NROTC Scholarship LOA

momneverquits

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Hello, mom here looking for advice. My son is a third classman (2nd yr) at VMI on a NROTC scholarship. He had been on probation this past Fall semester for not meeting the minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 at the end of his 1st year there. Well, he did not meet it either at the end of Fall semester. He's at a 2.4. Yesterday he had a PRB (performance review board) where he was put on LOA (leave of absence) for this Spring semester with the condition that scholarship would be reinstated if he gets a cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the end of this Spring semester. He was told to go to the financial aid office this week. First, my concern, as the payor of his education (I've been paying his room & board) what options he might be given by the school to pay for this semester and are they going to involve me at all in this discussion. Second, I'm concerned that he's going to have trouble getting that cumulative GPA where it needs to be over the next four months. His major is ME (mechanical engineering) and from what I heard it's like 5 years crammed into 4 and a lot of cadets have switched majors. He was given the option last Fall to switch majors or switch branch. He did not want to do either. He is Navy all the way. I asked him again yesterday if it's still an option to switch major would he do it. He said he thinks he's too far into his classes at this point. I appreciate any advice/insight.
 
You raised a number of questions.
1. Your involvement - yes if it's approved by your son. Many colleges have a form/ online area the student needs to sign in order for the parent(s) to be granted a voice in what's happening at college. Confirm your son has done this so that when you call, you don't get stonewalled.
2. You certainly as a team (you, your son, any other interested party in your family) need to understand the tuition bill at VMI and what if any merit/ financial support the school can offer now that his scholarship is not active for the spring semester. Set up an appointment with the school with you via phone and your son in person. (after step 1 but quick as you can).
3. If he has a 2.4 then the spring AND summer should be looked at as opportunities to improve his GPA to reinstate his scholarship.
4. In terms of this major, I disagree he is too far in and recommend if it only gets harder from here that he reconsider. Sounds like it's time for your DS to have a good chat with the man in the mirror on this point. He may wish to think long term here in terms of getting an education and his opportunity to serve vs not and mitigate the risk. If around Summer cruises he can stock up on summer courses for the other "half" of the summer, between his rising junior and rising senior summers, he most certainly over the next 2 summers can catch up. If he does this at a community college and transfers it in, he'll have options that are less costly.. Confirm his school allows this, for specific courses, from the specific local cheapest comm college option.
5 Sounds like he did not heed the recommendation to change something here. But you know the old definition of insanity right - doing the same thing over and over and yet expecting a different result.
6. Can he transfer the scholarship somewhere else that might be less rigorous academically - not to answer here but he should be aware of options.
7. If it were me I would be looking at the easiest courses he can take this semester, and make up the hard ones in community college transfers this summer/ next summer. Again think long-term here - would you rather pay 5k if you can for a few extra courses, or have this all fall apart?

Good luck to you and your son - Feel welcome to PM me if you want additional guidance or just someone to listen/ help sort this all out.
 
Also find out if he has to stay at VMI or can courses at a comm college count toward his cum Navy GPA. If they would then I'd recommend to get him home, getting a 4.0 in easier courses this spring and half the summer, and then he can rejoin his group with a solid gpa that's high enough so that he enters his junior year with a solid 2.7 or higher. Again - good luck/ hope this helps.
 
To clarify a few points raised by @Herman_Snerd

- A mid cannot transfer scholarship to another NROTC unit while on LOA. Your son would have to get off LOA before that could happen.
- He'll be expected (by the Navy) to remain part of the NROTC program this spring semester while on LOA (attend NS classes, weekly drill/lab, PT, etc).
 
Thank you both for the replies. I've forwarded your advice to my son and will contact financial aid office asap. He has an academics advisor for his major who setup his classes for this spring so that they would be 'easier' and so that he could take a harder class or two in the summer at our local community college. Have to look at timing though - I don't know if he will still be allowed (or is required?) to take summer cruise if on LOA (I know the Navy paid for it last summer). But that all may be mute if he has to raise his GPA to 2.5 by the end of Spring semester. Of course, he has to find this out. I would like to speak with the academics advisor and/or Navy advisor but don't know if that's overstepping my bounds. His schedule is so packed I hardly get enough time to talk with him as I wait for him to go get these answers.
 
