Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits

Veterans’ benefits are a form of student aid awarded to eligible individuals based on their military service. Listed are the most commonly used programs provided under Title 38 of the United States Code which authorizes payment of educational benefits to eligible individuals.

VA Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Florida State College at Jacksonville adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch.33), Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31), or Chapter 35: Survivor and Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA) benefits while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. Florida State College at Jacksonville will not:

  • Prevent the student's enrollment

  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student

  • Require a student to secure alternative or additional funding

  • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution

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

  • Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class

  • Provide an electronic request to be certified

  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies

Forever GI Bill® - Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the “Forever GI Bill,” will bring significant changes to Veterans education benefits over the coming years. Most changes enhance or expand education benefits for Veterans, servicemembers, families, and survivors. For more information, visit the Forever GI Bill webpage.

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill (Active/Reserve)

  • The Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (also called “MGIB” or “MGIB-AD”) is an education benefit that provides up to 36 months of full-time payments to eligible veterans and service members for approved education and training programs. MGIB-AD (Chapter 30) may also be used to reimburse you for certain VA-approved national tests and tests for licensure or certification.

  • Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) is for active duty members who enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months are entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation.

  • Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) is for Reservists with a six-year obligation in the Selected Reserve who are actively drilling.

Chapter 31: Vocational Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

This program is authorized by Congress under Title 38, United States Code, Chapter 31. It is referred to as the Chapter 31 program. The VR&E program assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap, and Servicemembers who are in the process of transitioning from military to civilian employment prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For Veterans and Servicemembers with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill

Students may be eligible if they served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001 or were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving 30 continuous days following September 10, 2001.

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill-Transfer of Entitlement (TOE)

The transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows Service members to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The Department of Defense (DoD) determines whether or not benefits can be transferred to family members. Once the DoD approves benefits for transfer, the new beneficiaries apply for them at VA.

Chapter 35: Survivor and Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

VA’s Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain Veterans.

Basic Eligibility: Eligible individuals are Veterans’ and Servicemembers’ dependents, spouses and surviving spouses who have been found eligible by the Regional Processing Office (RPO) because of one of the following:

  • The Veteran’s death was caused by the service-connected disability

  • The Veteran is rated for total and permanent service-connected disability

  • The Servicemember is Missing in Action (MIA)

  • The Servicemember is captured in the line of duty

  • The Servicemember is forcibly detained for longer than 90 days

  • The Servicemember who VA determines has a service-connected permanent and total disability that will result in a discharge from military service

  • Participants include a dependent child between the ages of 14 to 31 and a spouse, or surviving spouse, who qualifies for the benefit

Chapter 35: The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship)

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship), is a scholarship for children and dependents of Veterans. If your parent or spouse died in the line of duty or was a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001, you may qualify for this benefit. Find out if you’re eligible for education benefits through this scholarship.

You may be able to get up to 36 months of benefits, including:

  • Money for tuition (full in-state tuition costs at public schools and up to $22,805.34 per year for training at private or out-of-state schools)

  • Money for housing

  • Money for books and supplies

Chapter 36: Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Personalized Career Planning and Guidance Program (Title 38, U.S.C. Chapter 36), offers free educational and career guidance, planning, and resources to Veterans and their dependents who are eligible for a VA education benefit, or Servicemembers transitioning soon or have been discharged within the past year. The program offers personalized career and educational counseling to help achieve goals and ensure the most effective use of VA benefits based on an individual’s interests, aptitudes, and abilities. Chapter 36 also provides personalized support to assist with academic or adjustment counseling to help remove any barriers to success. This program can be completed through the VA VetSuccess on Campus Counselors located at Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Chapter 1606: MGIB Selective Reserve

Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Chapter 1606 Program is a Reserve Component program. The program started on 1 July 1985 and has continued with numerous updates and changes. Your Unit Administrator (UA), your Regional Readiness Command (RRC) Education Services Specialist (ESS) or your unit’s retention personnel can address eligibility issues, processing procedures and basic questions about MGIB Chapter 1606.

