CCC Veterans Services Veteran-Student Handbk 2012-2013 Clackamas Cmmunity Cllege Veterans Services Office
Welcme Hme & Welcme t CCC! CCC Veterans Services is lcated in Cmmunity Center 100 We are here t serve yu, answer yur questins, ease yur transitin, and assist in yur success! Fall, Winter, & Spring Hurs M-F 8:00AM-5:00PM Summer Term Hurs M-TH 8:00AM-5:00PM Cntact Inf vetinf@clackamas.edu 503-594-3438 r 503-594-6609 On Facebk 2
Missin Statement The missin f the Veteran Services Department is t assist ur Natin s Veterans and their dependents in accessing their VA educatinal benefits, while safeguarding the GI Bill resurces available fr thse educatinal prgrams. We will prvide cnsistent, prfessinal service, share knwledge, prmte individual grwth, assist in the military-t-civilian transitin, and supprt the Veteran s future pprtunities t access higher educatin r transitin int the wrkfrce. 3
Equal Opprtunity Statement Clackamas Cmmunity Cllege des nt discriminate n the basis f race, clr, religin, gender, sexual rientatin, marital status, age, natinal rigin/ancestry, disability, family relatinship r any ther prtected status in accrdance with applicable law. The Cllege s cmmitment t nndiscriminatin applies t curriculum activity and all aspects f peratin f the cllege. 4
CCC Veterans Services Rles/Respnsibilities Our Missin is yur success! Our rle at CCC is t infrm, empwer, and assist yu in achieving yur educatinal gals by cnnecting yu with yur hard-earned VA Educatinal benefits. It is ur respnsibility t ensure timely, and accurate VA Educatinal Benefits certificatins while remaining in strict cmpliance with Federal Law. The CCC Veterans Services Department des nt determine eligibility. Only the VA can determine eligibility, if yu are uncertain whether r nt yu are eligible, we encurage yu t apply at http://www.gibill.va.gv/. Once yu receive yur certificate f eligibility yu MUST bring a cpy int the VET Center in DeJardin Hall. NOTE: It takes apprximately 10-12 weeks fr the Muskgee VA Reginal Office t prcess educatinal benefit claims. Yu will receive a letter f eligibility frm them stating the educatinal benefits yu will receive, the time perid awarded fr, and the mnths f entitlement remaining. VA Educatinal Benefits are paid based n: attendance, curses applicable t VA bjective (YOUR DEGREE r Prgram f Study), length f curses, and number f credits fr each curse. 5
VA Requirements fr Educatinal Benefit Utilizatin Department f Veterans Affairs will NOT pay educatinal benefits if ne f the fllwing shuld ccur: 1. The veteran registers fr classes nt specified in the declared prgram f study. Deficiency r remedial curses (belw 100 level) may be certified fr benefits (Fr substitutin f curses, VA student must visit with the Veteran Educatin Benefit Specialist.) 2. The veteran fails t submit all previus cllege transcripts and request their evaluatin twards their degree gal by the end f the first term. 3. The veteran fails t attend class fr the term VA benefits are received. 4. The veteran fails t achieve the minimum GPA f 2.00 fr three cnsecutive terms r sessins. 5. The veteran fails t cmplete 50 percent f the curses registered fr (unless fficially withdrawn during the first 30 days f the term). 6. The veteran, like all students at CCC will be placed n academic alert when a student s term GPA falls belw a 2.00. By the end f the alert term, the veteran must attain a term GPA f 2.00 r they will be placed n Academic Prbatin status. If he/she fails t d s by the end f the third cnsecutive term VA benefits will be suspended. 6
Academic Standing Refer t page 205 f the CCC Catalg fr mre detailed infrmatin Students' receiving Veterans' Educatinal benefits are respnsible fr demnstrating pursuit tward their identified prgram f study. Standards fr Academic Prgress (SAP): Yu must successfully cmplete 66.7% f yur cursewrk with a 2.0 term and cumulative GPA Credits attempted d nt include credit hurs drpped prir t the sixth week f the term r credit hurs changed t audit Students will be evaluated fr academic standing and ntified by the Veterans Services Office at the end f each term if ne r mre f the afrementined requirements is nt met; the fllwing will take place: 1. Academic Alert: (First term SAP nt met) We encurage yu t meet with an Academic Advisr t discuss/frmulate an academic strategy that will enable yu t return t gd standing. 