Thank you both for the replies. I've forwarded your advice to my son and will contact financial aid office asap. He has an academics advisor for his major who setup his classes for this spring so that they would be 'easier' and so that he could take a harder class or two in the summer at our local community college. Have to look at timing though - I don't know if he will still be allowed (or is required?) to take summer cruise if on LOA (I know the Navy paid for it last summer). But that all may be mute if he has to raise his GPA to 2.5 by the end of Spring semester. Of course, he has to find this out. I would like to speak with the academics advisor and/or Navy advisor but don't know if that's overstepping my bounds. His schedule is so packed I hardly get enough time to talk with him as I wait for him to go get these answers.

As another mom with mid in same position elsewhere, have you filed FASFA? I contacted the office of financial aid at the school, and completed a FASFA for both my mid and myself. (which I hadn't needed before, so was told to do asap for them to consider any help with tuition) Then, our school has a form to complete asking the school for additional consideration on tuition, etc based on change in circumstances so it is worth asking, worst is they say no.

As for major change, if he's only in 2d year of college, perhaps he should consider changing to a tier 2 major. Mt mid did that after 1st year to help gpa, but clearly fell behind.

Lastly, as you know if he fails to get gpa above the 2.5 by May, since he is only a 2d year, he faces disenrollment which means that there is no guarantee that he will be allowed to enlist in lieu of payment. Yes, he can request it, but they do not have to recommend it, so lets hope that is a non-issue come May. Hopefully he has contacted the school to find tutors- whether he thinks he needs them or not- it can't hurt to have one on one time with all the classes. And if he can swing it, have him try and switch a class this semester to one that will be 'easier' to help boost his GPA. Have him, or yourself if he allows, to speak with his academic advisor- not nrotc, as that would not look good. My mid's advisor was able to give a 2 credit 'easy A' lab course which is basically assisting with the labs for the grad students a few hours a week, in an effort to help the gpa. The advisor was well aware of the situation, so that was a help. Lastly, for the humanities requirement my mid needed, that was also an 'easy' one ti help with the crushing hard science requirements for the major. Feel free to PM me, as I know what you're going through.
 
As another mom with mid in same position elsewhere, have you filed FASFA? I contacted the office of financial aid at the school, and completed a FASFA for both my mid and myself. (which I hadn't needed before, so was told to do asap for them to consider any help with tuition) Then, our school has a form to complete asking the school for additional consideration on tuition, etc based on change in circumstances so it is worth asking, worst is they say no.

As for major change, if he's only in 2d year of college, perhaps he should consider changing to a tier 2 major. Mt mid did that after 1st year to help gpa, but clearly fell behind.

Lastly, as you know if he fails to get gpa above the 2.5 by May, since he is only a 2d year, he faces disenrollment which means that there is no guarantee that he will be allowed to enlist in lieu of payment. Yes, he can request it, but they do not have to recommend it, so lets hope that is a non-issue come May. Hopefully he has contacted the school to find tutors- whether he thinks he needs them or not- it can't hurt to have one on one time with all the classes. And if he can swing it, have him try and switch a class this semester to one that will be 'easier' to help boost his GPA. Have him, or yourself if he allows, to speak with his academic advisor- not nrotc, as that would not look good. My mid's advisor was able to give a 2 credit 'easy A' lab course which is basically assisting with the labs for the grad students a few hours a week, in an effort to help the gpa. The advisor was well aware of the situation, so that was a help. Lastly, for the humanities requirement my mid needed, that was also an 'easy' one ti help with the crushing hard science requirements for the major. Feel free to PM me, as I know what you're going through.

