Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership

Ventura College welcomes all students, regardless of their immigration status, and we are committed to providing full support throughout their educational journey. Each course offered by the Ventura County Community College District and its colleges is open for enrollment and participation to anyone who has been admitted to the college and meets the class or program prerequisites, unless specifically exempted by statute.

To maintain the highest integrity, Ventura College refrains from providing commissions, bonuses, or any other incentives based on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including Tuition Assistance funds) to any individuals or entities involved in student recruiting, admission activities, or decisions regarding student financial assistance. Furthermore, we do not employ high-pressure recruitment tactics, as we have an open enrollment policy and welcome all students. These practices align with the regulations outlined in the California Education Code, Section 76000, and California Education Code, Section 76004.

Ventura College ensures that all employees receive information that complies with program integrity requirements, in accordance with the regulations issued by the Department of Education (ED) (34 C.F.R 668.71-668.75 and 668.14), which address restrictions on misrepresentation, recruitment, and payment of incentive compensation. We do not offer or accept inducements from any individuals or groups during the admissions process. Additionally, our outreach team does not receive bonuses for recruitment duties.

While Ventura College may occasionally initiate multiple unsolicited contacts with prospective students as part of routine processes, we always provide a method for opting out of future communication. It is important to note that the college does not target students for unsolicited contact based on military affiliation.

PRE-ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Ventura College ensures that its staff members follow the Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (referenced below). Additionally, the institution directs service members to consult with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service before enrolling as a student at the institution.

Per DoD MOU paragraph 4.d. 

(1) Approved Courses. If an eligible Service member decides to use TA, educational institutions will enroll him or her only after the TA is approved by the individual’s Service. Service members will be solely responsible for all tuition costs without this prior approval. This requirement does not prohibit an educational institution from pre-registering a Service member in a course in order to secure a slot in the course. If a school enrolls the Service member before the appropriate Service approves Military TA, then the Service member could be responsible for the tuition. All Military TA must be requested and approved prior to the start date of the course. The Military TA is approved on a course-by-course basis and only for the specific course(s) and class dates that a Service member requests. If a military student “self-identifies” their eligibility and the Service has not approved the funding, then the Service member will be solely responsible for all tuition costs, not the Service. 

Please refer to the Fees & Tuition of the Academic Catalog for more information.

FINANCIAL AID

• Apply for the Ventura College Promise, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), which could potentially get your tuition and fees paid for up to two years.

Net Price Calculator: The net price calculator is a tool for students and parents to use to get an estimate of what it may cost to attend Ventura College each year. The "net price" (cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships) is the amount students and/or their families will have to cover with work, savings, and/or loans.

Contact Financial Aid for questions regarding Ventura College's most recent official student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR).

At Ventura College, we are dedicated to promoting financial transparency and providing valuable information to our students and the community. As part of this commitment, we openly disclose our Cohort Default Rates (CDR) on an annual basis, regardless of whether it rises above or remains below the national average.  If our CDR exceeds the national average, we will promptly notify identified students, including Service Members via email. 

VENTURA COLLEGE COHORT DEFAULT RATES

• Cohort Fiscal Year 2020: 0%
• Cohort Fiscal Year 2019: 4.2%
• Cohort Fiscal Year 2018: 12.1%

UNEARNED TA FUNDS

Ventura College Office of Financial Aid utilizes one policy for refunds (Title IV, TA funds, and other payments). For more information about the Refund Policy as published in the Academic Catalog, click here.  On page 235 in the Academic Catalog, the process for handling when students are activated for military service. To read more about the process, click here, or read below.

TA REFUND

Military Tuition Assistance is a benefit paid to the school for eligible military student recipients who are active members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The student is awarded the TA benefit with the understanding that the student will attend the entire semester. Ventura College is required to calculate Military Tuition Assistance (TA) earned when a military student using TA withdraws.

As participants in the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), students who officially or unofficially withdraw from a course before completing 61% of the semester have not earned 100% of the amount of their voucher for the withdrawn course.

