Student veterans who may be affected by VA procedure change regarding overpayments

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA) has recently changed a procedure that will unfortunately have an adverse effect on some of our veteran students. This effect of this change in procedure essentially means that overpayments/debt which were administered by the VA and previously collected by the VA, are now, effective December 2012, to be collected by the colleges and universities the students were or are attending. This includes, but is not exclusive to Florida State College at Jacksonville. The College has implemented a system to help these students understand what steps they need to take to determine what debt, if any, they have; and steps to help them continue their education with the least possible inconvenience.

These debts that were owed to the VA were transferred to the College by the federal government. They did this by withholding payments to the College for grants, contracts and other students. Because these debts are being transferred to the College, we are required by state law to seek repayment. For many of these students, the debts have already been posted to their student accounts. When students have a debt, the College posts a financial hold on their records and they are unable to register, receive transcripts, or graduate. Some students are becoming aware of the issue as they attempt to register for Spring B and C session courses.

Over the next few days, the College will call currently enrolled students who are affected. Communications to other affected students, not currently enrolled, will occur next.

We are sorry for the inconvenience this places on our students, and for the additional burden it places on Welcome Center personnel during this busy period of enrollment. The college has set up an advocacy hotline through the District Welcome Center to help these students understand how to best communicate with the VA on this issue. That number is 904-361-6369. The Welcome Center personnel have been trained to assist these students who choose to come to their campus for assistance. We appreciate their, and your patience.

To clarify, the overpayments and debts referred to were administered by the VA. They are unrelated to the Pell grants and federal loans issues discovered in an audit in 2012.