In absentia
(b) In absentia. A responsible official of the school will certify a program of research pursued by a veteran or eligible person in absentia as full, three-fourths, one-half, less than one-half but more than one-quarter, or one-quarter or less time, and the activity will be assessed by the Department of Veterans Affairs accordingly when: (1) The research activity is defined and organized so as to enable the certifying official to evaluate the time required for its successful pursuit, and (2) The time certified for the research activity is independent of the time devoted to any employment situation in which the veteran or eligible person might be engaged.