Priority of Service Policy for Veterans and Eligible Spouses

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) provides certain funds to Delaware Technical Community College to provide employment and training services to eligible residents and workers. As a condition to receiving those funds, priority of service (POS) shall be given to veterans and eligible spouses in training and placement services. In accordance with the implementation of the Veterans' Priority Provisions of the "Jobs for Veterans Act" (PL107-288), qualified veterans and eligible spouses will receive priority referral to services over non-veterans as determined by each program's mandatory eligibility criteria, if any. Veterans and eligible spouses must meet all eligibility and program requirements for participation in order to receive priority for a program.

The veteran or eligible spouse shall be identified at the point of entry, whether in person or virtual, so that the priority of service may be implemented over the full range of services available including, but not limited to registration, training and placement. Veterans shall be asked to self-identify upon application.

Priority of service means that a covered person receives access to the service or resource earlier in time than a non-covered person or if the service or resource is limited, the covered person receives access instead of or before a non-veteran.

Eligibility

For purposes of this policy only, the following definitions will apply.

Veteran: a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, as specified in 38 U.S.C.101(2). Active service includes full-time duty in the National Guard or a Reserve component, other than full-time duty for training purposes.

Eligible Spouse: The spouse of any of the following:

Any veteran who died of a service-connected disability;
Any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for the priority, is listed in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than 90 days:
1. Missing in action;
2. Captured in line of duty by a hostile force; or
3. Forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power;
Any veteran who has a total disability resulting from a service-connected disability, as evaluated by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
Any veteran who died while a disability, as indicated in (3) above, was in existence.

The status of a veteran or an eligible spouse can be verified by referring a variety of official documents, including, but not limited to:

A DD 214 (issued following separation from active duty);
An official notice issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs that establishes entitlement to a disability rating or award of compensation to a qualified dependent
An official notice issued by the Department of Defense that documents the eligibility of an individual, based on the missing or detained status of that individual’s active duty spouse; or
An official notice issued by a State veterans’ service agency that documents veteran status or spousal rights, provided that the State veterans’ service agency requires Federal documentation of that information.

Implementation

Priority of service shall be provided in course registration and in acceptance into selective admission programs with waiting list and competitive ranking admission procedures.

Admission –Veterans and eligible spouses will be asked to self-identify on the application to the College. The academic counselor who provides ancillary services to veterans will contact the veteran/spouse to discuss priority of service and request documents to verify eligibility, if applicable.

Course Registration –Online and in-person registration shall open one day earlier for eligible veterans and spouses than for other students.

Admission into Programs with Waiting Lists – Eligible veterans and spouses who have met all the program admission requirements shall be placed at the top of the waiting list and admitted in the next program cohort offered seats.

Admission into Programs with Competitive Ranking – Each program shall establish and publish the program admission minimum score/requirements for eligible veterans and spouses to be admitted to the program, independent of the regular competitive ranking admission process. The minimum score/requirements shall be determined based on the program’s student success data. As expectations for the workforce and curriculum requirements change, changes may be made to the minimum score/requirements established for priority of service. Eligible veterans and spouses who meet that minimum shall be admitted