Will using the VA’s Choice Program wreck your credit?

I know it took my brother-in-law almost 11 months to get VA to pay for ER visit and hospitalization. Had to get their Senator involved.

Veterans Claims Help

click

It very well might according to the VA itself.  

The VA wants my husband to drive about 200 miles round-trip for an x-ray and pulmonary appointment.  I called to see if the VA Choice Program (LINK) or non-VA care program could be used instead based on the geographical hardship factor. The VT scheduler said to call back in two days. Then I checked out the VA website and saw the alarming notice to the right.  Talk about disincentives!

I will follow-up to see if he’s eligible however after seeing this notice and doing a little reading, I think we’d rather use his Medicare Advantage card, cough up the $50 specialist co-pay and not jeopardize our good credit rating.  Besides, according to the VA Choice Provider Search tool, there are no local pulmonary specialists in the program.

According to a recent article in the Military Times…

View original post 167 more words

No Surrender

As I start out the new semester I’m struggling to balance school and work, I just can’t get the trauma of fighting with the school out of my head; I’m working on it though. I contacted the school to see if there was someone other than the dreaded Mancy for me to talk to, because let’s face it I had enough of his arrogant attitude to last me a life time. So I emailed the head Registrar at the school and her response had me cheering. Mancy is no longer part of the of the Registrar’s office… WHAT? Come AGAIN!!! I secretly did a happy dance at this tad bit of information.

That has calmed my nerves a bit so that I can focus on my school work… HOWEVER, do not think this fight is done. I will not stop until either the school changes the program description OR the VA has another category for the type of class I am attending. Hybrid is not a good definition because it implies the focus is online based with a fraction of face-to-face class time. For this course, the focus is the face-to-face time with a small fraction of online learning tools. It is a small difference, I am aware… but it cost me half of my allotted BAH.

Lesson for the day… continue the fight and never give up!

Another veteran in the Social Work Program at Salisbury, same issue

So this problem with the living stipend or Basic Allowance for Housing that the GI Bill and   VR&E seems to be a much larger problem. We were contacted by Maura who is enrolled through the Cecil College campus in the BSW program. She has faced the same battle for her stipend that Angela and I faced. She contacted the school repeatedly but never got a good answer until the Registrar got involved. The VA Certifying Official has been replaced. We don’t know any specifics but he seemed to be a large part of the communication problem. We were all told “that’s just the way it is” or something similar at least once by the certifying official. That is NOT an answer.

Good Morning,

 

Thank you very much for this information, I really appreciate your attention to my concern as well as your thorough response.  My main dispute with the classification of distance/residence was specifically regarding the graduate courses, as it does not appear in the SCO Handbook or 38 CFR, that the hourly requirement you referred to applies at that level, as it is only listed within the undergraduate definition.  While I am disappointed our undergraduate hybrid courses do not fulfil the definition of in-residence, I understand that reporting them as distance credits is compliant with the policy.  Thank you for communicating my points to the ELR, I am looking forward to hearing their findings.

 

Thank you again,

 

Maura

 

From: Jacqueline Maisel [mailto:JMMAISEL@salisbury.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2016 4:35 PM

Maura,

Your concerns were recently brought to my attention – and you are not the first person to question the classification of these courses as hybrid/online.  I have had multiple communications with both the VA and MHEC and am awaiting their response on my most recent question.

 

You are absolutely correct in that this is not a departmental issue, and is applicable to any of our web-enhanced courses.  The question comes down to the amount of “web enhancement” that is allowed before a course must be designated as a “hybrid” and/or online course.  Basically, the documentation provided by the VA regarding residential/hybrid/online courses (38 CFR 21.4252(g), 21.4267 and the SCO Handbook) states that in order to qualify for resident credit, a course must meet for a minimum number of hours equal to the number of credits (in this case 3) times the number of weeks in the term.  Since these courses only meet for 28 hours face to face and need to meet 42, the VA has stated that these courses are Hybrid.

 

Please understand that these courses were coded in compliance with the regulations as stated by the Maryland Higher Education Commission Veterans Office as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs and was not an arbitrary decision by SU.  If anything, SU has pushed back about the whole online/hybrid issue.

