Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 16, March 25, 2024
A.
Definitions. The following words and terms shall have the following meanings in
this section unless context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Distance learning program" means a program of study with
degree completion requirements that are unique to students intending to receive
instruction primarily or solely through distance learning. Distance learning
programs occasionally require an on-campus or other in-person course. If an
institution does not differentiate between the two modes of degree
requirements, "distance learning program" refers to any term in which the
student is enrolled entirely in distance learning courses.
"Distance learning student" means any student placed into a
distance learning program. Students enrolling into a course that is required by
their distance learning program of study to be on-campus or in-person are still
considered a distance learning student.
"Enrolled exclusively" means the student's participation in a
distance learning program by declaring the intent to complete a degree through
this mode of delivery. A place-based student taking online courses as a
supplement to their education is not "enrolled exclusively" in a distance
learning or online education program.
"Online education" or "distance learning" means an option for
earning course credit at off-campus locations via cable television, Internet,
(telecommunication) satellite classes, videotapes, correspondence courses, or
other means. "Online education" or "distance learning" includes online
education and does not include instruction that is covered under the definition
of "place-based instruction".
"Place-based instruction" means instruction that the
institution has determined to be delivered at a specific physical location
under the control of the institution. "Place-based instruction" includes
instruction that takes place in a standard in-class setting though remote
participation may be available and on-campus residential learning, satellite
locations specified by the institution, internships, and residencies.
"Place-based student" means a student pursuing a degree
predominantly by place-based instruction. "Place-based student" includes
students whose course selections in a given term include, though not
exclusively, distance learning courses.
"VTAG-eligible" means a student who is eligible to receive a
VTAG award as long as all VTAG criteria are met, subject to VTAG application
deadlines and available funding.
B. Exempt distance learning students.
1. Exempt distance learning students are
returning students who were enrolled as a distance learning student in
2019-2020 at a VTAG-eligible institution. These students are exempt from the
requirement that VTAG awards for distance program be limited to up to
$2,000.
2. Exempt students may
receive a VTAG award of up to the 2019-2020 award amounts as long as the
student is VTAG-eligible.
a. Exempt
undergraduate students may receive a VTAG award at the 2019-2020 maximum annual
award amount for undergraduate students, which was $3,400, split into $1,700
awards each for fall and spring terms.
b. Exempt graduate students may receive a
VTAG award at the 2019-2020 maximum annual award amount for graduate students,
which was $1,700, split into $850 awards each for fall and spring
terms.
c. If funding levels are
insufficient to provide full awards for all priority VTAG-eligible students,
these award levels may be reduced at the same rate of reduction used for all
other priority VTAG awards for the same term.
3. Exempt distance learning students remain
eligible for the 2019-2020 award levels under the following conditions:
a. The student maintains enrollment in each
successive fiscal year, unless granted an exception for cause by SCHEV.
(1) To maintains enrollment, the student must
enroll into at least one course in any term per fiscal year
(fall/winter/spring, if applicable) at a VTAG-eligible institution, whether as
a continuing student or as a transfer student.
(a) Students maintaining enrollment retain
current and future eligibility at the 2019-2020 award levels as long as the
student is VTAG-eligible.
(b)
Non-enrollment in a summer term does not disqualify the student.
(2) Students failing to maintain
continuous enrollment due to circumstances beyond their control may appeal to
SCHEV. SCHEV authorizes the institutions to grant exceptions for breaks in
enrollment specifically due to a military-related move or a verified
health-related circumstance.
b. The student is eligible until current
degree completion.
(1) Eligibility at the
2019-2020 award levels continues until completion of the degree level at which
the student was last enrolled in 2019-2020.
(a) If the student's 2019-2020 enrollment
includes multiple degree levels, eligibility tracks with the last degree level
officially recognized in 2019-2020.
(b) Eligibility at the 2019-2020 award levels
is not impacted by a change in major as long as the student remains enrolled
within the same degree level.
(2) Eligibility at the 2019-2020 award levels
does not extend to a subsequent second degree at the same level, even if
continuous enrollment is maintained.
(3) Eligibility at the 2019-2020 award levels
does not extend to an advanced degree, even if continuous enrollment is
maintained.
c. The
student is eligible until current degree program eligibility limits have
otherwise expired.
(1) Students pursuing an
associate degree in 2019-2020 may receive a maximum lifetime total of two years
of VTAG toward an associate degree, regardless of whether the degree program
has been completed after two years.
