Statement of Policy for Compliance with Department of Defense (DoD) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Educational Institution Requirements for Tuition Assistance Funding (Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding)

1. Fairfield University has signed and adheres to the requirements of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Defense.
2. Fairfield University is:
   • Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
   • Approved for Veterans Affairs Education Benefits
   • Approved for Federal student aid programs with the Department of Education
3. Fairfield University complies with all regulatory guidance provided by the Department of Defense and the Services.
4. Fairfield University complies with the State of Connecticut authorization requirements.
5. Fairfield University participates in the Third Party Education Assessment process at the request of the Department of Defense.
6. Prior to a Service Member enrolling, Fairfield University makes the following information known to Service Members:
   • The College Scorecard – Direct link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
   • The College Navigator – Direct link: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
   • Financial Aid Plan – Direct link to creating an account: Fairfield University Online Student Portal
   • Paying for College – Direct link: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college/
   • All Service Members must speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor prior to enrolling in classes. Documentation of approval for enrollment must be obtained prior to registration and submitted to the Bursar. The DODMOU POC will be notified of all students submitting approval to ensure that proper notifications are made.
7. Fairfield University has points of contact to guide Service Members to student resources such as Financial Aid.
   • A–De – Emily Cipriano – emily.cipriano@fairfield.edu
   • Df–E – Brenda Valle – bvalle@fairfield.edu
   • F–J – Ruth Salazar – ruth.salazar@fairfield.edu
   • K–Me – Sania Seyal – sania.seyal@fairfield.edu
   • Mf–Q – Brian Leonelli-Blain – blenoelli-blain@fairfield.edu
   • R–Z – Jordan Lee – jlee1@fairfield.edu
8. Fairfield University has points of contact to guide Service Members to student resources such as Academic Advising, Disability Services, and other important resources that Service Members can use to successfully complete their program of study and assist with job search activities.
   • Academic Advising – asr@fairfield.edu
   • Registrar – Allison Henderson – ahenderson@fairfield.edu
   • Disability Services – Christine Dalton – cdalton@fairfield.edu
   • Career Planning and Placement – Cathy Borgman – cborgman@fairfield.edu
9. Private loans will never be offered to a Service Member without first exploring all options for federal and state financial aid. Service Members should speak to one of our Financial Aid Advisors: finaid@fairfield.edu
   • Service Members may be eligible for grants such as Pell or SEOG and federal student loans. A financial aid advisor is available to discuss available aid with each Service Member. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be completed by all Service Members: studentaid.gov. This application allows Fairfield University to determine eligibility for both federal and state financial aid. Veterans applying as undergraduate students are encouraged to complete the CSS Profile: cssprofile.collegeboard.org.
   • Private student loans are often more expensive than federal student loans. The Department of Education provides resources explaining the differences between federal and private loans: Federal vs. Private Loans . Your financial aid advisor can review these options with you.
   • Federal Student Loan Information:
     1. Fairfield University has a Cohort Default Rate of 0% compared to a national rate of 0%, continuing to reflect the payment pause resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
     2. Approximately 14% of our students borrow federal student loans.
   • Students have the ability to refuse all loans or borrow less than the maximum student loan amount. Students are strongly encouraged not to take out student loans unless it is absolutely necessary.
10. Readmission Policy for Service Members:
    • All Service Members are eligible to be readmitted into a program if they are temporarily unable to attend class or must suspend their studies due to service requirements. Service Members will have their academic status restored to the same level as it was when they left school due to service requirements.
11. Fairfield University ensures compliance with program integrity requirements consistent with regulations issued by the Department of Education (34 C.F.R. 668.71–668.75 and 668.14) related to restrictions on misrepresentation, recruitment, and payment of incentive compensation. This applies to the educational institution itself and its agents, including third-party lead generators, marketing firms, or companies.
    • Fairfield University prohibits inducements, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals, or other items having a monetary value of more than a de minimis amount, to any individual or entity, or its agents including third-party lead generators or marketing firms, for the purpose of securing enrollments of Service Members or obtaining access to Tuition Assistance (TA) funds. Educational institution-sponsored scholarships or grants and tuition reductions available to military students are permissible.
    • Fairfield University prohibits the payment of any commission, bonus, or incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) to any persons or entities engaged in student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.
    • Fairfield University prohibits 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 in non-credit courses or programs.
12. Students are never automatically enrolled in courses at Fairfield University. Students are responsible for enrolling in courses and must grant permission to be enrolled in a program.
13. If a program at Fairfield University requires approval by an accrediting agency, that approval must be obtained prior to any Service Member being enrolled in the program.
14. Fairfield University credit transfer policies, drop/add policies, and withdrawal policies are outlined on our website: Registrar . Any questions related to credits and drop/add should be directed to Allison Henderson at ahenderson@fairfield.edu.