 

Recently, I have communicated to our ELR at the Dept. of Veteran Affairs that these courses meet in regularly scheduled, conventional classrooms for one hour and 50 minutes per week for 14 weeks as well as a 2 hour and 30 minute exam.  The online component, which has been approved through a rigorous curriculum review process, is the equivalent of an additional hour of instruction and is delivered to students each week of the semester to supplement face to face meetings.

Your point about the residency depending on meeting at least two regularly scheduled standard class sessions per term, research (either on or off campus), or a combination of both was also included in my communication.  Once I have heard back from the VA, I will be glad to share their findings with you.

 

In the meantime, if you have any VA questions or concerns, please feel free to direct them to me or to Ms. Jamie Holmes-Kriger, the Associate Registrar and Acting SCO, who oversees our Veterans Services Office @ VABENEFITS@Salisbury.edu .

 

Best regards,

JMM

 

1. Moran Maisel 

University Registrar

Salisbury University | Salisbury MD 21801

Phone: 410-543-6150 | Fax:  410-677-5078

www.Salisbury.edu/registrar

 

This message may contain confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system.

P Please consider the environment before printing this email.  Thank you!

 

 

From: Veteran Affairs Benefits
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 2:56 PM

Maura,

Thank you for your comments.  I still encourage you to contact the Department Chairs of the Social Work Department, and Graduate Studies, and speak to them about  your concerns with their policies regarding this issue.

Sincerely,

Mancy E. Wilson

Mancy E. Wilson, MBA, US Army 1992 -2001 | Veterans and Military Affiliated Coordinator| Registrar’s Office Salisbury University | Holloway Hall Room 125 | 1101 Camden Avenue| Salisbury, MD 21801

Office:  410.543.6189| Fax: 410.677.5078 |mewilson@salisbury.edu |www.salisbury.edu/registrar/

From: Maura
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 2:43 PM
To: Veteran Affairs Benefits <VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu>
Mr. Wilson,

I do not believe this is an issue that really involves, nor is exclusive to, the Social Work Department.  Rather, the issue is how Salisbury University is reporting graduate courses that meet the in-residence definition to the Department of Veterans Affairs.  According to the information I have found and received from the VA, hybrid courses can be considered in-residence, provided it meets the definition.  Therefore, many, if not all, hybrid courses offered at the graduate level from any of SU’s departments should be reported as in-residence.

Regards,

Maura

 

From: Veteran Affairs Benefits [mailto:VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu]
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 2:27 PM
To: Maura
Subject: RE: Hybrid and Online Courses

Maura,

Good Afternoon.

Thank you for the additional information.  I encourage you to speak with the Chair of the Social Work Department and voice your concerns about their residency and hybrid courses.

Sincerely,

Mancy E. Wilson

Mancy E. Wilson, MBA, US Army 1992 -2001 | Veterans and Military Affiliated Coordinator| Registrar’s Office Salisbury University | Holloway Hall Room 125 | 1101 Camden Avenue| Salisbury, MD 21801

Office:  410.543.6189| Fax: 410.677.5078 |mewilson@salisbury.edu |www.salisbury.edu/registrar/

 

From: Maura
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 8:50 AM
To: Veteran Affairs Benefits <VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu>
Cc: Letha Moszer <LFMOSZER@salisbury.edu>
Subject: RE: Hybrid and Online Courses

Good Morning,

I received a response from a representative at the VA this morning and have attached his answer.  He stated that if a course meets the resident training definition as outlined in the SCO Handbook, then it should be reported as such, and Maryland’s Education Liaison Representative can provide further assistance with SU’s specific courses.  I have attached the excerpt from the SCO Handbook and highlighted the sections that initially spurred these questions.  The excerpt was taken from page 53 of the handbook.  Thank you again for all of the information you have continued to provide.

