Proposed Information Collection Activity; Public Comment Request: Verification of Pursuit of Course (Leading to a Standard College Degree), VA Form 22-6553

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Proposed Information Collection Activity; Public Comment Request:

Verification of Pursuit of Course (Leading to a Standard College

Degree), VA Form 22-6553

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and

respondent burden, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) invites the

general public and other Federal agencies to comment on this

information collection. This request for comment is being made pursuant

to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)). Comments should address the accuracy of the burden

estimates and ways to minimize the burden including the use of

automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of

information technology, as well as other relevant aspects of the

information collection.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposal for the

collection of information should be received on or before January 16,

1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans

Benefits Administration (20M30), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810

Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. All comments will become a

matter of public record and will be summarized in the VBA request for

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document VBA is

soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:

OMB Control Number: 2900-0355.

Title and Form Number: Verification of Pursuit of Course (Leading

to a Standard College Degree), VA form 22-6553.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Need and Uses: The form is used by schools to certify enrollment

information and to report changes in a student's enrollment status. The

information is used to determine if VA education benefits are affected.

Current Actions: VA is authorized to pay education benefits to

veterans and other eligible persons pursuing approved programs of

education under Chapters 32 and 35, Title 38, U.S.C.; Chapter 1606 of

Title 10, U.S.C.; and Section 903 of Public Law 96-342. Benefits are

not payable when pursuit of the program is interrupted or terminated,

or is not in accordance with the regularly established policies and

regulations of the school. Schools are required to report, without

delay to VA, in the form required by VA, failure to enroll, an

interruption or termination, or a finding of unsatisfactory progress or

conduct. Schools are also required to verify the continued enrollment

of degree-seeking students whose enrollment has previously certified to

VA for a period of more than one semester, quarter, or term. VA Form

22-6553 serves as this verification of enrollment and report of change

in enrollment status. For students receiving assistance under chapter

1606 Title 10, U.S.C., schools receive computer generated letters

containing the same information (essentially a computer generated

letter requesting the same information requested on VA Form 22-6553).

These forms are associated with all other forms for the school and sent

in a packet with a cover letter.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government and Not-for-

profit institutions.

Estimated Annual Burden: 35,240 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,286.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the form should be directed to Department of Veterans

Affairs, Attn: Ron Taylor, VA Clearance Officer (045A4), Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420,

Telephone (202) 565-4412 or FAX (202) 565-8267.

Dated: October 31, 1995.

By direction of the Secretary.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.

[FR Doc. 95-28010 Filed 11-13-95; 8:45 am]

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