Section 10-306-12a - Training in institutions of higher education(a) Financial participation by the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division in providing training and training services in institutions of higher education shall be made in accordance with an appropriately completed Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program (IWRP) and under the following conditions: (1) No training in institutions of higher education shall be paid for by the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division unless maximum efforts have been made to secure comparable benefits or grant assistance, in whole or in part, from other sources to pay for such training. Grant assistance, for purposes of this policy, refers to basic grant entitlement under student financial aid programs.(2) In pursuing a determination of available comparable benefits, the client shall make application to the training institution's financial aid office (FAO) and shall cooperate in the provision of all information required by the FAO in its calculation of the client's eligibility for financial assistance.(3) The client shall give written authorization to the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division and the FAO to exchange information relevant to the determination of eligibility for financial assistance in accordance with the State Personal Data Act and regulations thereunder.(4) Application by the client to the FAO shall be made in sufficient time to permit a decision to be rendered by the FAO prior to the starting date of training.(5) A client shall not be required to apply for funds available to him through student loans to meet the costs of training.(6) Financial participation by the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division in the provision of such training shall be limited to the amount of the client's unmet need as determined by the FAO. Client work study or summer earnings shall be included as part of the calculation of client financial need only when the client is realistically able to participate in a work study program or has summer earnings.(7) The Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division shall not substitute its vocational rehabilitation funds for the family contribution portion as determined by the FAO. If the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division determines that computation by the FAO is clearly erroneous and time or other circumstances make it impossible or impractical for the client to have the computation by the FAO corrected, Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division Director may substitute funds from vocational rehabilitation for the family contribution in an amount not to exceed the amount by which the computation by the FAO is determined to be in error. This policy shall not apply to expenses that shall be incurred by a client which result from his disability.(8) For all students with Individualized Written Rehabilitation Programs (IWRP) or Amendments that are developed after February 1, 1996, which initiate training services in institutions of higher education (such as colleges, universities and post-secondary vocational or technical training programs), the cost of tuition, room and board, training materials or supplies, and any other costs attributable to the course of study shall be based upon such costs at Central Connecticut State University. The costs of such services for students who had an IWRP or Amendment in effect for services provided by institutions of higher education prior to February 1, 1996, may be based on costs for these training services at the University of Connecticut. The level of funding from these services shall be considered for each category, such as tuition, room and board, etc., and the cost for each category shall not exceed the cost for each category at Central Connecticut State University or the University of Connecticut, as applicable. For programs of study that are not available at Central Connecticut State University, the University of Connecticut costs shall apply. If the program of study is not available at either school, then the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division may pay such costs as are reasonable for the client to attend the program. Special support services, provided to enable a client to participate in training, shall be paid above and beyond the cost of attending the college or university. All clients who participate in training at institutions of higher education shall be required to maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher. Any client who falls below this level for two consecutive semesters shall be subject to withholding of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division funds for subsequent semesters until such time as the client can achieve the minimum grade point standard. All clients shall submit grades to their rehabilitation counselors at the end of each semester. Funding for all subsequent semesters shall be contingent upon submittal of satisfactory grades.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 10-306-12a
Adopted effective November 6, 1998