Thank you. Yes, we filed for FAFSA and completed the school application form. I'll ask about any additional forms considering change in circumstances. What do you mean by 'enlist in lieu of payment'? If he gets disenrollment from Navy does that also mean from the school? Would I have to pay back all his scholarship funds before he could enlist or graduate? Is your mid's major ME?
 
Thank you. Yes, we filed for FAFSA and completed the school application form. I'll ask about any additional forms considering change in circumstances. What do you mean by 'enlist in lieu of payment'? If he gets disenrollment from Navy does that also mean from the school? Would I have to pay back all his scholarship funds before he could enlist or graduate? Is your mid's major ME?
OK- if he gets disenrolled, it is from the NROTC, not the university. That generally means he will be required to pay back all monies expended on him for schooling, training, books, stipends, etc which will be tallied up after the disenrollment process and in my opinion, you are given a ridiculously short period of time with which a student would have to repay. Then, if he is disenrolled, he could continue at the school, but on his own dime.

If he fails to meet gpa at the end of spring semester, there will be another PRB convened- where generally the recommendation would be disenrollment, but the mid can ask for enlistment in lieu thereof. The PNS could recommend enlistment, and if that is accepted by the navy, then he'd enlist right away. However, the needs of the navy dictate whether that will be offered. If it is not approved, that he gets enlistment in lieu of repayment, then, it is also my understanding that there will be a set $$ amount, kind of like a 'judgment; so to speak against the mid. If he then were to enlist on his own, that money still would be expected, but it may be deferred as long as the navy is notified, and after serving 2 years, he would apply to have that $$ removed for having served. I may not have the correct terminology, but that is my understanding. Again, this is if he failed to meet gpa by semester's end. If he meets GPA, then in the fall he would be re-upped and the scholarship would apply- but not retroactively for the spring semester. However, I believe at that point he would again be on probation with the unit in the fall.

So if he again failed to meet GPA in fall, after already having had an LOA this spring, he would be disenrolled. It is stressful.
 
OK- if he gets disenrolled, it is from the NROTC, not the university. That generally means he will be required to pay back all monies expended on him for schooling, training, books, stipends, etc which will be tallied up after the disenrollment process and in my opinion, you are given a ridiculously short period of time with which a student would have to repay. Then, if he is disenrolled, he could continue at the school, but on his own dime.

If he fails to meet gpa at the end of spring semester, there will be another PRB convened- where generally the recommendation would be disenrollment, but the mid can ask for enlistment in lieu thereof. The PNS could recommend enlistment, and if that is accepted by the navy, then he'd enlist right away. However, the needs of the navy dictate whether that will be offered. If it is not approved, that he gets enlistment in lieu of repayment, then, it is also my understanding that there will be a set $$ amount, kind of like a 'judgment; so to speak against the mid. If he then were to enlist on his own, that money still would be expected, but it may be deferred as long as the navy is notified, and after serving 2 years, he would apply to have that $$ removed for having served. I may not have the correct terminology, but that is my understanding. Again, this is if he failed to meet gpa by semester's end. If he meets GPA, then in the fall he would be re-upped and the scholarship would apply- but not retroactively for the spring semester. However, I believe at that point he would again be on probation with the unit in the fall.

So if he again failed to meet GPA in fall, after already having had an LOA this spring, he would be disenrolled. It is stressful.

Thanks. I really hope someone is explaining all this to him. I will surely find out.
 
Thanks. I really hope someone is explaining all this to him. I will surely find out.

being realistic, I don't think it is explained that way to them, but even if it is, they have teen brain still, so to speak, and it may not truly register! Just send him a link to the post, or just copy and paste it to send him. Best of luck. I would, however, advise that heaven forbid he does not make the gpa for spring, hire a lawyer to help with disenrollment PRB while they cannot actively participate in the hearing, they can help your son prepare for it and after the finding, then there are ways they can help negotiate the amount of $ owed and payback schedule etc. Hopefully not something to worry about, but just be mindful of it.
 
