CJ1

Law, Policy, & Governance

Current Tasks and Initiatives

Presenter Name
Location
Date

By: Justin Caverio

Slide 1

CJ1 Caverio, Justin, 11/2/2019

 Law, Policy, and Governance
Current Tasks & Initiatives:

I. Law & Policy Interpretation

- Interpreted new policy/ law impacting Veterans Affairs benefits
- Simplified the meaning of policy/ law
- Explained it and determined the effect on students
- Ensured new required verbiage entered into 2019-2020 Catalog

II. Ensure Website is Updated with Current Data for VA

Compliance
- Spoke with Department of Education and VA for clarification
- Searched old terms and obsolete terms in catalog
- Compiled a list of URLs requiring changes/ updates and submitted to
Communications department for action
- Followed-up with Department of Education and VA to ensure changes
resulted in full compliance

III. Complete VA Compliance Survey to Ensure Bristol CC

Maintains Military Friendly School Status
- Deadline for 2020-2021 school year is November 22, 2019
 I. Law & Policy Interpretation
Bristol CC given 60 days to add policy language to 2019-20 catalog:

-Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Office of Veteran Education serves

as the State Approving Agency (SAA) on behalf of the Department of Veterans
Affairs for the State of Massachusetts.

-Bristol Community College was sent a letter regarding changes currently being
implemented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Massachusetts
Department of Higher Education to meet new requirements associated with
the Harry W. Colmery Act of 2017 concerning academic catalog submissions.

-Veterans Center Staff is tasked with taking the public law referenced below and
determining the meaning and the effect it would have on our current catalog
and policies. After the meaning is determined Veterans Center Staff is tasked
with implementing the necessary changes to the school catalog.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2248/text#toc-
H909A7C475E9446BEB272E7FF1816393E
 I. Law & Policy Interpretation
Step 1: Examine the Policy
An individual who provides proof of eligibility for Veterans Educational
Benefits under Chapters 31 or 33 is eligible to begin courses at any time after
the effective date. The student will remain eligible until the college is paid for
the course or 90 days after the VA Certifying Official certifies tuition and fees.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, beginning on August 1,

2019, a State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the
State approving agency, shall disapprove a course of education provided by an
educational institution that has in effect a policy that is inconsistent with any of
the following:
“(A) A policy that permits any covered individual to attend or participate in
the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the
individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for
entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of this title and
ending on the earlier of the following dates:
“(i) The date on which the Secretary provides payment for such course of
education to such institution.
“(ii) The date that is 90 days after the date on which the educational
institution certifies for tuition and fees following receipt from the student such
certificate of eligibility.
 I. Law & Policy Interpretation
Step 2: Print law and highlight relevant information
 I. Law & Policy Interpretation
Step 3: Rewrite simplified version of law
 I. Law & Policy Interpretation
Step 4: Ensure simplified version, that students & faculty can
understand, is added to 2019-2020 Catalog

Result: In compliance!
 II. Ensure website is updated
Step 1: Ensure online catalog pages and all webpages requiring
updates and changes, are identified
 II. Ensure website is updated
Step 2: List all URLs requiring update- send detailed list, with
corrections needed, to Communications dept for web update
http://www.bristolcc.edu/studentservices/resources/veteranscenter/
GI Bill (in bold at bottom of page)
Needs trademark symbol
Please change Military Friendly ’18 Award Logo to ’19-20 Military Friendly Award Logo (confirmed authorization at 2:00pm, Oct 28 2019)
http://www.bristolcc.edu/studentservices/resources/veteranscenter/veteranseducationalbenefitcertificationforms/
GI Bill (in bold at bottom of page)
Needs trademark symbol
Link: http://www.bristolcc.edu/media/bcc-website/students/veteransservices/forms/BCC,VA,Certification,Form,fall,2019.pdf
Update Form: Summer/Fall 2019 form, should be replaced with Spring 2020 form (attached)
http://www.bristolcc.edu/studentservices/resources/veteranscenter/helpfulresources/
GI Bill (in bold at bottom of page)
Needs trademark symbol
http://www.bristolcc.edu/studentservices/resources/veteranscenter/veteranseducationalbenefits/
GI Bill (in bold at bottom of page)
Needs trademark symbol
Remove Entire Section: “Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)” as VRAP program is no longer in use.
Change “DEAP (Chapter 35)” to read: “DEA (Chapter 35)”
On next line under above title, change “(DEAP)” to “(DEA)”
http://www.bristolcc.edu/studentservices/resources/veteranscenter/bristolmilitaryfriendlyachievements/
GI Bill (in bold at bottom of page)
Needs trademark symbol
http://www.bristolcc.edu/about/thebristolcommunitycollegefoundation/bristolawards/rogerstmartin/
In the first paragraph “In 1986, Roger used his G.I. Bill…” GI Bill needs trademark symbol
Add to bottom of page: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education
benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website by clicking here.
http://www.bristolcc.edu/bristolcommunity/alumni/alumnispotlight/alansilvia/
In the fifth paragraph “The GI bill funded his college degree…” GI Bill needs trademark symbol
Add to bottom of page: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education
benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website by clicking here.
http://www.bristolcc.edu/bristolcommunity/alumni/alumnispotlight/cliffordclement/
In the ninth paragraph “The GI Bill only went so far…” GI Bill needs trademark symbol
Add to bottom of page: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education
benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website by clicking here.
 III. Military Friendly School Survey
Step 1: Review data submitted for past surveys

Step 2: Submit data for current year to Dept of Education/ VA

-Currently being worked by Veterans Center Staff & School Compliance
Officer. Compliance and maintaining Military Friendly status is critical:

• Veteran students are drawn to schools holding Military Friendly

credentials.

• With lower student Veteran population our school becomes less

diverse, loses revenue, and is deprived of the insight, dedication,
scholastic discipline, and unique perspectives that student Veterans
contribute to our academic community.