Regards,

Maura

 

From: Veteran Affairs Benefits [mailto:VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu]
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2016 12:58 PM
To: Maura
Subject: RE: Hybrid and Online Courses

Maura,

Good Afternoon.  Thank you for your question.  I would strongly encourage you to submit this question to the VA.  They have a section of their page wherein you can submit any question you may have regarding their policies and procedures.  I have included the link below:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/

Sincerely,

Mancy E. Wilson

Mancy E. Wilson, MBA, US Army 1992 -2001 | Veterans and Military Affiliated Coordinator| Registrar’s Office Salisbury University | Holloway Hall Room 125 | 1101 Camden Avenue| Salisbury, MD 21801

Office:  410.543.6189| Fax: 410.677.5078 |mewilson@salisbury.edu |www.salisbury.edu/registrar/

From: Maura
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2016 9:01 AM
To: Veteran Affairs Benefits <VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu>
Subject: RE: Hybrid and Online Course

Good Morning Mr. Wilson,

I have one more question regarding the graduate hybrid courses.  In the SCO Handbook and Title 38, §21.4267, regarding hybrid courses, “if a course does not meet the definition of residence training it must be considered independent study.”  However, since the graduate hybrid courses do meet the definition of “at least two regularly scheduled standard class sessions per term, research (either on or off campus), or a combination of both,” shouldn’t those courses be considered in-residence, regardless if they are configured as hybrid?

Thank you again for all of your help thus far.

Maura

 

From: Veteran Affairs Benefits [mailto:VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu]
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 4:12 PM
To: Maura
Subject: RE: Hybrid and Online Courses

Maura,

The Graduate Social Work Program works the same way with the exception of the following courses:  SOWK 640, 645, 665, and 685.

Sincerely,

Mancy E. Wilson

Mancy E. Wilson, MBA, US Army 1992 -2001 | Veterans and Military Affiliated Coordinator| Registrar’s Office Salisbury University | Holloway Hall Room 125 | 1101 Camden Avenue| Salisbury, MD 21801

Office:  410.543.6189| Fax: 410.677.5078 |mewilson@salisbury.edu |www.salisbury.edu/registrar/

From: Maura
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 4:04 PM
To: Veteran Affairs Benefits <VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu>
Subject: Re: Hybrid and Online Courses

 

Thank you very much for your quick response, that is great news. Are the graduate hybrid courses considered distance or resident credits?

Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 8, 2016, at 3:50 PM, Veteran Affairs Benefits <VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu> wrote:

Maura,

 

Good Afternoon.  The purpose of my email was to provide students with a general overview of the difference between hybrid and residence learning.  Often times there are exceptions to the rule, and SOWK 420, Field Instruction I, and SOWK 421, Field Instruction II, would be examples.  A decision as to what is a residence or hybrid course is not made solely on class section number, but how the course is configured by the department in question.  The class section number is the end result.

 

At the present time in the Undergraduate Social Work Program if the class section number is between 600 -699, with the exception of the courses mentioned above, the course would be considered a hybrid, and therefore must be treated as distance learning.

 

I strongly encourage you to present your argument to the Social Work Department, as they are the ones who make the determination as to what is hybrid and residence leaning.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mancy E. Wilson

 

Mancy E. Wilson, MBA, US Army 1992 -2001 | Veterans and Military Affiliated Coordinator| Registrar’s Office Salisbury University | Holloway Hall Room 125 | 1101 Camden Avenue| Salisbury, MD 21801

Office:  410.543.6189| Fax: 410.677.5078 |mewilson@salisbury.edu |www.salisbury.edu/registrar/

From: Maura Tunney [mailto:mtunney2@gulls.salisbury.edu]
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 2:52 PM
To: Veteran Affairs Benefits <VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu>
Cc: Letha Moszer <LFMOSZER@salisbury.edu>
Subject: RE: Hybrid and Online Courses

Good Afternoon,

I have noticed discrepancies in the information provided to us that I would like to address.  According to this email, the determination between “resident” and “distance” credits are made solely by class section numbers.  However, according to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 38, §21.4275, as well as the School Certifying Official Handbook, under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, practical training is to be considered resident training.  Therefore, SOWK 420, “Field Instruction I” and SOWK 421, “Field Instruction II,”  should be considered resident training, regardless of the course section.  Students studying and taking these courses at satellite locations enroll in the 600-series section that corresponds with their site.  Are these courses being reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs as “resident” credits?

 

Additionally, according to Title 38, §21.4267 and the School Certifying Official Handbook, “resident” and “distance” courses are defined differently at the graduate level than at the undergraduate level.  According to these documents,  “in-residence training for graduate students consists of at least two regularly scheduled standard class sessions per term, research (either on or off campus), or a combination of both.”  The hybrid Master of Social Work courses provided at satellite locations (sections 600-699) fulfill the resident requirements, and therefore should also be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this manner.