VA Terms and Definitions

Award Letter: The official written notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs to a student of his or her monthly rate of payment, the inclusive dates of payment, and remaining entitlement at the end of the award period. An award letter is sent to a VA student whenever VA awards or changes the student’s education benefit. The award letter is a good source of information for financial aid purposes.

Certificate of Eligibility (COE): Letter issued to an applicant showing approval to pursue a stated program of education at a particular institution, the remaining entitlement of the student, and the ending date of the student’s eligibility.

DD Form 214: The Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty that is prepared at the time an individual completes a period of active duty in one of the Armed Forces. Former members of the Public Health Service (PHS) and of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) do not receive a DD Form 214, but they do receive comparable documents that provide necessary information concerning their active duty service. Veterans should be advised to submit Member-4 copy of their DD Form 214 with a claim for VA benefits. A certified copy may also be submitted. A DD 214 can be requested from the National Archives Veterans' Service Records website.

Punitive Grade: A punitive grade is a grade that doesn’t count as earned credit, but is used in determining a student’s progress toward graduation requirements. The common punitive grade is F. Punitive grades, unlike non-punitive grades, factor into the progress standards (for example, GPA or earned/attempted credit standard).

Non-punitive Grade: A non-punitive grade is a grade that doesn’t count as earned credit and isn’t considered in progress standards for graduation. A withdrawal after the drop period is non-punitive if it isn’t calculated into the student’s GPA or it isn’t considered in academic progress criteria like probation and suspension. Non-punitive grades have the same effect as an audit. If a student withdraws after the drop period or completes the term with non-punitive grades, the non-punitive grades must be reported to VA if they change training time.

Certification Restrictions

The College’s Veterans Affairs Office will audit all courses for enrolled students who are eligible to receive benefits. There are restrictions as to the programs and courses for which students will be certified.

  1. Students may only be certified for programs, courses, and terms approved by the state approving agency.

  2. The declared program of study must be the same on both the College’s record and the student’s official Veteran Affairs file. Students must follow the selected program of study and can only be certified for courses that are required for graduation.

  3. Students cannot be certified for an audit course, a course for which they have previously received credit, an online remedial class, or the repeat of an I grade within one year.

  4. Punitive and non-punitive grades will be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs and will affect the previously submitted certification within a given term.

  5. Veteran students must achieve satisfactory academic progress in order to continue to be certified. Unsatisfactory progress must be addressed with an academic counselor before certification can be resumed. Minimum standards of progress are the same as for the general student population. See the section on Standards of Academic Progress/Academic Standing.

Deferment

A deferment of tuition and fees charges per year is available for veteran students who qualify. The VA deferment due date is determined as follows.

  • Any veteran or other eligible student who receives benefits under chapter 30, chapter 31, chapter 32, chapter 33, chapter 34, or chapter 35 of Title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 106 of Title 10, U.S.C., is entitled to one deferment each academic year and an additional deferment each time there is a delay in the receipt of benefits.

Note: Veteran students requesting a deferment of tuition and charges pending receipt of benefits are entering into a signed loan agreement from the College to assist with educational costs. Educational loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. Failure to pay tuition and fees charges may result in disenrollment, a restriction against registration, additional veteran deferments or release of transcripts, grades or diplomas. The debt can be reported to the credit bureau and collection costs assessed. If disenrolled, student’s change in enrollment status will be reported to the Department of Veteran Affairs and can affect eligibility of benefits received.

Disclaimer

This section provides general financial aid and Veterans Affairs information only. It is accurate as of the date this catalog was published, but is not meant to be a complete list of all financial aid and VA regulations. If financial aid standards of academic progress are changed, the new requirements will supersede those listed in this catalog. Florida State College at Jacksonville reserves the right to cancel or amend awards based on a change in funding or other reasons specified by federal, state, and institutional policies.

Inquiries relating to benefits should be directed to the Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Processing Office (VARPO) at (888) 442-4551.

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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.