Veterans Benefits

The Veterans Resource Center (VRC), C371, provides a full range of counseling services for the veteran population. The Veterans Resource Center provides information regarding all of the benefits available to veteran students and assists with any other problems encountered while attending the College. The programs available to veterans are:

Veterans Tutorial Benefits: (Chapter 33) To be eligible for tutorial benefits, veterans must be receiving monthly benefits on at least a half-time basis and have a deficiency in their program subject. A veteran is entitled to 12 months of tutorial benefits to a maximum of $100 per month. For more information, please visit www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use- benefits/tutor-assistance/

Veterans Work Study: Veterans work-study allowance is available to persons training at least 3/4 time basis under certain Veterans programs. They must meet the eligibility requirements for that program. Veterans may work during or between periods of enrollment. Veterans must notify the Veterans Resource Center that they would like to apply for VA work study.

For a complete listing of programs and for additional information regarding the Veteran work-study allowance please visit their website at www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/work-study/.

Veteran Readiness and Employment: (Chapter 31) This is available to veterans who have at least a 20% disability rating from the Veterans Administration and includes payment for tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend. Full-time and part-time veteran students are eligible.

For more information, please visit www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/how-to-apply/ and then speak with the Veterans School Certifying Official (SCO) in C-113 regarding follow up procedures.

Benefits for Dependents of Veterans: There are numerous programs available to dependents of disabled veterans. For more information about these programs, please visit:

explore.va.gov/education-training/spouses-dependents-survivors

www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/

www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/

Chapter 1606 Educational Benefits:

Chapter 1606 of Title 10, U.S.C., Educational Assistance for Members of the Selected Reserve, is also referred to as the Montgomery G.I. Bill-Selected Reserve. Since July 1, 1985, DVA has held benefit payment responsibility, although the funding of educational assistance payments under this program is provided by the Department of Defense.

Monthly Rates: The rates of educational assistance allowance payable under Chapter 1606 for pursuit of a program of education are:

$397 per month for full-time pursuit

$297 per month for three-quarter time pursuit

$198 per month for half-time pursuit

$99.25 per month for less than half time pursuit

(These rates are subject to change by the Department of Veteran Affairs)

Entitlement/Monthly Rates: Veteran Education Benefit Entitlements will depend on the Veteran program you apply for and on your level of eligibility tied to your length of service, nature of discharge, and enrollment. For current information on education benefits under your Veteran program, refer to the Veterans website at https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-selected-reserve/

Monthly Verifications:

Veterans will need to complete the Veteran’s Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) process each month to continue to receive monthly benefits payments. The WAVE process can be submitted by calling their toll-free number at (877) 823- 2378 (toll free) OR by logging onto www.gibill.va.gov/wave. If you want to use one of the methods above and do not want to receive verifications in the mail each month, call (888) GI-BILL1 and to make the request.

WAVE verification not required for Ch. 33 - Post 9/11 G.I. Bill ® recipients.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), LaGuardia Community College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. LaGuardia Community College will not:

Prevent nor delay the student’s enrollment;
Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
Deny the student access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution, including but not limited to access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students will be required to:

• Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class; and

• Provide additional information needed to properly certify their enrollment as described in other institutional policies, as listed in this catalog.

The Post-9/11 GI-Bill®

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education, housing, books and supplies to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

How to Apply for the Post 9/11 GI BILL and Other Education Benefits (Chapters 31, 33, 35)
Veterans can apply for VA education benefits by visiting the VA website at: www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/ to complete their application.

Approved Veterans will receive a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or award letter, in the mail.

The VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and your Member 4 DD214 must then be presented or forwarded electronically to the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) in C-113 payroll office.

(GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/ )

Verification of enrollment to receive Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI BILL benefits

Effective August 1, 2021 Chapter 33 Veterans must verify enrollment on a monthly basis directly with the VA in order to avoid any disruption of their monthly housing allowance. Chapter 33 Veterans should call the VA Education call center at 1-888-442-4551 to verify their enrollment status.