 

If the field instruction and hybrid graduate courses are being reported to the VA as distance courses, veterans studying at Salisbury University’s satellite locations could be suffering significant and unnecessary financial hardship.  I have thoroughly researched this topic, and if you would like, I can provide more resources regarding practical training and resident/distance status requirements.  I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Regards,

 

Maura

 

From: Veteran Affairs Benefits [mailto:VABENEFITS@salisbury.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2015 9:49 AM
Subject: Hybrid and Online Courses

 

Dear Student Veterans and Military Affiliates.

Good Morning.  This month I would like to talk to you about hybrid and online courses and how your housing allowance (BHA) is affected by them.

Online courses are the new Phenomena in college education.  You can now take a history course in the comfort of your residence hall, library, or anywhere else you chose.  However, if you’re receiving VA Educational Benefits, hybrid and online courses can affect your housing allowance.

Courses offered solely in a traditional face-to-face format are reported to the VA as “resident credits”.  The VA requires that purely online courses as well as hybrids must be reported as “distance credits”.  At SU, academic departments identify the mode of instruction with course section numbers.  Section numbers 100 to 599 are traditionally taught courses (face-to-face), section numbers 600 to 699 indicate that the course is hybrid (part face-to-face instruction and part online instruction), and section numbers 700 to 799 identify online courses.

 

Institutions are required to report all schedule changes to the VA.  It is your responsibility to notify the Veteran Services Office of any schedule changes once you submit your certification request.

 

Only VA can make a clear determination as to what the affected dollar amount will be, but one thing is for certain, if you take 12 credits or less during a semester and one of those courses is a hybrid or online course your housing allowance will be affected.

 

Here is a suggestion, always sign up for 12 credits (full-time) of face to face instruction, and then add on that desired hybrid or online course, which would place you somewhere over the 12 credit threshold.  As long as you meet the minimum 12 credit (full-time) requirement, the VA will pay your full monthly housing stipend as awarded to you on you Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

 

If the amount of your housing allowance is of no concern to you, then by all means take as many hybrids and online courses as you wish.  Otherwise, follow these instructions and you will have little, if any, problems with the VA regarding this matter.

 

If you have any addition questions regarding this matter, please contact me through one of the options below.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Mancy E. Wilson

 

Mancy E. Wilson, MBA, US Army 1992 -2001 | Veterans and Military Affiliated Coordinator| Registrar’s Office Salisbury University | Holloway Hall Room 125 | 1101 Camden Avenue| Salisbury, MD 21801

Office:  410.543.6189| Fax: 410.677.5078 |mewilson@salisbury.edu |www.salisbury.edu/registrar/

 

So it all seems to come back to how the school codes their courses. This is up to the school and is also considered in the accreditation process. The school seemed unaware of the problem until it was brought to their attention. Now that they are aware, the Registrar at least seems interested in finding a resolution, however the Social Work Department seemed uninterested in addressing this or trying to fix it.

This just underlines the importance of sticking to your guns and keeping yourself, as a veteran, informed.

Shot, over. Shot, out!

Edmund

Colleges aren’t reacting to student vets needs, report says

Colleges aren’t reacting to student vets needs, report says

I came across this article today. Its not recent, but it is definitely still relevant to veterans. Be wary of all of the various college and university lists out there that rate schools. Some of them have “veteran friendly” as one of the criteria that they use. What is “veteran friendly?” There is no standard definition out there. What ends up happening is that every organization, website, and school has their own definition.

The best thing that you can do is contact the schools veteran representatives. Every school has a VA Certifying Official. Many schools have some kind of Veteran Ambassador, or a Veteran Recruiter or at least a veteran’s club. Another organization that handles a lot of education related veteran’s issues is Student Veterans of America or SVA. SVA recently held a national conference in Florida. SVA also has programs with various companies who assist with internships and appointing mentors. If your school has an SVA Chapter they will be an excellent source of information about the school if you are looking at different schools.

By all means if there is an issue, bring it up. Fight it up the chain if you have to because often more senior people within the school administration don’t know of the issues and can help fix them. Certifying Officials often fulfill many other rolls so they may not be the best person to rely on if there is an issue.

Now I’m off, getting ready to be snowed in…  Edmund

Update: Found this on Twitter this morning.

