|
School Certifying Officials,
As you may recall, as of October 1, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is rescinding and resetting all 35% Exemptions to standard 85/15 Rule reporting requirements. This means your Education and Training Institution (ETI) will be required to submit 85/15 Rule calculations either:
- No later than October 30, 2021 for institutions that don’t operate on a term, quarter, or semester basis, covering the previous quarter (July 1, 2021 – September 30, 2021).
- No later than 30 days after the beginning of each regular school term (excluding summer sessions), as published in the academic calendar for institutions that operate on a term basis, covering the current term.
Institutions that meet the necessary exemption criteria may reapply for the 35% Exemption with their 85/15 calculation submission. A completed Statement of Assurance of Compliance with 85 Percent Enrollment Ratios for the corresponding reporting period must accompany any application. VA will provide a response within 90 days. Going forward, all 35% Exemptions will expire after 24 months and must be renewed with a new application at that time.
We understand these reporting requirements may require an adjustment to your procedures. To help you prepare, refresher training on 85/15 Rule reporting will be provided as a part of the September 2021 SCO Office Hours, which are scheduled for September 21 – 23.
Report Preparation Reminders:
- Approved campuses that have both administrative capability and a Facility Code must complete 85/15 calculations separate of the main campus. This will not affect all campus sites.
- Students will be individually counted based on full-time equivalency at the site.
- Students enrolled in multiple majors must be counted for each major in which they are enrolled.
- Separate 85/15 computations are also required when there is any difference in the educational/vocational objective, length, cost, or equipment of a program based on the concentration, modality, or track.
- Students receiving 3rd party aid from a source not affiliated with the ETI can be counted as a Non-Supported Student. But if a student is receiving multiples types of aid, and any of it would be considered Supported, the student must be counted as a Supported Student.
- Changes in enrollment which happen on or after the first day of term do not require 85/15 calculations to be amended and resubmitted, but changes where students preregistered but never attended do.
- While an institution with a 35% Exemption is not required to submit 85/15 Rule calculations on a regular basis, they are still required to perform those calculations and provide them upon request from VA.
Thank you for your time and attention on this and please reach out to your VA Education Liaison Representative (ELR) if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Education Service
|
