requires that each campus assess student readiness for college-level work. Based on assessment outcomes, a student may be required to take developmental courses in mathematics, reading, and writing. These courses do not carry college-level credit but are designed to develop essential skills necessary for college-level work. By obtaining these skills, students increase the likelihood of successful completion of their chosen program of study. The maximum number of developmental credits that may be required per program will vary.
*Please refer to the DCC Catalog program/page for any additional specific program requirements.
Additional financial aid information can be found in your Student Center in SIS by clicking on “View Financial Aid”.
Reminder – Chapter 33 students are required to self-certify enrollment each month.
Reminder - Chapter 35 students must make arrangements to pay for tuition and fees by due date or have other aid to cover tuition and fees until VA pays benefits to the student