IACRAO 73rd ANNUAL MEETING Students, Records, and All That Jazz!

IACRAO 73rd ANNUAL MEETING VA Certifying Lisa Neel, University of Notre Dame Sarah Gibson, Indiana University Margaret Baechtold, Indiana University Tuesday, October 23, 8:45am

Session Rules of Etiquette Please turn off your cell phone/beeper Please turn off your cell phone/beeper If you must leave the session early, please do so as discretely as possible If you must leave the session early, please do so as discretely as possible Please avoid side conversation during the presentation Please avoid side conversation during the presentation Thank you for your cooperation!

Introduction Basics of Education Benefits certification for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs programs Basics of Education Benefits certification for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs programs Rules, Tools, and Resources for Schools Rules, Tools, and Resources for Schools

Topics of Discussion VA Education Benefit Programs VA Education Benefit Programs Certification Basics Certification Basics Suggested Tools Suggested Tools Resources and Links Resources and Links

The “Chapters” CH 30 Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty CH 30 Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty –36 months AD service, paid $1200 CH 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment CH 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment –Documented VA disability rating, assigned VA Case Manager CH 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill CH 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill –The BIGGIE – 90 days-36 months AD time, can be transferred

The “Chapters” Continued CH 35 Dependents Education Assistance CH 35 Dependents Education Assistance –Children and Spouses of 100% service- connected disabled vets CH 1606 Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve CH 1606 Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve –National Guard and Reserve members never activated CH 1607 Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) CH 1607 Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) –National Guard and Reserve members mobilized for active duty

Benefits CH 30: Full-time student receives monthly stipend currently $1564 plus any enlistment “kicker” or buy- up; funding goes directly to the student CH 30: Full-time student receives monthly stipend currently $1564 plus any enlistment “kicker” or buy- up; funding goes directly to the student CH 31: VR&E pays T&F to school, living stipend to student – handled outside VA Education Services by VR&E case managers in each state CH 31: VR&E pays T&F to school, living stipend to student – handled outside VA Education Services by VR&E case managers in each state CH 33: T&F paid directly to school, living stipend and book stipend paid to student; amount varies by eligibility tier which is based on length of service CH 33: T&F paid directly to school, living stipend and book stipend paid to student; amount varies by eligibility tier which is based on length of service

Benefits CH 35: Full-time student receives a monthly stipend currently $987 CH 35: Full-time student receives a monthly stipend currently $987 CH 1606: Full-time student receives monthly stipend of $356 plus any enlistment “kicker” CH 1606: Full-time student receives monthly stipend of $356 plus any enlistment “kicker” CH 1607: Receives a prorated portion of CH 30 monthly stipend depending on longest consecutive days of AD service (max is 80% of CH 30 rate or $ plus kicker) CH 1607: Receives a prorated portion of CH 30 monthly stipend depending on longest consecutive days of AD service (max is 80% of CH 30 rate or $ plus kicker)

Application to VA Students apply for benefits through the VA website VONAPP at benefits/application/ Students apply for benefits through the VA website VONAPP at benefits/application/ benefits/application/ benefits/application/ Once application is approved by VA, student is issued a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by VA (except CH 31) Once application is approved by VA, student is issued a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by VA (except CH 31) CH 31 students get an authorization from their case manager CH 31 students get an authorization from their case manager

Designation of Certifying Official School administration must designate those employees by name who are allowed to report enrollment data to VA by using a VA Form which is available from your VA Education Liaison Representative School administration must designate those employees by name who are allowed to report enrollment data to VA by using a VA Form which is available from your VA Education Liaison Representative Indiana ELR is Eric Lewis at or Only the ELR can grant access to VA Once, the web-based certification system used by VA Indiana ELR is Eric Lewis at or Only the ELR can grant access to VA Once, the web-based certification system used by VA

Certification Process Student self-identifies as VA benefit eligible Student self-identifies as VA benefit eligible Determine which program they are eligible for Determine which program they are eligible for Collect data: SSN, name, address, phone, program of study, , schedule Collect data: SSN, name, address, phone, program of study, , schedule Report enrollment data to VA via VA Once Report enrollment data to VA via VA Once Track and report changes in enrollment or charges Track and report changes in enrollment or charges

What Enrollment Data Do You Need? Number of Credit Hours Number of Credit Hours Modality of Training – Res vs. Dist Modality of Training – Res vs. Dist Start and Stop dates of each course Start and Stop dates of each course Remedial/Deficiency courses Remedial/Deficiency courses

What Enrollment Data Do You Need? Academic Advising Report or Degree Audit to confirm courses count for declared/approved major Academic Advising Report or Degree Audit to confirm courses count for declared/approved major Allowable Tuition and Fee charges Allowable Tuition and Fee charges Other Restricted Aid to Calculate In- state Net-cost Other Restricted Aid to Calculate In- state Net-cost Yellow Ribbon Eligibility – Private or out-of-state Yellow Ribbon Eligibility – Private or out-of-state

VA Once

Other Requirements Yellow Ribbon Program: agreement with VA; track contributions; manage applications first-come-first-served basis Yellow Ribbon Program: agreement with VA; track contributions; manage applications first-come-first-served basis Share payment data with Business Office Share payment data with Business Office Reconcile payments from VA Reconcile payments from VA

Other Requirements Report enrollment changes Report enrollment changes Report failure for non-attendance Report failure for non-attendance Report students on probation Report students on probation Report dismissals Report dismissals Report graduation Report graduation

Tools –Spreadsheets T&F Reported/Estimated Pmts T&F Reported/Estimated Pmts Debts Debts Yellow Ribbon Participants Yellow Ribbon Participants –TPC Calculator –Internal Reports, Drop/Add Tracking –System to flag veterans and military for institutional reporting

Resources State Approving Agency -- State Approving Agency Education Liaison Representative Education Liaison Representative GI Bill website GI Bill website

Resources SCO Handbook and other documents at officials/ SCO Handbook and other documents at officials/ officials/ officials/ Indiana SCO List Serve – Indiana SCO List Serve – Association of Veteran Education Certifying Officials Association of Veteran Education Certifying Officials

Resources National Association of Veteran Program Administrators Open Forum – – set up account, search for NAVPA Open Forum and request to join -- or see National Association of Veteran Program Administrators Open Forum – – set up account, search for NAVPA Open Forum and request to join -- or see

Summary VA has many complicated programs VA has many complicated programs Certification requires access to a wide range of student information Certification requires access to a wide range of student information System tools help immensely System tools help immensely Resources Resources

Questions and Answers ???????

Presenter Information Margaret Baechtold Margaret Baechtold Sarah Gibson Sarah Gibson Indiana University Indiana University Lisa Neel Lisa Neel University of Notre Dame University of Notre Dame

THANK YOU! Please be sure to complete the session evaluation form. Please be sure to complete the session evaluation form.