Military and Veterans Policies

The Cuesta College policy for beneficiaries using GI Bill® benefits follows the guidelines provided in P.L. 116-315 Isakson and Roe, and the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (VACA).

In accordance with Section 1005 of the Isakson and Roe Act, students receiving benefits will not be charged nonresident fees, and will only be charged tuition and fees at a rate that is equal to or less than the rate charged California state residents.

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.

Cuesta College recognizes prior learning and training completed during military service. Veterans may be eligible to receive academic credit based on their military experience, as documented on official military transcripts (such as JST/CCAF) or other approved records. All prior credits will be reviewed by the appropriate campus department to determine applicability toward the student’s declared program of study. Students are encouraged to submit official documentation as early as possible to ensure timely evaluation and appropriate application of eligible credits. To request credit for prior learning, students must complete the Credit for Prior Learning Assessment Petition available in the Counseling or Admissions & Records Office. Note: Credits acquired by examination are not applicable to meeting unit load requirements for Veterans’ benefits.

Additional credits may be granted as transferable elective credit following the college’s Credit for Prior Learning process. For more information, visit Cuesta's Credit for Prior Learning.  

Credits can be granted as transferable elective credit upon request by contacting a school certifying official. 

An MW mark is assigned when a student who is a member of an active or reserve U.S. military service receives orders compelling them to withdraw from a course. Upon verification of such orders, a MW will be assigned at any time after the drop without a W deadline for a course.

• A MW will not be counted in progress notice (formerly progress probation) and academic and/or progress pause (formerly academic/progress dismissal) calculations.
• A MW will not be counted toward the permitted number of withdrawals or counted as an enrollment attempt.
• In no case shall a MW result in a student being assigned an FW grade.
• A MW will not apply against limits on the number of withdrawals or limits on repeating a class.
• In some cases, at the student's request, the college may issue a refund of enrollment fees for an MW.

For more information, see the policy on grades.

Cuesta College will promptly readmit service members who seek readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation.

A student is eligible for readmission under this policy if, during an absence, the student performs uniformed service, voluntary or involuntary, in the U.S. armed forces, including the National Guard (under federal authority). The cumulative length of all absences for uniformed service (service time only) must not exceed five years.

A student must provide orders or written notice by the commanding officer of a uniformed service obligation, such as temporary duty (TDY), to the Veterans Resource Center or its designee as far in advanced as possible, unless precluded by military necessity. Such notice does not need to indicate when the student will return to the college.

The student must also give oral or written notice of intent to return within three years after the completion of the period of service. Immediately upon the student’s return to school, the student must provide notice that they may be entitled to the tuition and enrollment benefits outlined in this policy.

The student is required to provide official military obligation documentation to the Veterans Resource Center or its designee.

A returning student must be charged the same tuition and fees in effect during the last academic year the student attended unless veterans’ education benefits or other service member education benefits will pay the amount in excess. For subsequent academic years, the returning student may not be charged tuition and fees in excess of what other students in the program are charged.

A returning student will be permitted to enroll in the curriculum in the same academic program unless the student requests a later date of re-enrollment. A returning student will be readmitted into the same academic program the student was enrolled in prior to the military service obligation. Returning students will maintain their catalog rights if their period of absence is at most two years. If the exact program no longer exists, the student must be admitted to the program that is most similar, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to a different program. Returning students will be re-enrolled with the same enrollment status, number of completed credit hours, and academic standing as the last academic year of attendance.

If the college determines that a returning student is not prepared to re-enroll in the same academic program with the same academic status or is unable to complete the program, the school must make reasonable efforts to enable the student to resume or complete the program at no additional cost to the student. If such efforts are unsuccessful or place an undue hardship on the school, the school is not required to readmit the student.

In accordance with federal regulations, returning students who receive a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the U.S. armed forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) are not eligible for readmission under this policy. However, service members who receive dishonorable or bad conduct discharge may remain eligible for readmission even though they will not be entitled to the benefits outlined in this policy.

(Reference: Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding Military and Veterans Code 824, 38 U.S. Code Section 3679.)

To ensure compliance with Department of Defense (DoD) regulations and uphold ethical standards in recruitment and enrollment processes, Cuesta College and the San Luis Obispo County Community College District (SLOCCCD) strictly prohibit the use of commission, bonus or other incentive payments for securing enrollments and outlines acceptable recruitment practices.

Additionally, the college and district prohibit high-pressure tactics for the purpose of securing service member enrollments.

All employees, contractors, and agents of the college and district who are involved in student recruiting, admissions activities or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance are prohibited from:

• The use of commission, bonus or other incentive payments to any individual or entity for securing enrollments of service members and/or any prospective students. This includes any attempt to offer, accept, or facilitate such payments based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal aid (including Tuition Assistance funds).
• The use of high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (three or more), including contacts by phone, email or in person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing service member enrollments or any prospective students.
• The engagement of recruitment practices that use incentives to influence prospective students' enrollment decisions.

The information above is intended to provide a useful summary. Final authority is determined by the Board of Trustees and district policy documents.