2. Academic Prbatin: (Secnd cnsecutive term SAP nt met) We require yu t meet with an Academic Advisr t discuss/frmulate an academic strategy (Educatin Plan) that will enable yu t return t gd standing, failure t d s will result in a registratin hld fr the subsequent term. 3. Academic Suspensin: (Third cnsecutive term SAP nt met) Students in this status will be restricted frm registering fr subsequent terms until the fllwing requirements are accmplished and apprved by a Veterans Certifying Official: Yu must meet with an Academic Advisr t discuss/frmulate an academic strategy (Educatin Plan) that will enable yu t return t gd standing, and cmplete a Veterans SAP Appeal Package. Failure t d s will result in a registratin hld fr the subsequent term and culd result in terminatin f VA educatinal benefits. 4. Terminatin: (Furth cnsecutive term SAP nt met) VA Educatinal Benefits suspended fr a term if SAP standards are nt met during the term fllwing Academic Suspensin/appeal apprval. 7
Grades Refer t page 204 f the CCC Catalg fr mre infrmatin I, F, N, W, X, and Y grades can affect VA benefits and ptentially result in verpayments If there is a legitimate reasn, with supprting dcumentatin, fr the punitive grade; cmmunicate that infrmatin ASAP t the Veterans Services Office I (Incmpletes) must be cmpleted within 1 calendar year 8
Repeat Curses VA will NOT pay fr repeat curses that were successfully cmpleted. Letter grades f A, B, C r D are cnsidered t be successfully cmpleted fr VA purpses. EXCEPTION: Sme curses require a specific minimum grade fr successful cmpletin. Please refer t CCC catalg curse descriptin fr these requirements. 9
VA Educatinal Benefits Fr the mst up-t-date infrmatin n all VA Educatinal Benefits prgrams please visit http://www.gibill.va.gv/ Chapter 30, Mntgmery GI Bill Active Duty Fr Veterans that served n Active Duty and have been hnrably discharged Chapter 1606, Mntgmery GI Bill Selected Reserve Fr Current members f the Natinal Guard r Reserve that have nt served n active duty (Title 10) Chapter 1607, Reserve Educatinal Assistance Prgram (REAP) Fr Current members f the Natinal Guard r Reserve that have served Title 10 Active duty Chapter 31, VA Vcatinal Rehabilitatin & Emplyment Prgram (VR&E) Fr Veterans with a Service Cnnected Disability Chapter 33, Pst 9/11 GI Bill Fr Veterans that have served at least 90 days f Active Duty since 9/11/2001 Chapter 35, Dependents Educatinal Assistance (DEA) Fr Dependents r Spuses f Veterans that were killed in actin, died during their service, r are 100% disabled as a result f their service Veterans Retraining Assistance Prgram (VRAP) Fry Schlarship Fr unemplyed Veterans age 35-60 with expired educatinal benefits Fr Children f Active Duty members f the Armed Frces wh were killed in the line f duty after 9/10/2001 10
Department f Defense (DOD) Educatinal Prgrams Tuitin Assistance Fr current members f the Natinal Guard, Reserve, and active duty service members Pays 100% f tuitin, up t $4500 per year Fr mre infrmatin and/r t get started cntact yur Unit Educatin Officer r NCO Fr ORNG, Army, and Army Reserve visit https://www.garmyed.cm/lgin.aspx Military Spuse Career Advancement Accunts (MyCAA) Fr spuses f deplyed r recently deplyed service men and wmen Prvides up t $6,000 f Financial Assistance fr military spuses wh are pursuing degree prgrams, licenses r credentials leading t emplyment in prtable career fields. http://www.myarmynesurce.cm/familyprgramsandservices/familyprgrams/s urvivroutreachservices/mycaafactsheet.aspx 11
State f Oregn Prgrams Oregn Educatinal Aid fr Veterans Fr Oregn Veterans nt utilizing Federal VA Benefits Veterans are entitled t receive $150 per mnth when enrlled fr 12 r mre credits at CCC. Benefits will be paid fr as many mnths as the veteran spent in active service, up t a maximum f 36 mnths. One mnth f entitlement will be charged fr each mnth paid. 1. Must be a full-time student, and 2. Active duty in the Armed Frces f the US between June 25, 1950 and January 31, 1955 r subsequent t (anytime after) June 30, 1958 fr nt less than 90 days, 3. Is a resident f Oregn when applying fr Educatinal Aid, 4. Released frm the military under hnrable cnditins, and 5. A U.S. Citizen Fallen Oregn Service Member Tuitin Waiver Fr spuses r dependent children ages 17-23 f a Veteran wh: 1. At the time f death served in the Armed Frces during a natinal emergency, war declared by Cngress, r actin f the UN r was killed n active duty 2. Or died f a service-cnnected disability acquired n active duty after 1990 3. Or is 100% disabled as a result f military service as certified by US Dept f Veterans Affairs 12
