Chapter VA 18

Chapter VA 18

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

VA 18.01   Definitions.

VA 18.02   Eligibility, application procedure, stipend amount, and agreement.

VA 18.03   Administrative review.

Ch. VA 18 Note Note: Ch. VA 18 was created by an emergency rule eff. 3-30-04.

VA 18.01 VA 18.01 Definitions. In this chapter, the following terms shall have the designated meanings:

VA 18.01(1) (1) “Department” means the department of veterans affairs.

VA 18.01(2) (2) “Home” means the Wisconsin Veterans Homes at King and Union Grove.

VA 18.01(3) (3) “Stipend” means an educational assistance payment made to an individual under s. 45.50 (2m) (f), Stats.

VA 18.01(4) (4) “Veteran” means an individual as defined in s. 45.01 (12), Stats.

VA 18.01 History History: CR 04-037: cr. Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04.; corrections in (3), (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2013 No. 687; CR 17-024: am. (intro.), (3) Register April 2020 No. 772, eff. 5-1-20; correction in (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register April 2020 No. 772.

VA 18.02 VA 18.02 Eligibility, application procedure, stipend amount, and agreement.

VA 18.02(1) (1) Eligibility. An individual may apply to the department to receive a stipend. An applicant shall be eligible to receive a stipend provided all of the following criteria are met:

VA 18.02(1)(a) (a) The applicant has been accepted into an accredited nursing program at an approved school in accordance with ch. N 1 and, if the nursing program is longer than 2 years, the applicant has earned sufficient credits in the nursing program so that the department may reasonably conclude that the applicant will attain the credential necessary to become employed by the department at a veterans home as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse within 2 years of receipt of an initial stipend payment.

VA 18.02(1)(c) (c) If the applicant has completed courses towards the required credentials at the time of application, the applicant must be a student in good standing, as verified by the school.

VA 18.02(1)(d) (d) The applicant agrees to enter into a written agreement under sub. (4).

VA 18.02(1)(e) (e) The applicant is determined suitable to be employed as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse at a veterans home.

VA 18.02(2) (2) Application procedure. An individual may file an application with the department on a form approved by the department. The applicant shall provide sufficient information to establish that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria of sub. (1). The department shall periodically evaluate applications and interview those applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. Subsequent to an interview, the department shall certify an applicant who meets the eligibility criteria for a 6-month period. The department may provide a stipend to a certified applicant upon the applicant’s execution of an agreement under sub. (4). If the payment of stipends to all currently certified applicants would deplete the funds available for the payment of stipends, the department may give priority to certified applicants who are veterans or dependents of veterans.

VA 18.02 Note Note: Application forms may be obtained from the Veterans Home at N2665 County Road QQ, King, Wisconsin 54946-0600, telephone number [phone].

VA 18.02(3) (3) Stipend amount. The department may award a stipend to a certified applicant of up to $5,000.00 per semester to a full-time student and $2,500.00 per semester to a part-time student. The initial stipend payment shall be provided within 60 days of the execution of the written agreement entered into under sub. (4). Subsequent stipend payments shall be provided in separate payments for each semester attended by the applicant, subject to the conditions of the written agreement entered into under sub. (4). The amount received as a stipend shall be disregarded by the department in determining the applicant’s entitlement to a grant under s. 45.20 or 45.21, Stats.

VA 18.02(4) (4) Agreement. The department and the applicant shall enter into a written agreement signed by the applicant prior to the payment of a stipend. The agreement shall identify the terms of participation for the department and applicant. Specifically, the agreement shall require that the applicant refund a prorated amount of the stipend if any of the following apply:

VA 18.02(4)(a) (a) The applicant fails to satisfactorily complete a semester or course that precludes the applicant from completing the nursing program within the time period designated in the agreement.

VA 18.02(4)(b) (b) The applicant fails to maintain the status of a nursing student in good-standing, as verified by the school.

VA 18.02(4)(c) (c) The applicant fails to accept or maintain employment as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse with the department for the time period designated in the agreement.

VA 18.02 History History: CR 04-037: cr. Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04; CR 17-024: r. and recr. (1) (intro.), cons. and renum. (1) (a) and (b) to (1) (a) and am., cr. (1) (e), am. (2), (3), (4) (a) to (c) Register April 2020 No. 772, eff. 5-1-20.

VA 18.03 VA 18.03 Administrative review. Any department decision under this chapter is subject to appeal under s. VA 1.03.

VA 18.03 History History: CR 04-037: cr. Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2013 No. 687.