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Military – Veterans Office Menu
Everything You Need To Know About Receiving VA Educational Benefits
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You should refer to this guide for clarification on receiving your VA benefits. This information is of a general nature. If you have a specific question not covered under the guidelines, please contact a Barstow College Veterans Affairs Advisor at (760) 252-2411 x7218.
Applying – What's Required At Barstow College?
You must check in with your Veterans Affairs Advisor every semester after signing up for your classes. Fill out the BCC form Veterans Statement of Responsibility (available online) and fax it to (760) 252-6754 or mail it to the BCC Veterans Office in order to receive continuing benefits and to prevent delays in payment of benefits. If you do not fill out the Veterans Statement of Responsibility Form, you will not be certified for the semester. Barstow College usually clears paperwork in one week; however, during peak periods allow at least two weeks. Processing of the initial VA application takes at least eight to 10 weeks at the Veterans Administration; subsequent paperwork usually takes four to six weeks. FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES that Veterans request OFFICIAL SEALED transcripts be sent from all the schools, colleges, training institutes, and technical schools they attended to the Barstow College Records Office. This includes all training and education received before entering active duty as well as any training received during service and after discharge, even if VA benefits were not paid for attending the course or program. Military transcripts (AARTS, SMARTS or CCAF) are required, and/or DD295 or VMET or certificates of completion must also be submitted for military schools. VA regulations give students 30 days from the start of their first semester of attendance to supply Barstow College with these official transcripts. Foreign schools - Students with foreign school transcripts will need to have the foreign transcripts evaluated by an academic credentials evaluation service and will need an official copy of the evaluation sent to the Barstow College Records Office. If transcripts are not received during the first semester of attendance Barstow College will refuse to certify students beyond their first semester of attendance. The VA may give students a second semester as a grace period to submit transcripts to the college but will not, under any circumstance, pay beyond the second semester of attendance without the evaluation being completed. Veterans and dependents are required to declare a two-year major as listed in the Barstow College catalog, or a transfer major based on articulation agreements with the California State University or the University of California and Barstow College. VA students are allowed major changes. The first major change is optional; the second and subsequent changes may require VA approval. Changes of major must be made on VA form 22-1995 through your Veterans Affairs Advisor. A major consists of general education classes, major courses as prescribed in the catalog, or articulation agreements and electives (only as required by a specific major). The VA also pays for required remedial/refresher courses as determined by assessment testing at Barstow College, specifically math, English, and reading classes. Barstow College is VA approved for all associate’s degrees listed in our current catalog, as well as Cal State and UC System transfer agreements (CSU/IGETC). See a counselor for an education plan. Payment is based on the dates the approved classes actually meet. Payments of benefits are usually made between the 1st and the 15th of each month, paying for the previous month. Inquiries may be made directly with the VA at their toll free number 1-888-442-4551.
If a student stops attending a class, he/she MUST drop officially through the Barstow College Admissions Office, and report the drop to his/her Veterans Affairs Advisor as well as the VA. This is a student responsibility - not a responsibility of Barstow College. Federal law requires that students report any change in enrollment status, which might affect their VA education benefits to the school and the VA. Your signature on the Veterans Statement of Responsibility shows acceptance of the responsibility to keep Barstow College and the VA informed of any change in student status. Failure to accept responsibility for dropped courses can result in an overpayment! When there is an overpayment the VA will ask for repayment of the amount overpaid. If you ignore the VA’s request, they can withhold future GI bill payments, disability payments, or depending upon the situation, they can take a student to court, charge interest and they may take future tax refunds, attach wages, put a legal hold on property, or deny a VA home loan. The Veterans Affairs Advisor monitors student attendance on a weekly basis via the computer, and updated changes are sent to the VA. When adding or dropping classes, the student must report the add or drop directly to his/her Veterans Affairs Advisor as well as the VA. F, FW, NC, Grades – Since the VA will not pay benefits for the period after a student has ceased attending class, Barstow College is required to notify the VA of those students who received an “F”, “FW”, or “NC” grade. Barstow College will follow VA regulations and report the last date of attendance for the “F”, “FW” or ”NC” grade as the last official day the student can drop and receive a “W” grade for the course. When you see a counselor (in the counseling office or transfer center), identify yourself as a veteran. Be aware that the VA places restrictions on what courses you may use to receive pay. The counselor will help you develop an education plan, which will be used in certifying your courses with the VA during your matriculation at Barstow College.
