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 Academic Services office. Academic Services 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 College 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 college’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 college’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representative by email at veterans@rc.edu when a class is added, class sections are changed, classes are dropped or withdrawn, or the veteran registers for a subsequent semester.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 Alert may not be recertified until their cumulative GPA meets the minimum standards identified in the Financial Aid Alert requirements. Rochester College informs the Veterans Administration when students are not recertified 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 Academic Services to decide whether withdrawal or applying for “Incomplete” grade evaluations would be more advantageous. If completion of coursework is chosen but becomes impossible or takes longer than two calendar years after the time of activation, reservists will receive withdrawal grades for incomplete course work and tuition vouchers for the number of incomplete credit hours previously paid by the student and government-funded aid. The tuition voucher may be used at Rochester College for the same number of credit hours in any subsequent semester even if tuition rates are higher. 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 the provost.