21.4267—Approval of independent study.
(a) Overview.
Except as provided in §§ 21.4252(g), 21.7120(d), and 21.7622(f), VA may not pay educational assistance for a nonaccredited course which is offered in whole or in part by independent study. Hence, it is necessary to differentiate independent study from similar courses.
(b) Definition of independent study.
(1)
VA considers a course to be offered entirely by independent study when—
(i)
It consists of a prescribed program of study with provision for interaction between the student and the regularly employed faculty of the institution of higher learning. The interaction may be personally or through use of communications technology, including mail, telephone, videoconferencing, computer technology (to include electronic mail), and other electronic means;
(ii)
It is offered without any regularly scheduled, conventional classroom or laboratory sessions; and
(i)
It is not classified as one of the three types of courses listed in paragraph (c) of this section;
(iii)
It consists of independent study as defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this section during those weeks when there are no regularly scheduled class sessions.
(c) Scope of independent study.
VA does not consider any of the following courses to be courses offered by independent study.
(d) Undergraduate resident training.
VA considers the following undergraduate courses to be resident training.
(1)
A course which meets the requirements for resident institutional training found in § 21.4265(f) ;
(2)
A course which requires regularly scheduled, standard class sessions at least once every two weeks and which has a total number of class sessions equal to the number of credit hours awarded for the course, times the number of weeks in a standard quarter or semester, as applicable;
(e) Graduate resident training.
VA considers a graduate course to be resident training if the course—
(2)
Consists of research (either on campus or in absentia) necessary for the preparation of the student's—
(3)
Consists of a combination of training as described in paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(2) of this section.
(f) Course approval.
A State approving agency may approve a course offered by independent study or a combination of independent study and resident training only if the course—
(ii)
For courses approved on or after December 27, 2001, leads to a certificate that reflects educational attainment offered by an institution of higher learning.
(g) Remedial and deficiency courses.
Remedial and deficiency courses offered by independent study cannot be approved.