Tuition Assistance Program Requirements

1. Fairfield University assesses the same tuition and fee amounts to all Service members without regard to their Service component.
2. Course enrollment information, course withdrawal, course cancellation, course completion or failure, grade, verification of degree completion and billing are reported to the TA issuing Service's education office.
3. Degree requirements are outlined in the student catalog and include course information for each program such as number of credit hours required for completion, required and elective courses, graduation requirements for the program. Academic advisors should be consulted to review the choice for a program of study and to review transfer course work that applies to the program of study.
4. Service members must obtain approval from their Service in order to use Tuition Assistance funds. All Military TA must be requested and approved prior to the start date of a given course.
5. Use of TA funds with Financial Aid
   • "Top-Up" eligible active duty DoD personnel may use this Montgomery or Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefit in conjunction with TA funds from their Service to cover those course costs to the Service member that exceed the amount of TA paid by his or her Service. RC members who qualify for Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits may use those benefits concurrently with TA. RC members who have earned entitlement for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill can use both VA education benefits and TA, but VA will only pay for the portion of tuition not covered by TA. Therefore the combination of VA education benefits and TA will not exceed 100 percent of the actual costs of tuition.
   • "DOD personnel are entitled to consideration for all forms of financial aid that educational institutions make available to students at their home campus. Educational institution financial aid officers will provide information and application processes for Title IV student aid programs, scholarships, fellowships, grants, loans, etc., to DoD TA recipients.
   • "Service members identified as eligible DoD TA recipients, who qualify for Pell Grants through ED's student aid program, will have their TA benefits applied to their educational institution's account prior to the application of their Pell Grant funds to their account. Unlike TA funds, which are tuition-restricted, Pell Grant funds are not tuition-restricted and may be applied to other allowable charges on the account.
6. Administration of Tuition
   • The Services will provide TA to Service members in accordance with DoD and Service appropriate regulations.
   • TA Definition and Unearned TA Policy

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to students under the assumption that they will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance has been awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds that were awarded initially.

To comply with Department of Defense (DoD) policy, Fairfield University will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending.

Please note: Return of unearned TA funds may result in students owing a debt to Fairfield. All students are advised to consult with the Office of Financial Aid (203-254-4125) before dropping any class supported by federal Tuition Assistance.

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) program. The Veterans Administration (VA) does not administer TA. Students may be prohibited from receiving TA benefits and VA education benefits from the military at the same time.

Steps for Applying for Tuition Assistance (TA)

1. Students interested in applying for TA must first speak with their unit Education Service Officer (ESO), a military counselor, or visit their local installation Education Center regarding their desire to use Federal Tuition Assistance. Service members must coordinate with ESOs and receive approval from their commanders before they begin using Federal Tuition Assistance.
2. After obtaining the proper approval, students should visit the TA portal for their respective branch to create an account.
3. Students register for classes through the Fairfield University registration portal.
4. After registering for classes, students request TA for each course by logging into their branch portal account. Students must have a Fairfield billing statement and class schedule in digital form to upload into the portal when prompted.
5. Students should revisit the portal regularly to monitor the progress of their request. Once their request is approved, they will receive a TA authorization statement.
6. Finally, students email their TA authorization statement to finaid@fairfield.edu. We will deliver your statement to the Bursar's Office which will apply the awarded TA to the student account.

• 100% if the course is cancelled by the College.
• Tuition charged to service members never exceeds the amount charged to nonmilitary students.
• Tuition rates are approved annually by the Fairfield University Board of Trustees and are communicated to Service members at least 90 days before the implementation of the new rates. These rates are posted on the University website typically by March 1st, for the next academic year.

G. If a course is cancelled by Fairfield University, all students are notified of the cancellation.

H. Books and supplies for courses are available via the University bookstore. Refunds for book charges are made at 100% if the course is cancelled by the institution. In addition, all students have access to the materials in the Campus Library for both printed and electronic materials.

I. Graduation Achievement Recognition

• Fairfield University will issue, at no cost to the Government, documentation as proof of completion, such as a diploma or certificate, to each student who completes the respective program requirements and meets all financial obligations.
• In accordance with Service requirements, Fairfield University will report to the Service concerned those TA recipients who have completed a certificate, diploma, or degree program. Reporting will occur at least annually and include the degree level, major, and program requirements completion date.
• The academic credentials for certificate, diploma, or degree completion will reflect the degree-granting educational institution and campus authorized to confer the degree.
• Fairfield University strongly encourages students to participate in a graduation ceremony each year.

J. Fairfield University provides reports via electronic delivery on all DOD TA recipients for programs and courses offered to personnel as required by the cognizant Service. This includes, but is not limited to, TA transactions, final course grades to include incompletes and withdrawals, degrees awarded, certificates earned, evaluated educational plans, courses offered and military graduation. Educational institutions providing face-to-face courses on a DOD installation will provide a class roster to the responsible education advisor. The class roster will include information such as the name of the instructor, the first and last name of each student (military and non-military), the course title, the class meeting day(s), the start and ending time of the class, and the class location (e.g. , building and room number).