Military Enrollment Training #3 Ottawa University Roll call Before we get started, does anyone have questions over the information we covered during the last training? May 8, 2014 Lisa Turner-Hernandez

Training Agenda Benefits for Active Servicemembers Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Other Misc. Benefits Financial Aid & the Military The information that I will share today may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but it will get easier as you start talking to these students. I would like to revisit a few key points that become very important as we start looking at military benefits: Do not guess! If you do not know the answer, say “I will find out for you” instead of giving the wrong information. If you are not comfortable with military jargon, do not use it. Details are very important. Most importantly, do not let the benefit that a student is using define their current military affiliation or vice versa. A student may be active and using VA benefits, and not understanding this will cause a lot of unnecessary confusion. The benefit a student is using does not define the student.

Military Benefits: Active Service Members Active Service Members include: Active Duty, Reserves & National Guard These are the students who are eligible to receive the $250/credit hour undergraduate tuition rate

Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) Most popular benefit among active service members Offered by branches, although eligibility, application processes & funding limits vary by branch Pays $250/semester credit hour up to $4,500/year Based on the DoD Fiscal Year: Oct. 1-Sept. 30 At OU, Fall 2 is the first term in the new fiscal year Recently several branches have lowered the funding &/or increased eligibility requirements Students must submit a new application each term Receive a TA Authorization Form if/when approved Funds are paid directly to the school A/R is now managing all the invoicing for TA Most branches only allow for 1 credential per level

FTA Details by Branch Branch Who’s Eligible? How to Apply Misc. Info Army Active Duty Reservists National Guard GoArmyEd Portal: www.goarmyed.com Must serve 1 year 16 SH limit/FY Grad students must have 10 years of service Air Force AF Virtual Ed Center: www.my.af.mil Air NG not eligible Marine Corps & Navy Navy College Program: www.navycollege.navy.mil New USMC applicants must complete College 101 before applying Coast Guard Active Duty (E6 & below) Navy Knowledge Online: wwwa.nko.navy.mil Only pay 75% of tuition cost not to exceed $187.50/SH There are a variety of application requirements and payment details that vary by branch, I will get the specifics of this out to everyone within in the week. Note: these guidelines are constantly changing, so always confirm the information you are sharing with students.

State Tuition Assistance State Tuition Assistance programs are developed and regulated by each individual state No Consistency in Guidelines or Eligibility Requirements among State Programs Most State TA Programs are only available to students attending public, in-state institutions Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Program Available to members of a Kansas Air/Army National Guard unit Provides up to 100% of tuition and fees toward a certificate, diploma or degree School must be approved by the Kansas Board of Regents

Tuition Assistance Top-Up Education program permitting the VA to pay for tuition cost not covered by FTA Eligibility Requirements: Student must be using FTA to pay for the class Must be eligible for MGIB-Active Duty or Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits Tuition cost for the course must exceed the amount covered by FTA Students can use MGIB-Active Duty or Post 9/11 GI Bill MGIB-Active Duty: funds are sent to the student Post 9/11 GI Bill: funds are sent directly to the school Application Process Apply for FTA through service branch New GI Bill applicants – complete VA Form 22-1990 or VA Form 22-1995 for returning users Submit signed FTA approval form to the VA Regional Processing Office

Military Benefits: Department of Veterans Affairs Don’t think of these benefits as only available to Veterans, simply think of them as benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Provides up to 36 months of education benefits Benefits are payable for up to 10 years following separation from active duty Must meet the requirements of 1 of the 4 MGIB Eligibility Categories to use this benefit A Monthly benefit is paid directly to the student based on the type of training, training time, and length of service Training Time: Undergraduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time Graduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time Application Process: complete VA Form 22-1990 or 22-1995 Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved Note: the training time is based on credit hours, so for classes that are worth only 1 or 2 credits do not fall under these rules.

Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab) Eligibility is determined by the Voc Rehab Counselor Must have received a discharge other than dishonorable Must have a VA service-connected disability rating of at least 10% The first step for students who meet the eligibility requirement is to meet with a Voc Rehab Counselor 12 year basic eligibility period If eligible for Ch. 31, the payment is sent directly to the school Students will provide the school with a Form 28- 1905

Chapter 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Rare program with a limited number of eligible veterans nation-wide 10 years from release of active duty to use the benefit Must have contributed to this benefit to be eligible Monthly payments are sent directly to the student Application Process: complete VA Form 22-1990 or 22-1995

Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill Provides up to 36 months of education benefits Benefits payable up to 15 years following separation from active duty Rate of Pursuit for Graduate and Undergraduates: 1 class/term = 70%, 2 classes/term = full time To apply, complete VA Form 22-1990 or 22-1995 Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved Ch. 33 Benefit Payment Sent to: Payment Calculations Tuition & Fees School Tuition Cost x Eligibility % Book Stipend Student Eligibility % & Credit Hours Housing Allowance Eligibility %, Rate of Pursuit & Campus

Chapter 33: How Eligibility is Determined Aggregate Active Duty Service Time after 9/10/2001: Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable At least 36 months 100% At least 30 continuous days & discharged due to a service-connected disability At least 30 months < 36 months 90% At least 24 months < 30 months 80% At least 18 months < 24 months 70% At least 12 months < 18 months 60% At least 6 months < 12 months 50% At least 90 days < 6 months 40%

Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP) The maximum Tuition & Fee Reimbursement the VA will pay to Private Schools per academic year is: $19,198.31 for the 2013 Academic Year (8/1/2013- 7/31/2014) The YRP allows institutions to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fees that exceed the amount the VA will pay for students who are 100% eligible for Chapter 33 benefits The institution can contribute up to 50% of the expenses and the VA will match that amount. Active Duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for the YRP APOS Undergraduates: 5,000 student maximum & a $3,000 per student per year limit All Graduate Students: 24,999 student maximum & a $3,000 per student per year limit

Chapter 33: Transfer of Education Benefits to Dependents Service Members who meet the following criteria may transfer their Chapter 33 benefits to dependents: Have unused entitlement to the Post 9/11 GI Bill Currently serving in the Armed Forces Served at least 6 years in any branch of the Armed Forces Commit to 4 additional years of service Eligible dependents include spouse and children (including step children) Application Process: Service Member Completes DoD Transferability of Education Benefits Application Once approved, the dependent will complete VA Form 22- 1990e and then the dependent will receive the COE letter

Chapter 35: Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Provides up to 81months of education benefits to eligible dependents of certain veterans A Monthly benefit is paid directly to the student based on the type of training and training time Period of Eligibility varies depending on the circumstance of eligibility and type of dependent Application Process: complete VA Form 22-5490 Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill -Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Available to members of the Selected Reserve: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps & Coast Guard Reserves Army National Guard & Air National Guard Eligibility generally Provides up to 36 months of education benefits Ends on the day you leave the Selected Reserve A Monthly benefit is paid directly to the student based on the type of training and training time Training Time: Undergraduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time Graduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time Application Process: complete VA Form 22-1990 or 22-1995 Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved

Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Benefit for Reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after 9/11/2001 Provides up to 36 months of education benefits Benefits are payable for up to 10 years following separation from active duty A Monthly benefit is paid directly to the student based on the type of training, training time, and length of service Training Time: Undergraduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time Graduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time Application Process: complete VA Form 22-1990 or 22-1995 Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved

Other Misc. Benefits

Other Misc. Benefits VRAP (Veterans Retraining Assistance Program): These funds cannot be used at Ottawa. Only funds education programs offered by a community college or technical school (not a 4-year University). MyCAA: This is a program for spouses of active service members. Only pays the tuition cost for courses and exams leading to an Associate's Degree, license, or certification.

Financial Aid & The Military

Financial Aid & the Military Service Members and Veterans are encouraged to use Pell Grants in addition to their military benefits. Service Members may have a Student Loan Repayment benefit that was included with their enlistment contract.

Questions?