HCC Ybor Campus HCC SouthShore Campus HCC Plant City Campus HCC District Administrative Offices HCC Dale Mabry Campus HCC Brandon Campus
HCC Home > Veterans Services > Helpful Hints for 1st Time Benefit Users
 Helpful Hints for 1st Time Benefit Users
 
  • Processing time for first time applications is 90-100 days. The VA Representative will begin certification as soon as the drop/add period is over.  This certification process can take up to 30 days.  After the certification is sent to the VA it generally takes 6 to 8 weeks.
  • If you plan to take a course that does not meet your requirements for degree completion at HCC, but does meet requirements for admission/degree completion at the bachelorette level, the VA will not pay for the course. If it does not apply toward your HCC degree, we cannot certify it.  There is one exception: If the term you're taking the course is your graduation term and you are also taking a requirement for your degree, we can certify the course.  This can only be done once, however, if you fail the required course, we will not certify additional courses the following term.  
  • If you still need assistance after receiving your VA benefits you can see an academic advisor or counselor about a DreamKeepers emergency scholarship.
  • All students utilizing VA educational benefits must maintain certain standards of progress as detailed in the HCC catalog.  VA regulations allow students to attend school under a probationary status for two consecutive terms while they continue to receive benefits.  However, benefits will be terminated following the second consecutive term of attendance under probationary status if the student’s cumulative GPA does not meet the college’s published standards of progress.
  • Veteran students must be degree seeking.  The student must either be seeking an AA Degree or an AS/AAS Degree.  If seeking an AS/AAS Degree, which has an option, the specific option must be indicated.  Students cannot be certified for Certificate Programs.
  • Benefits will be paid only for courses which apply toward the declared educational program.
  • Be sure to submit all official transcripts within 30 days from your first term.  If the student has attended more than one college, transcripts from each college or university must be submitted.  
  • Benefits are not earned for courses in which a non-punitive grade is received, such as “FX”, "W", “WN”, “N” and "U".
  • An "I” (Incomplete grade) which has not been removed by the end of the eighth week of the following term after the grade has been given (excluding Summer Sessions) will be changed to an "F" grade on student’s permanent record.  The VA will recover benefits paid for such courses unless the student submits mitigating circumstances acceptable to them.
  • Veteran students must comply with attendance requirements established by each instructor.
  • Check your college calendar and make a note of the drop date and the last day to withdraw.
  • Veteran students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
  •  Auditing courses will not be certified for benefits.
  •  CLEP or Credit by Exam will not be certified.
  • When talking with an Advisor or Counselor, be sure to mention that VA benefits will be used. As a degree-seeking student, HCC can only certify the student for classes that apply toward the chosen degree.  Course(s) outside the curriculum will not be certified.  Refer to your Academic Advising Guide to identify the correct classes for registration.
  • Veteran students will be notified when issues are found during the certification period.
  • If student has missed a year and plans to return, they must notify the VA representative in the Admissions office to update the information by completing a 22-1995 & 22-5495(change of place of program).