Special Sources of Aid
Private Funds
Churches, civic clubs, employers, and unions offer financial awards which are included in the total financial aid package when determining eligibility for government and some private assistance.
Veterans’ Benefits
Military veterans or immediate family of veterans who are deceased or permanently disabled as the result of military service may qualify for assistance. For information, contact a Veterans Administration Office. Students may receive credit for training in the armed services or for previous course work by sending an official transcript from each institution to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar must receive transcripts by the end of the first semester of enrollment. Some general education requirements may be waived based upon age, number of hours completed, and appropriate work experience. Records of academic work completed at Rochester University may be released to other institutions and agencies only upon written request.
In order to be certified for Veterans Administration benefits, the veteran must submit his or her Certificate of Eligibility letter to the university’s Veterans Administration Representative within Student Financial Services (veterens@rc.edu). Each semester the representative will certify enrollment on the veterans VAONCE online enrollment reporting system. Please keep in mind that if a student adds or drops a class or stops attending a class, this information must be reported to Veterans Affairs. Such changes can cause interruption of benefits or an overpayment that must be repaid directly to Veterans Affairs before receiving future benefits. Class schedule changes are monitored monthly by the university’s representative, but to ensure timely reporting, it is helpful to alert the representative by email at veterans@rc.edu when a class is added, class sections are changed, classes are dropped or withdrawn, or the veteran registers for a subsequent semester.
Students who are certified for Veterans Administration benefits but who fail to obtain the minimum SAP requirements within one semester after being placed on Financial Aid warning may not be re-certified until their cumulative GPA and other SAP criteria meet the minimum standards identified in the Financial Aid SAP requirements. Rochester University informs the Veterans Administration when students are not re-certified due to the institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Students within one semester (12 hours) of graduation may continue to be certified for veterans’ benefits only with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher, which meets requirements for both the bachelor’s and associate degrees. The above policies regarding certification for veterans benefits supersede any and all previous statements of these policies.
Military reservists called to active duty while a semester is in progress should meet with Student Financial Services and the Office of the Registrar to decide whether withdrawal or applying for “Incomplete” grade evaluations would be more advantageous. Room and board charges are refunded on a pro-rated basis. Students with circumstances that warrant exceptions to refund policies should address a written appeal to academicappeals@rc.edu.
Veteran Policy Update – 7-1-2019
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018
Section 3679 of Title 38
Rochester University will permit any covered individual* to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides Rochester University a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs – eBenefits or a VAF 28-1905 form for Chapter 31 authorization purposes) ending on the earlier of the following dates:
1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution
2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.
Rochester University will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individuals inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.
In addition to this policy, the covered individual must:
1. Submit a certification of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance no later than the first day of a course of education.
2. Provide additional payment (subject to all collection policies enforced by Rochester University) that is the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement.
*Covered individual is defined as any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.