Veterans receiving Veteran Administration funding for any portion of their program are responsible to directly notify the campus certifying official or military benefits officer of any change of status in their program to include:

• Transferring credits to program from another institution

• Testing out of a class

• Receipt of a failing grade for an entire class

• Modifications to the original program sequence as outlined in the catalog

• Change of program

• Switching from an accelerated program track to an extended track or vice versa

• Exiting the program

Students are expected to contact the military benefits officer by visiting in person, speaking with them over the telephone, or emailing: mailto:admissions@motionpicture.edu?subject=Re: VA Benefits Request. Failure to communicate program changes may cause overpayment or underpayment of tuition and/or fees, which may result in debt collection practices from the VA’s Debt Management agency or BAH withholding. VA instructs institutions to cut refund checks to students who are issued overpayments for these reasons only, in accordance with the school’s refund policy. All other monies will be returned to the issuing agency.

The School complies with The Department of Veteran Affairs standards, which defers to institutional refund policy (outlined in the Refund Policies section). Military education benefits received for students who cancel their enrollment prior to matriculation will be sent directly back to the issuing agency.

In situations in which a class is not satisfactorily completed, VA reserves the right to debit the student for some or all of the costs associated with the class, including tuition, fees, book/supplies, yellow ribbon, and Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). In certain situations, VA will pay for multiple attempts at classes, as long as student is still maintaining satisfactory progress through VAs’ Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Students who neglect to inform the military benefits officer of a change of status in program may find their BAH has been withheld from the VA. In order to assist students in this situation, we highly suggest students immediately share any paper correspondence with the campus certifying official/military benefits officer.

Veterans wishing to appeal a loss of certification (loss of benefits) must file an appeal with the Student Services Office within 15 business days of notification of loss of certification. The appeal will be considered in a non-arbitrary manner for mitigating or extenuating circumstances. The burden to document the appeal in a reasonable timeframe is on the Veteran.

The appeal will be adjudicated by a panel composed of 1) the Director of Education or his/her designee, 2) The school President or his/her designee, and 3) the Director of Enrollment or his/her designee. The decision of the Appeals Panel is final.

The VA maintains specific criteria that supersede institutional policy for Satisfactory Academic Progress. A veteran shall be subject to the loss of certification and the cessation of future funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs if the veteran’s cumulative academic work falls into one of the following categories:

• The student has been academically dismissed.

• The student has had more than 50% of units attempted with an “F,” or “Incomplete,” for three consecutive classes.

• The student has been on academic probation (below a 2.00 term GPA) for three consecutive classes.

Students who are in the (a) or (b) categories will be subject to dismissal as well as loss of certification. Students who are in the (c) category will lose certification and eligibility for the continuation of VA education benefits but will not be subject to dismissal (as long as the cumulative GPA remains at or above 2.0). Students may be dismissed for failure to maintain a 2.0 GPA if they are unable to raise the GPA up to 2.0 after a three-month probation period. Students who are placed on academic or progress probation are required to obtain counseling through student services.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will not pay tuition for repeating courses if the failing grade is attributed to failure to meet class attendance requirements. If the campus certifying official is not informed of a break in attendance, the first day eligible for a “W” will be used as the reporting date to the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA does not pay BAH during school breaks. VETERANS’ TRAINING INFORMATION

Motion Picture Institute is approved by the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth State Approving Agency (SAA) for Veterans’ Training.

MPI authorizes any VA covered individual to attend or participate in the program courses during the period beginning on the date the covered individual provides to Motion Picture Institute a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 (a “Certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the facility.

2. 90 days after the date Motion Picture Institute certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Motion Picture Institute will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees; the denial of access to classes, libraries or other institutional facilities; or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

The school may grant more than one interruption of training (IOT) in the event that unforeseen circumstances arise, such as military service requirements, provided that any combined leaves of absence do not exceed 90 days within a 12-month period. However, students who are issued military orders should communicate their obligation and activation dates as soon as possible to both the Student Services and Military Services Departments. The period of the leave may not begin until the student has acknowledged the following:

• An IOT may not exceed 90 days within any 12-month period and the school has approved a written and signed request.

• A military-service related interruption of training (IOT) request that extends beyond 90 days must be accompanied with orders and the re-instatement to active student status.

• All school equipment loaned out to the student taking leave will need to be returned to the Equipment Room (ER) before the IOT is granted.

• Re-entry into the program of study requires that students check back into school through the Student Services Department to co-ordinate scheduling and be directed to the appropriate departments to include the Military Services Department to re-instate \ program funding.

Upon submitting travel vouchers within the 90-day time frame and one month within the date on the approved travel voucher, military students will not be required to pay re-take fees for classes dropped due to the call to service using grants, VA monies, or cash. Further, military students will not be charged tuition for classes not yet taken. Official orders are required for consideration for an extended IOT beyond 90 days. Failure to return to school within the 90-day timeframe that are a result of extended military service leave will require approved military travel orders with no longer than one month between the military approval date and the re-instatement date. Every consideration to use existing credits will be exercised, however, extended absences may result in retakes or new classes that are part of a revised curriculum and will subject students to review by the Director of Education.