Degree and Certificates Veterans receiving VA benefits may select any prgram listed n the fllwing website fr apprved prgrams at Clackamas: http://inquiry.vba.va.gv/weamspub/ I Veterans may change prgram f study and cntinue t receive VA benefits with VA apprval; fr details, visit the VET Center When changing yur prgram f study a new educatin plan must be develped and turned in t the Veteran Educatin Benefit Specialist. Veterans pursuing a Nursing Degree must be accepted int the prgram befre declaring it as a majr. Only curses that are required fr cmpletin f the degree/certificate yu have declared as yur majr can be certified t VA. Remember this rule The VA will nly pay fr the minimum number f credits needed fr yu t receive yur degree. 13
Attending Multiple Schls Yu may attend and utilize yur VA benefits at mre than ne schl The degree-granting institutin is the Parent Schl The Parent Schl must apprve the curses fr certificatin frm the secndary schl It is the student s respnsibility t cmmunicate with the Schl Certifying Official at bth institutins 14
Changing Persnal Infrmatin Changes in veterans persnal infrmatin must be reprted t the CCC Veteran Services Office. Failure t d s may result in the delay r lss f VA benefits. In additin, please reprt any and all changes t the Admissins ffice 15
Request fr Certificatin/Schedule Changes Requests fr Certificatin t the VA must be submitted EVERY term by turning in a Veterans Request fr Certificatin frm t the Veterans Services Office All schedule changes must be reprted immediately t the CCC Veterans Services Office by turning-in an updated frm Changes include but are nt limited t: 1. Enrlling every term 2. Adding/Drpping a class 3. Withdrawals 4. Changing a degree r prgram 5. Updating persnal infrmatin Students withdrawing frm a curse after 30 days shuld prvide the CCC Veterans Services Office with a statement indicating any mitigating circumstances invlved. This statement will be sent t the Veterans' Administratin fr cnsideratin in determining any verpayment. 16
Enrllment Status 12 credit r mre = Full time 9-11 Credits = ¾ time 6-8 Credits = ½ time 5 r less credits is less than ½ time ***Chapter 33 Pst 9/11 Students yu must be pursuing at mre than ½ time t receive BAH*** BAH is pr-rated based n rate f pursuit; example: (3/4 time = 75% payment, r full-time = 100% payment) 17
Online/Hybrid Curses Chapter 33, Pst 9-11 recipients be advised, Online and hybrid curses can affect payment If yu take all f yur curses nline/hybrid yu will be paid at ½ the natinal average fr BAH Yu may receive Oregn City BAH if yu take at least 1 traditinal (in-class) curse All VA Students The VA will nt pay fr nline/hybrid remedial (belw 100 level) curses If yu wuld like t utilize benefits fr remedial curses, yu must first test int that curse, and take the traditinal (in-class) sectin 18
Attendance The VA requires veterans receiving benefits t attend all scheduled class meetings. If yu receive ntificatin f a deplyment, 2 cpies f yur rders need t be given t the cllege, ne t the Veteran Services Office, and ne t the Registrar. Pre-scheduled medical prcedures shuld als be reprted t the Veterans Services Office 19
Payment t CCC All Chapters, with the exceptin f CH-33 (at the 100% rate) and CH-31 are respnsible fr paying all tuitin and fees, refer t page 6 f the schedule f classes fr imprtant term deadlines Yu are respnsible fr payment f all tuitin and fees due t the Cllege if VA des nt make payment because f an verpayment situatin. Yu shuld infrm the CCC Veterans Services Office immediately if yu have an verpayment with the federal Department f Veteran Affairs. Chapter 33 Students must infrm the Veterans Service Office f any Tuitin Waivers r Tuitin Schlarships 20
Payment t Yu VA Educatinal benefits are paid in a reimbursement methd based n: attendance, curses applicable t VA bjective and length f curses. VA students shuld receive their first check within SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS after the first day f class r later if the veteran applies fr certificatin after classes begin. (NOTE: Currently the wait fr first payment may be lnger) Chapters 30, 1606, 1607 (REAP), and VRAP students are respnsible fr verifying enrllment the last day f each mnth enrlled at CCC @ www.gibill.va.gv WAVE system r 1-877-823-2378 Failure t d s will result in nn-payment Pay attentin t the Imprtant Dates t Remember page lcated in the Schedule f Classes Register as early as pssible t ensure maximum class availability Fr questins cncerning payment, cntact the VA directly at 1-888-442-4551 21
Direct Depsit Direct Depsit is the VA s preferred and mst efficient methd f payment Call the VA directly @ 1-888-442-4551 t set it up 22
Break Pay The VA n lnger pays fr breaks between terms Payment is issued nly fr certified enrllment perids based n #f credits, and training time Yu are nly paid during the time yu are in class based n the start and end dates f the term 23