Course Applicability for Veteran Educational Benefits:

Per published VA regulations, only Degree Bearing courses that count toward a Veteran’s current program of study may be certified for Veteran Benefits. Veterans are strongly encouraged to seek academic advisement prior to registration in order to avoid enrolling in courses that cannot be certified for VA benefits.

Registration Changes and Veteran Educational Benefits:

Veterans are responsible for notifying the School Certifying Official of any registration changes. Enrolling in unauthorized repeated courses, or enrolling in courses not required to fulfill their applied educational objectives may change their eligibility for GI BILL education benefits and create a debt with either the college or the Department of Veteran Affairs, or both. Withdrawals may negatively impact a Veterans eligibility for benefits.

Veterans are strongly encouraged to contact the School Certifying Official before withdrawing from a course certified under VA benefits in order to prevent loss of VA benefits and associated monthly housing allowance.

Duplicative Veteran Benefits-(TAP) Eligibility and Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:

A duplicative benefit is an award that duplicates the purpose of another award. Duplicative benefits are those that duplicate the purpose of TAP, STAP, APTS, or Veterans Tuition Awards – i.e. Tuition Awards. If a Veteran is 100% eligible from the VA under the GI BILL, then that Veteran is no longer eligible for a duplicative benefit from TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) from New York State.

For more information please visit: www.hesc.ny.gov/partner-access/financial-aid-professionals/tap-and-scholarship-resources/tap-coach/36-duplicative-benefits-duplicate-award.html

Rate of Pursuit Needed for Full Time Chapter 33 Benefits

Each academic year is composed of two standard semesters each with two modules (sessions). In order for Veterans to receive Chapter 33 maximum housing allowance at their respective level of eligibility during each session, the following rate of pursuit per session is needed:

Session one: enrollment at 12 credits

Session two: enrollment at 6 credits

Rate of Pursuit for Title 38 Veteran Benefits is computed on a per session basis. In order to be eligible for a partial housing allowance, the Veteran must be over half time enrollment per session.

Non-Degree Status for Veterans utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill:

A Veteran may be formally admitted as a non-matriculated student to the college provided they are pending admission to a particular matriculated program. For VA certification purposes, “pending admission” means a complete application for a specific matriculated program has been submitted by the Veteran to the admissions office and is under review. A Veteran under non-matriculated status may only be certified for General education courses required for admission and those required if admitted into the matriculated program.

Veterans Credit for Military Service

Veterans enrolled in degree programs (matriculated) who have been honorably discharged from the United States military may qualify for unrestricted elective credit. The Veteran must have been in active service for more than 90 days and must have completed at least one semester at LaGuardia Community College with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.

Unrestricted elective credits will be awarded based on length of active service according to the following scale:

Less than 3 months = none

3 months through 12 months = 2

12 months through 24 months = 4

25 months or more = 6

Veterans who qualify under the above mentioned guidelines should present form DD214 member 4 to the Veteran Academic Advisor in room C371, for review.

Joint Service Transcripts for Veterans

A Joint Service Transcript (JST) is an academically accepted document that provides a description of military schooling and work history in civilian language. A Joint Service Transcript may be used to translate past military experience into potential academic credits. For more information, please visit https://jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do

Joint Service transcripts will need to be evaluated by LaGuardia credit evaluators. Veterans please contact Transfer Services at creditevaluation@lagcc.cuny.edu or speak with the Veterans academic advisor in C371 regarding the Joint Service Transcript and academic credits.

Application Fees, Late Fees, Add/Drop Fees and the GI Bill

Prevent nor delay the student's enrollment;
Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
Deny the student access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution, including but not limited to access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class;
Provide written request to be certified;
Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

Under VA regulations, application fees, late fees, Change of Program fees, and add drop fees are not payable by the VA. Veterans are encouraged to register early in order to avoid fees which cannot be certified to the VA.