MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Bob White Dave Costello, Dean of Records & Special Services The new interpretation of the "contact hour rule" became effective at National University on July 25, 1977. Notices from the Regional Office of the Veterans Administration were received by undergraduate veteran and active duty students approximately one month later announcing the new payment rates. Since that time a number of events have occurred. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. From the period between August 24 to September 12, 1977, more than two hundred sixty (260) inquiries and complaints were received in the National University Veterans Affairs Office. This figure represents almost half the undergraduate veteran population. Students complained of lack of payment, insufficient payments to meet tuition costs, and confusion about reasons for the change. Because of the non-traditional nature of the class schedule at National University, and the limited capability of the Veterans Administration computer system, a confusing situation has arisen. For example, even though the student is enrolled and attending classes continuously for sixteen months or more, his payments can only be authorized on a course at a time basis. In addition, since the V.A. pays by the calendar month, and university classes often overlap from one month to the next, payments have been received in very odd amounts. It is possible, and occuring, that three (3) checks can be issued in one month. These problems would not occur in the typical traditional university. The checks received by students this month will not be in the same amounts or received at the same time next month. This will arise each month. If a student misses a month's course and is required to reschedule his sequence of classes, the entire week by week certification must be redone by the university and recomputed by the V.A. for payments. Whenever a request for information or a complaint is received, the veteran's individual file must be examined, the certification dates verified, and individual hand computations performed to verify the V.A. payments. The work load and staff requirements have more than doubled. |