Best Colleges for Veterans

Unexpected Twist…

What a crazy ride this has been!! I had to wait until grades were posted and the semester was officially over to approach different schools about attending their program. The last minute thing does not go over well for most admission offices…just and FYI. When I approached one school in particular I mentioned that I was in fact …in a pickle… and I realized that it would be an act of grace to get me to the program. This pickle statement was followed by a lot of …ummm… oohhh… we start school next week…and more … ummm. I wanted to point out that by disclosing that I was in a pickle should have let them know that I was aware of how precarious the situation was and their need to point that out was, after all, repetitive.

Another school guaranteed me a seat in the program, but the class schedule combined with the drive (50 minutes one way) was unrealistic with my new job at the community college. The class structure was a Monday, Wednesday and Friday set up and classes on those days were 50 minutes in duration. This proposed new issues with employment and money, since the cost of driving up there ever day would be enormous.

So I broke down, I cried and screamed and yelled. I was so ANGRY! Red HOT burning anger!! And then it was gone…. I had to make a grown up decision that I didn’t want to make and wasn’t sure I could afford to make it. So I logged on to my SU email to send out an inquiry about the Spring 2016 semester, and waiting for me in my inbox was my acceptance letter into the Social Work program. Each student has to apply after starting classes so that the program (teachers and staff) have a chance to get to know you. The first semester is like an interview and if you pass you move on… if you fail… well, it would suck. I was accepted into the program!! Now I knew I had to bite the bullet. I called and talked to the Registrar at Salisbury University. They ensured me there would be no repercussions because I rocked the boat and that they were thankful to have someone stand up for his or her rights. It was reassuring.

So I decided to stay with Salisbury University. My BAH is cut in half, which will suck. But as I mention I started a new job and that will help with the difference. I also am not giving up the fight, the way the class is structured and the description don’t really jive. So Salisbury is looking into ways to make their program more veteran friendly. Imagine that … some people do listen and hopefully take action to make the changes necessary to help out veterans.

On to the next battle… Angela

VR&E aka VocRehab or Vocational Rehabilitation

This program has been of great assistance to me. I know it has helped Angela too.  I don’t think it gets nearly enough promotion within the VA and even those references are not clear. I never thought I would qualify for it or even considered applying. I know that the ACAP, now TAPS, briefing I attended on the VA really glossed over most benefits that exist and never even mentioned criteria or application process. This is one of the biggest problems for transitioning veterans.

I spoke with a veteran a few days ago who told me about his difficulty with the transition and not only adapting to civilian life, but with figuring out all of the various benefits and how to apply for them. This is a common theme for most veterans. I know that many of the various veterans organizations try to help with this but most veterans still learn of benefits from word-of-mouth. I never would have applied for VocRehab if I hadn’t talked to another veteran about it.

If you have questions about benefits please share them with me and I will try to get you all of the information that you need!

Whats the point?

One of the reasons we started this blog was not only to share our experiences with the VA and other veterans issues but also to help find solutions and share other veteran’s issues and solutions. Veterans depend on word of mouth more than anything to learn about what services and benefits are available. This is also true for finding resolutions to problems with the vast bureaucracy that is the VA.

So please spread the word to other veterans you know but also send us your stories, solutions and issues so that we can share them with others and help you find solutions to whatever issue you are having.

Final post for the Salisbury University stipend saga

So we finally got a good answer. Not the one we wanted to hear necessarily but still an answer that made sense. Here is the email:

After re-reading all the documentation provided by the VA regarding residential/hybrid/online courses (38 CFR 21.4252(g), 21.4267 and the SCO Handbook),  I sent a message to the VA ELR in Baltimore to clarify how the courses might be reviewed to be included as residential credit.   Included were these facts about the courses, obtained from Dr. Batya Hyman, Chair of the Department of Social Work:

• The courses meet in regularly scheduled, conventional classrooms during the 14 term semester for one hour and 50 minutes per week and have a 2 hour and 30 minute final exam.
• There is an online component that has been approved through the curriculum review process as being the equivalent of an additional hour of instruction and which is delivered to the students each week of the semester to supplement the face to face meetings.
• There is no extended time where the student works independently without any face to face contact with the instructor.