Ventura College is required to return the unearned portion of the TA funds to the military service that provided the TA funding. Unearned TA funds that are returned to the appropriate military branch of service will become a debt to the student. Ventura College will calculate the amount of unearned Tuition Assistance funds using the official last date of attendance, as determined by the institution’s attendance records. The last date of attendance is used to determine the number of days completed.

To remain in compliance with the Department of Defense’s policy, the college will return any unearned TA funds through at least 60% of the semester on a prorated basis. The amount of unearned TA that is returned is based on the date of withdrawal from the course.

After 60% of the semester has passed, TA will not be evaluated for a return to the DOD.

As an institution, the DOD will be billed after 60% of the semester has passed to reduce the amount of incorrect TA funds being disbursed by the DOD. We will only bill for the amount the student earned given their enrollment.

REFUND POLICY FOR SHORT TERM CLASSES

Unearned TA funds will be returned on a prorated basis, depending on the length of the course. To determine the amount of TA that needs to be returned, the institution will determine the date the withdrawal was submitted, and then divide that by the number of days in the term to determine the percentage of TA that was earned by the student.

The return of TA funds may result in a balance due on the student account. In instances where a Service member stops attending due to verifiable military service obligation, Ventura College will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

Ventura College is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). The ACCJC is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at ACCJC.

Ventura College's Accrediting Agencies 

Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
428 J Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (415) 506-0234
Email: accjc@accjc.org
Website: www.accjc.org

Automotive Program Toyota T-TEN Accreditation
ASE Education Foundation
1503 Edwards Ferry Rd., NE, Suite 401
Leesburg, VA 20176
Phone: (703) 669-6650
Website: www.aseeducationfoundation.org

Nursing Program Accreditation
Board of Registered Nursing
1747 N Market Blvd, Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: (916) 322-3350
Website: www.rn.ca.gov

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000
Website: www.acenursing.org

Prehospital and Emergency Medicine Program Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355-113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: (727) 210-2350
Email: mail@caahep.org
Website: www.caahep.org

Veterinary Technology Program Accreditation
American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: (800) 248-2862
Website: www.avma.org

Questions?

For questions about our accreditation efforts or accreditation status, please contact Jennifer Kalfsbeek-Goetz, Accreditation Liaison Officer and Vice President of Academic Affairs, or Phillip Briggs, Administrative Co-Chair for the Accreditation Steering Advisory Group and Dean of Institutional Effectiveness.

Vice President of Academic Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer
Jennifer Kalfsbeek-Goetz
Phone: (805) 289-6380
Email: JKGoetz@vcccd.edu

Dean of Institutional Effectiveness
Phillip Briggs
Phone: (805) 289-6036
Email: pbriggs@vcccd.edu

GRADUATION/PROGRAM COMPLETION INFORMATION

Ventura College provides guided program map plans to all students, including service members. These program map plans serve as academic guides that outline the required courses for completing certificates and degrees. Examples of the program map plans can be found here.

TRANSFER POLICIES

Granting course and units through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is based on the principle that previous experience, training, or instruction is the equivalent of a specific course taught by the college. Course and unit credit can be obtained through the credit for External Examinations process (AP/IB/CLEP), Internal Departmental Examinations process, High School to College Articulation process, Evaluation of Joint Services Transcripts (JST), Student-Created Portfolios, Industry-Recognized Documentation, and Credentials or Licensure.

Courses Eligible for Credit for Prior Learning

Academic divisions of the District Colleges determine the courses for which Credit for Prior Learning may be granted. VCCCD students may receive college credit through the Credit for Prior Learning process of identified courses listed in the current college catalog by completing the Credit for Prior Learning Petition and following the instructions provided for the selected assessment process. Refer to the Courses Available for CPL tab for the list of courses available for CPL at Ventura College.

Documentation of Credit for Prior Learning

For credit earned through the Credit for Prior Learning provisions, the student’s academic record shall be clearly annotated to reflect that credit was earned by examination, through articulation, or by another type of assessment of prior learning.

Credit for Military Service/Training