Licensing & Certificatin Test Fee Reimbursement Yu can receive test fee reimbursement fr sme licensing and certificatin tests yu take n r after March 1, 2001. These tests must be specifically apprved fr the G.I. Bill. VA will nly pay fr the cst f the tests and nt ther fees cnnected with btaining a license r certificatin. 24
Tutrial Assistance CCC Tutrial Services prvides free individual and small grup tutring Tutrs are available by appintment during regular cllege hurs n campus Online tutrs are als available fr Distance Learning Classes If additinal Tutrial assistance is needed, it may be paid by the VA t students under chapters 30, 35 and 1606. Tutrial assistance is nt authrized fr chapter 1607 at this time. VA Tutrial assistance helps the student pay fr necessary tutring and is a supplement t the student's regular educatin benefit. VA Tutrial Assistance Overview The mnthly rate may nt exceed the cst f tutring r $100. The maximum amunt payable is $1200. There is n entitlement charge fr the first $600 under chapters 30 and 1606. There is n entitlement charge under chapter 35. The student, tutr, and certifying fficial must cmplete VA Frm 22-1990t, Applicatin and Enrllment Certificatin fr Individualized Tutrial Assistance. The applicatin may be submitted at the end f each mnth r cmbinatin f mnths. The applicatin must be signed and dated n r after the date f the last certified tutring sessin. Eligibility (All f the fllwing must be met fr a student t be eligible fr tutrial assistance) The student must be in a pst-secndary prgram n a half-time r mre basis The student must have a deficiency in a curse that is part f his r her apprved prgram The student must be enrlled in a curse during the same quarter in which tutring is received fr that curse. Tutring may nt ccur between terms 25
VA Wrk Study The VA wrk study prgram is a TAX FREE wrk study prgram ffered t eligible students using VA educatinal benefits Yu are eligible t participate in the Wrk Study Prgram if yu are using yur VA Educatin Benefits and attending 9+ credit hurs The pay is minimum wage and yu may wrk at VA ffices, Veteran Outreach services, Veteran Medical facilities, Natinal Cemetery System Offices, etc Cntact the Veterans Services Office fr further infrmatin 26
Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) If yu are an American Citizen, yu may be eligible This is nt VA benefits, and yu can utilize bth simultaneusly G t www.fafsa.ed.gv t get started Fr mre infrmatin r assistance visit the frnt line in Rger Rk Hall r call 503-594-6082 27
Veteran Status Ntificatin The fllwing must be advised f yur Veteran Status: Financial Aid Department (when applying fr a lan). Advisrs (when develping an educatinal plan). 28
Replacement DD-214 DD-214s can be requested nline at the natinal archives website http://www.archives.gv/veterans/military-servicerecrds/ 29
Military Transcripts Gd News! CCC accepts the American Cuncil n Educatin s Recmmended cllege credits fr Military Training and Educatin Navy/Marine: SMART https://smart.navy.mil/ Air Frce: CCAF http://www.au.af.mil/ Army: AARTS http://aarts.army.mil/ Have fficial transcripts sent t: CCC Recrds Office 19600 Mlalla Ave Oregn City, OR 97045 30
VA Cntacts Reginal Prcessing Office Department f Veterans Affairs RPO PO Bx 8888 Muskgee, OK 74402-8888 1-888-442-4551 The VA Internet inquiry system (aka Right Nw Web ) prvides a secure platfrm t cmmunicate with the VA. T set-up an Internet Inquiry System accunt, g t www.gibill.va.gv and click the Ask a Questin and Find Answers link. VA Debt Management Department f Veterans Affairs Debt Management Center PO Bx 11930 St Paul, MN 55111-0930 Phne: 1-800-827-0648 Fax: 1-612-970-5688 31
Resurces Yur VetCenter in CC100 503-594-3438, vetinf@clackamas.edu, https://www.facebk.cm/cccvetcenter Infrmatin and Referral Services Cmputers Study Area Lunge Day Use Lckers Fd and Cffee Peer Supprt Pay-it-Frward Grants Text bk Grants Veterans Club Returning Natinal Guard and Reservists http://www.rng-vet.rg/ State f Oregn Dept f Veterans Affairs http://www.regn.gv/odva/benefits/ Cmbat Veterans Prtland Veterans Outreach Center http://www.vetcenter.va.gv 8383 NE Sandy Blvd Suite 110 Prtland, OR 97220-4948 (503) 273-5370 Returning Veterans Prject 833 SE Main St Prtland, OR 97214 (503) 933-4996 www.returningveterans.cm E-mail: mail@returningveterans.cm 32
Questins/Cntact Inf Greg Myers Clackamas Cmmunity Cllege Veterans Services Crdinatr Oregn City Campus, Cmmunity Center 100 vetinf@clackamas.edu On Facebk 503-594-3438 33