The VA ELR responded that the requirements for resident credit for undergraduates are that the course meet for a minimum number of hours equal to the number of credits (in this case 3) times the number of weeks in the term.  Since these courses only meet for 28 hours face to face and need to meet 42, the VA has stated that these courses are Hybrid.

I am continuing the conversation with the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s VA office as well as the ELR in Baltimore to see if there are any exceptions that might apply.

Regards,

JMM

J. Moran Maisel 

University Registrar

Salisbury University | Salisbury MD 21801

Phone: 410-543-6150 | Fax:  410-677-5078

So, for us this makes sense. Now the questions becomes, why is the VA trying to cut our living stipend with obscure rules? This becomes a question for our elected officials and the various veterans organizations. If you are a veteran feel free to share this with your representative and maybe we can get them to fix this on the VA side because after all of the hassle with the university and the VA telling us it was the University’s fault it comes back to the VA. Of course I can find none of this in writing in any of the VA’s policies which makes me very suspicious. Even the VR&E Education advisor couldn’t find it in any written policy. Think about it!

I’m also happy to say that at least one administrator at Salisbury University knows what is going on and was able to explain this. The VA Certifying Official is not competent enough to explain this or maybe even figure it out. Thank you to the Registrar for being willing and able to explain this to us!!

This is going to be a long one

Ok folks, here is the next episode. We both got an answer two weeks ago from Salisbury University.

Good Morning.  I just received  an answer back from the VA.  Their position is that everything will remain the same regarding the hybrid courses you are currently taking or may be planning to take next semester.  If a 100% BAH benefit is important to you then you may want to consider taking non-hybrid courses in future semesters.

Angela received the EXACT same reply, word for word about 20 minutes before I got mine. Note the condescension in the last sentence. Especially since that is the only course type available for SU students at USMH. There seems to be a great deal of confusion surrounding course types. I sent the following email in reply.

I asked you for specifics from actual policies, yet you have not provided them. Please send me the email traffic between you and the VA representative. So far the lack of support from Salisbury University has been quite spectacular. Since there are NO alternatives to the classes we must take for this program we cannot CHOOSE to take none hybrid courses.

Since, according to you, this decision was made by someone at the VA please provide the relevant contact information for that person.

Also, you have yet to provide answer as to why another veteran is receiving the full rate at USMH but others are not.

Salisbury University is rated by several organizations as veteran friendly. I have found this not to be true. Salisbury, through their course classification system, is discriminating against veterans in the social work program thereby ensuring that those of us that were enrolled or may want to be enrolled in the future do not receive the benefits for which we are entitled.

Your condescension is noted. Again, if you tell me what, if any, none hybrid courses are available for the Social Work Program at USM Hagerstown and I will take them. In case it hasn’t dawned on you, some of us depend on the living stipend to live and support our families while we are in school. It isn’t a matter of just wanting more money.

Salisbury University needs to take a good hard look at whether they want to truly be veteran friendly and if they truly want the diversity that veterans provide in the Social Work Program. So far all we have seen is talk that sounds good, but there appears to be no follow through.

I will be filing complaints through the VA and through the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

Here is what Angela sent.

Let me see if I understand:

• The VA classifies the program at SU through USMH as a online hybrid course
• The BAH is reflective of that and is only half time

Then based on the information, I would like to know what information was sent to the VA on my behalf.  Because that is not reflective of Title 38 as I understand it.  Since this information inquiry was sent to the VA regarding an decision for my benefits, I am entitled to know what was sent and I expect to have this by Friday, December 18th.  I would also like to note that I have requested a copy of what was sent to the VA on two other occasions.

As a Social Worker I am taught that I must be an advocate for those who can not advocate for themselves, so based on that, I will be appealing this decision, not for me, but for future veterans that would possible consider SU as a their school of choice.  I feel that SU and the VA have let down the Social Work program in the Hagerstown area and this decision will affect future students of the program because they will not have the insight and diversity of having veterans enrolled into this program.  I sincerely hope for the future of this program that SU considers rewording their program description in order to reflect what actually happens here at the USMH campus.

In addition, I will filing a formal complaint with the VA regarding my treatment while at SU and with the Board of Education.  I had hoped to avoid this type of action, but I feel it is my only choice at this juncture.