Academic and Progress Standards Student Veterans should be aware of the standards of satisfactory progress and attendance for GI Bill recipients. If you are on academic or progress probation for two consecutive semesters, Barstow College is required to notify the VA. The VA will terminate payment of benefits. Certification for VA Education Benefits is not automatic. Each semester you want to utilize your Veterans educational benefits, you must fill out the Veterans Statement of Responsibility form and deliver it to your Veterans Affairs Advisor at Barstow College {Fax (760) 252-6754}. This should be done after you register for classes. We strongly recommend that you accomplish this as soon as you have secured classes in order to expedite the processing of educational benefits. Veterans and other eligible dependents receiving educational benefits under Chapters: 30, 32, 35, or 1606, who have never used their VA Education Benefits may apply for VA Education Benefits in person with a Barstow College Veterans Affairs Advisor or by faxing the necessary paperwork to (760) 252-6754 prior to registering for classes. Students must submit copies of all DD 214s and a completed VA form 22-1990. You will find VA forms online at http://www.gibill.va.gov. Those veterans receiving benefits under the conversion from the Vietnam Era to the Montgomery GI Bill will need to submit copies of all DD 214s, and if applicable, a completed VA form 22-686C, Declaration of Status of Dependents, listing all dependents. Students with prior educational training must provide official transcripts to Barstow College from all colleges, universities, and/or training institutes during the first semester of attendance. Students who previously received VA Educational Benefits at another school must complete VA form 22-1995 (Change of Place of Training) and submit it to a Veterans Affairs Advisor {fax (760) 252-6754}. Transcripts must be submitted to the Barstow College Admissions Office. Previously enrolled veterans should contact a counselor prior to registering to ensure proper credit. Students must turn in a completed Veterans Statement of Responsibility form after registering for classes every semester to ensure the continuation of their benefits. While receiving VA Education Benefits, students may be concurrently enrolled at more than one school during the same semester. The school from which the student is pursuing a degree will be the parent school. Student veterans must submit a Supplemental School Course Approval Letter (VA Form Letter 315) or an authorization letter from the advisor at the parent school. This form states that the courses taken at the supplemental school will be credited toward the current major the student is pursuing. Student Veterans are responsible for informing the supplemental school's Veterans Office the name and location of their parent school. The supplemental school will complete the Certification for Benefits form (VA form 22-1999) and send it to the VA. Student veterans who receive benefits under Chapter 30, 34, or 1606 GI Bill, have to verify their enrollment each month. These students will receive an award letter from the VA Regional Processing Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Once this is received, the student can self-certify. To ensure prompt payment of benefits, please self-certify every month. The earliest this can be done is the last day of each month. Monthly verification (self-certification) can be done via one of two ways:
Failure to self-certify will cause your benefits to stop. You must do this every month or you will not be paid! *Federal holidays may delay receipt of the Student Verification of Enrollment and/or your check. Direct deposit of VA Education Benefit payments is now available for Chapter 30 recipients. This program speeds education and work study payments. It also decreases chances of missing, lost, or stolen checks. Chapter 30 students may request direct deposit through the VA by calling 1-800-827-1000. The VA will require students to provide their VA file number, bank routing number, and checking/savings account number. Rates depend upon amount contributed and/or length of time in service (number of months of contribution), as well as enrollment status. Ask your Veterans Affairs Advisor for current pay rates for each particular GI Bill.
4 Week Session: FT= 3 units ¾= 2 units
Credit is given for formal service school training as recommended by The American Council on Education, through its Commission on Accreditation of Service School Experiences. For complete information contact your Veteran Affairs Advisor. Standards for Receiving Education Benefits In compliance with the Department of Veteran Benefits Circular 22-80-38, the college has developed standards of progress. Each student veteran must conform to these standards to be eligible for VA Education Benefit Certification. Each student veteran must read, sign, and return the original copy of these standards to their Barstow College Veterans Affairs Advisor when applying for benefits and upon changing their major.
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