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  1. Military Scholarships
  2. Military General Information
  3. VA Educational Benefits
  4. Isakson Roe Section 1018

General Information for Military and Veterans

Military and Veteran Support

Harford Community College appreciates and supports all of our military and veteran students and their families. Learn more about our Military and Veterans Resource Center, The Veteran's Club, and classes held on Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Military Training for Credit

Students may use a maximum of 45 semester hours of non-traditional credit, including but not limited to military, CLEP, DANTES, and divisions exams, toward their degree requirements. Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours at Harford to earn an associate degree or at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for a certificate.

In awarding credit, the College follows both the recommendations of the American Council on Education's Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services and individual course reviews through the SOC Degree Network System.

Evaluations will be completed for those who: 

  • Apply to Harford Community College 
  • Declare a program of study
  • Submit official military transcripts

It is College policy to only accept credit that is directly applicable to the student's declared program of study. Students will be notified by mail once the military transcript evaluation is completed. Students should review how accepted credit impacts their declared program of study by meeting with an academic advisor or by scheduling a meeting with the College's Military and Veteran Support office.

How the VA Calculates Enrollment

The Department of Veterans Affairs, not individual colleges, determines conversions for semester special sessions. College personnel do not complete these calculations.

The GI Bill® comparison tool provides valuable information for students and will help students calculate training time.  

VA benefits are paid based on training time. In a standard semester, the VA measures training time as follows: 

  • 12+ credits = full-time 
  • 9-11 credits = ¾-time 
  • 6-8 credits = ½-time 
  • 4-5 credits = less than ½-time (<½-time) 
  • 1-3 credits = ¼-time or less (<¼-time) 

 

Classroom Formats and Attendance Requirements

Students receiving VA educational benefits are required to contact the Military & Veteran Services Office if they drop or withdrawal from a class. If a student is experiencing difficulty in a class they should contact the Military & Veteran Services Office and discus possible alternatives.

Military connected students receiving VA educational benefits must adhere to Harford’s Attendance Policy. Students who violate the Attendance Policy and removed from courses will be reported to the VA Regional office. Violation of the Attendance Policy may result in the loss of VA educational benefits as well as repayment of benefits.

Mitigating Circumstances

If a student drops a course or withdraws after the drop period and receives a non-punitive grade, the Veterans Association will reduce benefits effective the first day of the term unless mitigating circumstances are found. Mitigating circumstances are those beyond the student's control that prevent the student from continuing in school or that cause the student to reduce credits.

Examples:

  • An illness or injury afflicting the student during the enrollment period.
  • An illness or death in the student's immediate family.
  • An unavoidable change in the student's conditions of employment.
  • An unavoidable geographical transfer resulting from the student's employment.
  • Immediate family or financial obligations beyond the control of the claimant that require him or her to suspend pursuit of the program of education to obtain employment.
  • Discontinuance of the course by the school.
  • Unanticipated active military service, including active duty for training.
  • Unanticipated changes in childcare arrangements.

Acceptable mitigating circumstances must be provided in order to pay benefits for the period of attendance prior to the drop date. If they are not provided and accepted, any benefits paid from the beginning date of the term will be considered an overpayment, and a debt may be established.

Salute National Veterans Honor Society

SALUTE is the first national academic honor society established for student veterans, and active military, in 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education. Learn more about Honor Societies at Harford.