GSAD-506 - Credit Loads for Graduate Students Utilizing Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits

Academic Goal

To ensure that graduate students meet the requirements for and take full advantage of Department of Veterans Affairs educational benefits.

Purpose

To define the number of credit hours considered full-time for non-standard terms for those graduate students using Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits.

Scope

All graduate students using Department of Veteran Affairs education benefits.

Background

: Per the Department of Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official Training Manual, Revision 5.6.4, published September 27, 2019:

Certifying Credit - Graduate

“In addition to certifying the number of credit hours the student takes which apply to his or her program, also report the number of credit hours considered full-time for either the standard semester/quarter, or for the non-standard semester/quarter if individually defined, by your academic regulations, as explained below. The minimum number of credit hours required to be considered full-time for a semester, quarter, or any individually defined time period, as published in your catalog, is referred to as the full-time modifier.” (p. 55)

Policy Statement

For those graduate students utilizing Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits, full-time status for non-standard terms is defined as follows:

Full-time for < 1 week term = 1 credit

Full-time for 1-2 week term = 2 credits

Full-time for 3-4 week term = 3 credits

Full-time for 5-7 week term = 4 credits

Full-time for 8-9 week term = 5 credits

Full-time for 10-11 week term = 6 credits

Full-time for 12+ week term = 9 credits

Process

Students using Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits for their graduate programs should contact the Office of Veterans Programs directly at ovp@psu.edu, or via phone at 814-863-0465 for information on application and use of benefits.

Further Information

Please contact the Office of Veterans Programs (ovp@psu.edu) or at 814-863-0465.

Revision History

Approved: November 26, 2019

Approved November 11, 2019, Brian Clark, Director of the Office of Veterans Programs
Approved, November 26, 2019, Regina Vasilatos-Younken, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

Legal Statements