(2) Students pursuing a baccalaureate degree
in 2019-2020 may receive a maximum lifetime total of four years of VTAG toward
an undergraduate degree (associate and baccalaureate combined), regardless of
whether the degree program has been completed after four years.
(3) Students pursuing a graduate degree in
health professions in 2019-2020 may receive a maximum lifetime total of four
years of VTAG toward a graduate or professional level degree, regardless of
whether the degree program has been completed after four years.
(4) Such usage restrictions are lifetime
cumulative receipt of VTAG regardless of mode of learning or award
differentials.
d.
Students are disqualified from retaining future eligibility at the 2019-2020
award levels once any one or more of the disqualifiers in this section
occurs.
e. Such students enrolled
in 2019-2020 retain eligibility for the 2019-2020 award amounts regardless of
whether VTAG was actually received. As long as the student meets the
requirements in this section, the student does not lose future eligibility at
the 2019-2020 award level if VTAG is removed:
(1) Due to less than full-time enrollment;
or
(2) To avoid a financial aid
over award.
4.
Exempt distance learning students transitioning to a place-based or residential
degree program.
a. Nothing in the restriction
prohibits such student from receiving VTAG at the prevailing rate for
place-based students upon transitioning to place-based instruction.
b. Exempt students moving from distance
learning to place-based instruction and then back to distance learning retain
eligibility at the 2019-2020 award rate as long as the eligibility requirements
listed in this section continue to be met.
5. Exempt distance learning students failing
to meet the eligibility criteria listed in this section.
a. If moving to place-based instruction are
eligible at the prevailing place-based award amount.
b. If remain enrolled in distance learning
are eligible at the reduced distance learning award amount.
C. Distance learning
nonexempt students.
1. New students enrolled
into a distance-learning program of study are eligible for VTAG at the reduced
distance learning award amount as long as the student is
VTAG-eligible.
2. Distance learning
nonexempt student status includes:
a. Students
who were previously place-based who subsequently enroll into a distance
learning program of study but were not in a distance learning program in
2019-2020.
b. Place-based students
whose enrollment within a single term consists entirely of distance learning
courses. Exceptions may be applicable if the institution differentiates between
a place-based (residential) degree program and a distance learning program and
the student is charged the place-based tuition rate.
c. Former distance learning students who were
not enrolled in 2019-2020 into a VTAG participating institution who then return
to distance learning instruction.
d. All new incoming students enrolled into a
distance learning program. A new incoming student enrolled exclusively in an
online education or distance learning program is any student who was not
enrolled as a distance learning student into a VTAG-eligible institution in the
2019-2020 academic year, which includes (i) incoming first-year students
beginning as of fall 2020, (ii) students previously enrolled at the
institution, and (iii) transfer students who were not enrolled at a
VTAG-eligible institution in 2019-2020 in a distance learning program,
regardless of class level.
e. All
distance learning students will fall under either exempt or nonexempt
categories of distance learning students.
D. Place-based students.
1. Place-based students are eligible for VTAG
at the prevailing award amount as long as the student is
VTAG-eligible.
2. Being
VTAG-eligible includes:
a. Place-based
students partially enrolled into distance learning courses. Partial enrollment
into distance learning courses does not disqualify the student and these
courses may count toward the full-time enrollment requirement.
b. Former distance learning students who
subsequently enroll into place-based instruction.
c. Place-based students whose enrollment
within a single term consists entirely of distance learning courses are
eligible at the reduced distance learning award amount. Exceptions may be made
for special circumstances, including medical, if the student continues to be
enrolled into a place-based program and charged at the place-based tuition
rates.
E.
Special rules during a declared pandemic:
1.
The special rules in this subsection are effective for any term in which the
institution opts to provide only distance learning education for fall 2020 or
thereafter as long as a pandemic is declared.
2. New students and returning students
enrolled into place-based instruction retain VTAG eligibility at the prevailing
award amount if the student is enrolled entirely in distance learning courses
as required by the institution due to ongoing COVID-19 related concerns or for
validated individual student COVID-19 health concerns. Eligibility shall
continue for such students provided that the student returns to place-based
instruction as soon as it is available.
3. New incoming students enrolled into a
distance learning program shall be eligible for the reduced distance learning
award amount regardless of whether distance learning is the only option
available due to on-going COVID-19 related concerns.
Statutory Authority: § 23.1-629 of the Code of
Virginia.
