Tempo Learning® : Enrollment Requirements for Military Benefits

Tempo Learning® is an alternative modality of learning to Walden’s existing course-based modality. Although Tempo Learning is flexible and you can set your own pace, and speed up or slow down when needed, there are restrictions when it comes to using your VA benefits and/or Tuition Assistance.

Competencies

Courses under Tempo are divided into several areas of expertise, also known as Competencies. Each Competency is then broken down into modules or sub-competencies leading up to an Assessment, which students must successfully achieve or master to move forward in their program.

Tempo students planning to utilize VA education benefits and/or Tuition Assistance must register for a full group of Competencies adding up to a complete course to have their enrollment certified for the subscription period. Although each Competency holds a credit value, it is important to note that the VA and DoD views Competencies as fractions of a course and does not pay for them individually.

The full group of Competencies must be achieved or mastered by the end of the subscription period for which they are certified and cannot be carried over to a future subscription.

Let’s review an example, using German III (GERM 3488) and German IV (GERM 3489) on the Crosswalk. These two courses are broken out as follows:

Please note Walden does not offer German language courses. The example is provided to help visualize how Competencies are grouped under a course.

VA Benefits (Chapter 1606, 30, 31, 33 and 35)

The Office of Military Services would only be able to certify enrollment in these courses when the complete group of Competencies is selected for the subscription period. This means a student is expected to register for and master or achieve Competencies GR3001 through GR3008 to be certified for the course GERM 3488 German III for a total of 5 credits.

Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance is only approved for courses when the complete group of Competencies is selected for the subscription period. A student is expected to register for and master or achieve Competencies GR3001 through GR3008 for the course GERM 3488 German III for a total of 5 credits. When submitting your request for tuition assistance, you will indicate the course GERM 3488 and not individual Competencies.

VA Benefits and Tuition Assistance

It is not permitted to mix and match Competencies from different courses without forming a complete group. Although a student could be in 5 credits by registering for EM4003, EM4004, GR3008, GR3002, EM4001, and GR3006, this enrollment cannot be certified with VA or approved for TA as it is not considered to be a complete course. A student would need to choose a full group of Competencies from German III or German IV.

If a student is unable to finish the full group of agreed upon Competencies within one subscription period, the VA and DoD will be notified. Please note that students are responsible for any balances that result from the return of VA and TA funds. Additionally, while Walden’s academic policy allows for students to carry unfinished Competencies forward to a future subscription, the VA and DoD does not, and they may not be certified or requested again for payment.

Let’s review an example, using the course German III (GERM 3488), which is broken out as follows:

Student ABC successfully masters Competencies GR3001 through GR3005 during their subscription period January 1 to March 31, but is unable to complete GR3006, GR3007, and GR3008. Student ABC agrees to complete these three remaining Competencies for GERM 3488 during their upcoming subscription period April 1 to June 30, and their enrollment would be as follows:

Course/Area of Expertise 

Unfortunately, these three Competencies alone do not make up the full GERM 3488 course, and Student ABC would be ineligible to have it certified for VA benefits during their upcoming subscription (April 1 to June 30) because they were previously certified during their subscription period January 1 to March 31.

If Student ABC used TA, student could not request TA for GERM 3488 for an upcoming subscription as TA was already requested during their subscription period January 1 to March 31.

If you have questions about your registration, please speak with your assigned Academic Coach.

For students using VA benefits, please be advised that although your enrollment may be certified, the certification does not guarantee VA benefit eligibility or payment. To determine whether you are eligible, please contact VA at 1-888-442-4551.

For students using TA, please contact your Education Office on base or post should you have any questions about requesting TA.

Please review the table below to determine how your enrollment status in Tempo will be reported to VA.

*VA determines enrollment status for undergraduate programs.