Augusta Technical College is pleased to participate in a Voluntary Education Partnership with the United States Department of Defense (DoD). As part of this partnership, the college has an active Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DoD. This MOU allows military-connected students to know that Augusta Technical College is an excellent choice for them to pursue higher education. Specifically, in the MOU, Augusta Technical College commits to the following practices:

 

Recruiting, Marketing, and Advertising 

All service members (active-duty, reservists, and Georgia National Guard members) using military Tuition Assistance are directed to speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service before enrolling. Augusta Technical College follows Department of Education regulations and complies with C.F.R. 668.71-668.75 and 668.14. 

The Augusta Technical College Office of Admissions staff follows the principles of ethics set forth by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). 

Augusta Technical College and its staff members will not: 

Provide any bonus, commission, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance. 

Engage in high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, video conference, or in person, or engaging in same-day recruitment and registration to secure Service member enrollments. 

Academic Counseling and Post-Graduation Job Opportunities 

Augusta Technical College has a Military Service Center (MSC) staffed to support Veterans and Service Members seeking information on the Tuition Assistance (TA) program, Title IV funding, and VA educational benefits. They are familiar with institutional services for Service Members who are seeking information about academic counseling, financial aid counseling, and job search support. They can also provide information about other services regarding campus and community resources. 

The staff in the MSC can assist with the following: 

• Assist in the transition process of veterans, military, and family members to an academic setting. 
• Connect students with appropriate departments and resources. 
• Assist in the overall development and enhancement of college military/veteran-friendly policies and procedures for veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors. 
• Assist prospective and current students in the application, registration, and enrollment process for admission and progression toward degrees. 

Return Policy for Tuition Assistance (TA) Funds 

Augusta Technical College’s TA return policy aligns with the Department of Education rules for unearned aid. A refund of 100% will be given until the end of the drop/add period for each semester. Students who formally withdraw or who are formally withdrawn from all classes will be subject to the refund policy for tuition and other fees. This policy decreases the amount of refund available at regular intervals during the term. Students must withdraw from all classes to be eligible for a refund. After a certain percentage of the term, 60%, no refund will be available. 

 

ALL students should complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which opens on October 1st every year for the next academic year. This information helps Augusta Tech award you grants (money you don’t have to pay back!) that you may not know you are eligible for from the federal government.   

 

We also encourage students to utilize the Award Springs Scholarship Management Platform to apply for Augusta Tech Specific Scholarships. 

Additionally, if you scroll down our page, you will find a list of scholarships explicitly for veterans, service members, military spouses, and military children from organizations that love to support military-connected students!

Yes! We STRONGLY recommend that you do.

Yes, however, scholarships that are solely for tuition and fees will be subtracted from Chapter 31 and 33 tuition and fee payments. 

Make sure you complete a Schedule Change Form and select Military Orders as your Reason for Withdrawal.

Augusta Technical College only certifies enrollment for outside such as CHAMPVA through National Student Clearinghouse. Instructions on how to retrieve your enrollment certification request can be found on the Student Records website. 

Since our office is NOT the federal VA, we do not have the answers to some of your questions and must refer you to the federal VA. The contact information for the VA is always right underneath MSC contact information on our website!

The VA offers an online comparison tool of all benefits that can be used at the College. You can see what your MHA and/or stipend will be using the tool. Periodically, the government will update the amount of monthly payment for cost of living. You can check current rates for your chapter benefit on the VA Benefit Rates website. 

Monthly payments begin the month after school starts, if certification was requested in a timely manner. Students are encouraged to submit the Certification Request for the semester for which they wish to be certified as soon as they are registered for classes. Certification can happen up to 90 days before the first day of class. After students receive their initial payment, the VA will distribute their MHA and/or stipends each month for the prior month.

Students who are certified late in the semester may experience a delay in their benefits. Generally, you will be paid from the 1^st to the 5^th of the NEXT month after you are certified. However, the closer you certify to the end of the month, the more likely it will take the VA until the 2^nd month to pay you. For example, you were certified on August 25^th, generally you will not get paid until October 1^st or after.

Chapter 33 students may receive a book stipend earlier than MHA. Chapter 31 students will have their book and supply amounts sent directly to the Augusta Tech Campus Store.

For VA questions concerning MHA (Monthly Housing Allowance) or stipends, you can use the new Ask VA tool online or call the VA Educational Benefits helpline at (888) 442-4551. This is especially important if you need documentation about the amount of your MHA or stipend!  

All stipends and Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments are sent directly to the bank account or address on file with the VA. You can always call the VA to discover where the payments are going.  For VA questions concerning MHA (Monthly Housing Allowance) or stipends, you can use the new Ask VA tool online or call the VA Educational Benefits helpline at (888) 442-4551. 

The VA will not cover the late fee, application fee (Chapter 31 exception),  or graduation fee (Chapter 31 exception).

All Chapter 31 and 33 students can avoid the late fee by registering for courses and completing the Enrollment Certification Request BEFORE the add/drop date each semester.

For Chapter 33 - 100% students, tuition and mandatory fees are covered once your Enrollment Certification Request has been processed. For Chapter 33  students that are not 100%, you will need to pay the remaining balance that should be available on your account approximately 1 to 2 weeks after your Enrollment Certification Request has been processed.

For Chapter 31 students,  tuition and mandatory fees are covered for every semester that is approved by your VA VR&E counselor via a PO Authorization.

For those using Tuition Assistance (TA), your balance should update after you have submitted your authorization to stu.accounts@mpeaffiliate.com and military@mpeaffiliate.com.

For Chapter 30, 35, and 1606 students, you are responsible for ensuring that your debt to the College is paid.

***We strongly recommend ALL students complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which opens on October 1^st every year for the next academic year. We also encourage students to utilize the Award Springs Scholarship Management Platform to apply for Augusta Tech Specific Scholarships.

Additionally, if you scroll down our page, you will find a list of scholarships explicitly for veterans, service members, military spouses, and military children from organizations that love to support military-connected students!

Visit the Payment Options Website for information on how to pay online, in-person, or how to set up payment plan via Nelnet. 

You must update your direct deposit with the federal VA. You can do so online or by calling (800) 827-1000.

You must update your name or date of birth with the federal VA.  Information on changing your name is on the VA name change website or you may call (800) 827-1000.

Things to consider before dropping:

 

Additional information on dropping classes, mitigating circumstances, and the 6-credit-hour exclusion.

After speaking with your advisor and officially dropping the class through Bannerweb, no additional action is needed for a regular drop request. The Military Service Center will automatically verify any change in credit hours within 1 week of the drop occurring.

If you are requesting to use the 6-credit-hour credit exclusion, mitigating circumstances option available through the VA, please complete the Mitigating Circumstances Notification.

• For full benefits, you must stay a full-time student. This means taking at least 12 credit hours during the regular semester.
• If you drop below full-time status, your benefits will change, and you may owe the VA money from the last date you attended class.
• If you drop below 7 credit hours, all stipends may stop, and you may owe the VA money.