§3604 Effects of Closure of Educational Institution and Modification of Courses by Reason of Emergency Situation

Summary

Payments for education when a school closes or when a course is changed or canceled because of an emergency will not reduce your benefit entitlement or count toward the overall time limit in section 3695. This rule covers benefits under chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, and 35 of title 38 and chapter 1606 of title 10. It applies when the Secretary finds you could not finish the course or program because the school closed, the course was canceled, or a course was disapproved due to emergency-related changes, and you did not get credit or you lost training time. “Educational assistance” also includes monthly housing stipends under chapter 33 and payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 31, 32, 35 and chapter 1606. The time not charged can’t be longer than the time you lost plus any extra months for a stipend extension under section 3680(a)(2)(B). The Secretary may treat a course that was disapproved because of emergency changes as approved for students who were enrolled when it was disapproved, if continuing the course is in the student’s best interest. If you were full-time on the first day of the emergency and meet the Secretary’s finding, you’ll be treated as full-time for housing or subsistence calculations while you finish canceled work part-time. The Secretary must notify affected students within 5 business days after learning of a closure, giving the closure date and how benefits are affected.