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LLCC Military Benefits

Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Affairs Office provides services to LLCC students eligible for federal and state benefits. Application assistance and information are available for veterans benefits, the Illinois Veterans Grant, Illinois National Guard Grant and the MIA/POW scholarship. For more information, visit Veterans Benefits or call 217-786-2758 

 

VA Pending Payment Compliance

Lincoln Land Community College will not take any of the four following actions toward any student using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while their payment from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is pending to the educational institution:

  • Prevent their enrollment;
  • Assess a late penalty fee to;
  •  Require they secure alternative or additional funding;
  • Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

G.I. Bill ® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

  • Produce the VA's Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class;
  • Provide written request to be certified
  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies (see our VA School Certifying Official for all requirements). 

 

Veterans Benefits

 

Illinois Veterans Grant

The Illinois Veterans Grant pays in-state tuition and eligible fees for a period equivalent to four calendar years at any state-funded institution. Eligibility is based on Illinois residency before and after military service rather than on financial need or academic achievement. Illinois veterans who served honorably in the Armed Forces may qualify. Applications are available on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission website at the Illinois Student Assistant Commission (ISAC).

 

Illinois National Guard Grant

Members of the Illinois National Guard who have served at least one year and who are currently in the Guard may apply for a grant for in-state tuition and eligible fees for eight semesters of full- or part-time study. If applicants cease to be members of the Illinois National Guard, the educational benefits are terminated as of the Guard termination date. Applications are available at the Illinois Student Assistant Commission (ISAC). 

 

MIA/POW Scholarship

The scholarship pays in-state tuition and eligible fees for spouses or children of veterans declared by the Veterans Administration to be a prisoner of war or missing in action, or who died as a result of a service-connected disability or have a permanent 100 percent service-connected disability. Children must begin using the scholarship prior to their 26th birthday.

 

Definition of Satisfactory Progress

Students receiving the Veterans benefits, Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG), Illinois National Guard Grant (ING) and the MIA-POW Scholarship must make satisfactory academic progress each semester. Satisfactory progress is determined by the following cumulative grade point average (GPA) standard that follows.

 

Cumulative GPA Standard

Students must maintain the specified cumulative grade point average (GPA):

5-11 hours attempted: minimum GPA of 1.50

12-22 hours attempted: minimum GPA of 1.70

23-33 hours attempted: minimum GPA of 1.85

34 or more hours attempted: minimum GPA of 2.00

The college's official grade point average is used to determine student status and does not include developmental coursework. Developmental hours are only considered under Reinstatement of Eligible after Suspension (see below). 

 

Repeating a Course for VA Benefits

Veterans benefits will not pay benefits to students repeating courses in which the original grade was a D or better unless a grade of C or better is required for advancement to the next level or for graduation.

 

Warning

Students who do not make satisfactory progress are placed on military benefits warning for the next semester of enrollment. WARNING is a notice to a student that he/she has failed to meet the GPA standard and risks losing assistance in the future unless the GPA standard is met.

During a warning term, students may continue to receive benefits, provided other eligibility requirements are met. Students who fail to meet the cumulative GPA standard while on warning, but receive at least a 2.0 term GPA, will be placed on Continued Warning. If the student fails to meet term GPA at the end of a warning term, his/her military assistance will be suspended.

 

Reinstatement of Eligibility after Suspension

A student has two ways to reinstate eligibility for military benefits after suspension:

  1. Increase his or her cumulative GPA to meet the cumulative standard.
  2. A student whos performance was affected by unusual circumstances may appeal (see below). 

 

Military Benefits Appeals Procedure

A student may appeal his/her military benefits suspension (cumulative GPA requirement), if he/she feels his/her progress was affected by unusual circumstances. Appeals must be in
writing to the LLCC Office of Veteran Affairs. Documentation of the unusual circumstances must accompany your appeal. You must also demonstrate that your unusual circumstance(s) have been remedied. Contact the VA Office regarding appeal forms and deadlines.