In fairness to the NROTC staff at your son's school, since the PRB resulted in LOA it's not surprising that the details surrounding recoupment of scholarship money (if disenrolled) has not been discussed.

- I do not recommend contacting the NROTC staff directly. I recommend your son make an appointment with his Navy advisor and dialing you into that conversation.
- Your son is not eligible to attend summer training while in an LOA status (which as you indicate is irrelevant if grades don't improve this spring)
- Terminology is important....if your son moves the overall GPA above 2.5 in the spring, he comes off LOA, attends summer training, and the scholarship is re-instated for the fall semester. Your son would not be on Probation for the fall semester. That being said, if your son has another academic deficiency, he would head for another PRB and the next step is disenrollment. Multiple LOAs are rare and cannot be approved at the PNS level.
 
Well I got some interesting news. My DS told me today he spoke with one of the Navy officers. The LOA was the recommendation of the board. It’s not official until the CO approves it. Hmmm.
 
Well it’s official. He’s LOA for the semester. He signed papers today. He then texted me this: I was thinking about going reserves over the summer. Like going to basic and enlisting in the Navy reserves. It’s 6 to 9 weeks. I then asked him where’s he getting this advice. And what about school/summer classes. He says: I’m looking up these things online. I’ve checked forums and social media. I looked for stories of what other people in my situation have done. ???
 
Just wondering what anyone’s take is on this. I posted this earlier but got no response: DS did get LOA for this semester with reinstatement end of semester if gpa is 2.5 or above. He recently texted me that he was looking for advice online for what people in his situation have done (which scares me - I told him to look here). He said he’s thinking about going reserves over the summer - going to basic and enlisting in the Navy reserves for 6-9 weeks. I asked what about school/summer classes/your conditions under the scholarship/commissioning upon graduation? He didn’t reply. Can someone tell me why would he consider this?
 
Other than another way to help pay for college, or actually wanting to enlist, I can't think of a good reason. His issue is with grades. If he plans on continuing in NROTC he should focus on that. Just one man's opinion.
 
No comment as I have no idea how this all works. But as a mom, I would be concerned that my young adult had all the pertinent info! Good luck, and following along to see how this plays out!
 
Is there an explanation for why your son is not seeking advice from his 3/c Class Adviser? I had recommended earlier in this thread that he set an appointment with his adviser and have you dial in to that conversation. Did that take place? I'd be very concerned that he's seeking advice online vs going to someone in the know.

For the record, your son is already USNR. He signed a DD Form 4 when he activated his scholarship which is an enlistment in the Navy Reserve. True for both Navy and Marine options on scholarship.
 
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Is there an explanation for why your son is not seeking advice from his 3/c Class Adviser? I had recommended earlier in this thread that he set an appointment with his adviser and have you dial in to that conversation. Did that take place? I'd be very concerned that he's seeking advice online vs going to someone in the know.

For the record, your son is already USNR. He signed a DD Form 4 when he activated his scholarship which is an enlistment in the Navy Reserve. True for both Navy and Marine options on scholarship.

No that did not take place yet with Academics Advisor but I will tell him to arrange. So far he has visited Financial aid and they said the Navy has not notified them yet of LOA. He also told me that he can’t change his classes at this point but his advisor did switch out a tougher course for the summer so he’d have a lighter load this semester. I asked him about getting advice from his Naval Advisor and he said they can’t do anything other than counsel but he was going to talk to the Navy Admin.
 
To be clear, I am not talking about him speaking with his university assigned academic adviser. I am talking about the Navy LT that he should be meeting with 2x (minimum by regulation) per semester. And given his current status, it should likely be more often.

That LT is absolutely allowed to talk about Navy career advice - which is what your son is seeking (his talk of enlisting in the Navy, correct?). From the Regulations for Officer Development (para 3-4):

The NROTC instructor shall use these counseling sessions and other situations to accomplish the following officer adviser responsibilities: (7) Provide information on Naval Service career options and service assignment procedures.
 
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