I spoke to a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor in Baltimore who informed me that it is up to the school to decide how to code and classify their classes.

Angela got this reply.

Mr. W has forwarded your message to me regarding the issue of the your BAH allowance and the hybrid/online designation of your courses. I regret that you feel that you have received poor treatment from Salisbury University and the VA.  I can certainly understand your position, as we have been working with the VA this past semester for a better understanding of their rulings on hybrid classes.

I have been in communication yet again with the VA.  I have specifically raised the question of Title 38 and how it appears to be in conflict with the VA’s determination of resident credit for Certifying Officials, provided by our VA Educational Liaison in Baltimore:

A course which requires regularly scheduled, standard class sessions at least once every two weeks and which has a total number of class sessions equal to the number of credit hours awarded for the course, times the number of weeks in a standard quarter or semester, as applicable;  (School Certifying Official’s Handbook, p. 53)

Please be assured that I will look into this personally and respond to you as soon as possible, when I hear back from the VA.  In the meantime, if you’d like to discuss with me this or any other issues you’ve had with SU’s handling of your VA educational benefits, please feel free to contact me on my direct phone line at

So finally someone seems to finally understand the problem. Not that we imagine that there will be any fix because it all comes back to how the school codes the program and courses.

I got this in response to my earlier email..

I cannot supply you with the email traffic between me and the VA; however, I will provide you the rational for their decision.  Please see below:

Any courses that consist of some interaction using communications technology and some weeks of standard class sessions, but that do not meet the requirements to be classified as in- residence training, are considered independent study. (page 53 of the SCO Handbook)

A course which requires regularly scheduled, standard class sessions at least once every two weeks and which has a total number of class sessions equal to the number of credit hours awarded for the course, times the number of weeks in a standard quarter or semester, as applicable;

I would also like to provide you the link to the School Certifying Official (SCO) Handbook.  Please see below:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/job_aids/SCO_Handbook.pdf

I do not know the student whom you are referring to at USMH.  Nor do I know if he or she is an SU student.  You are entitled to a second opinion; therefore I would also like to refer you to the “Submit a Question” section on the GI Bill webpage.  Please see below:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/

I hope these resources will assist you.

So the last link isn’t relevant since are not not on the GI Bill which has been explained several time. And we are still trying to figure out what he means with the bit about independent study.

 

So basically it all comes down to the school classifying courses on a campus, in a traditional classroom, with an instructor, regularly scheduled once per week as distance learning. This has probably been one of the most frustrating experiences in my life and is a warning to veterans to ask what specifically they will receive and ensure they understand everything to do with the various course types. No matter what anyone tells you, do the research.

Not veteran friendly

Next issue. I am filing an Unemployability Claim with VA. After speaking with a lawyer and my case worker it seems to be the best course forward. On Wednesdays this fall I had four hours of class, two classes back-to0-back. Normally not big deal. It becomes obvious to me that my back was going to make it an agonizing experience. I left early at least six times because of it and spoke with my teacher each time, so she was aware of why I was leaving early. I asked my teacher and my advisor to write a letter  supporting my claim, even if it only included information that I myself was providing. According to my lawyer the more witnesses the better. After several days I received this email:

Heidi Moore <HLMOORE@salisbury.edu>

 Dec 11, 2015, 1:40 PM

to:

• Edmund Dunn <edmund.dunn@gmail.com>

cc:

• Melissa Doyle <MSDOYLE@salisbury.edu>

Good afternoon Edmund,

I appreciate your reaching out to Melissa and me, but we will not be able to write a letter supporting your legal claim with the VA. This was reviewed with the Social Work Department, and we do not have any concrete, objective information (i.e. attendance) that will provide additional backing, to the information that you have already provided to your lawyers at the Legal Aid Bureau.

I wish you well, as you move forward with your academic and professional career.

Thank you,

Heidi Moore, LCSW-C
USM-Hagerstown Site Coordinator
Salisbury University
Department of Social Work
240-527-2751
hlmoore@salisbury.edu

Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.

                      Albert Einstein

I feel like I just got frostbite! This is from the Social Work Department! Normally they are much more supportive. I think they have been told “hands off” when it comes to me and Angela. Our teacher did mention at one point that everything with VA was being handled “at a much higher level.” After seeing this I am really wondering what is wrong with Salisbury University!