New Student Veterans
1. Admissions
Your first step is to complete the admissions process. However, before you begin that process you need to determine whether to apply as a freshman or transfer student.
When applying for admission to the university, the two options available to most incoming student veterans are traditional Freshman admissions and Transfer Admissions. To see which category best describes your situation, please see the information below.
Freshman: Students who are high school graduates and have not enrolled in any college or online institution since high school. If you graduated high school, enlisted in the military and have not enrolled in a college, university, or online institution to complete courses, you are considered a Freshman.
Transfer Student: Undergraduates who have enrolled in other colleges, universities or online institutions since graduating high school. If you graduated high school, enlisted in the military, and you have enrolled in a college, university, or online institution and have taken courses, or even a single course, you are considered a Transfer Student.
Once you determine your admissions status, follow the appropriate link below. These links will take you to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Services site, where you will find a comprehensive checklist of admissions requirements, deadlines and other information you will need to begin the application process.
If you have questions about your status please check the Office of Admissions website or call 601-925.3800.
2. Certificate of Eligibility
Eligible veterans and service members on active duty or in the reserves who have never received VA education benefits must complete a VA form 22-1990, Application for VA Education Benefits, and be prepared to provide a copy of his or her DD214/Member 4 or Notice of Basic Eligibility form and other required documents.
Transfer students who have received VA education benefits at other institutions must complete a VA form 22-1995, Request For Change of Program or Place of Training, and be prepared to provide other required documents
Eligible dependents using the Post 9/11 transfer of entitlement, who have never received VA education benefits, must complete a VA form 22-1990e, Application for VA Education Benefits, and be prepared to provide other required documents.
Eligible dependents using the Survivor and Dependent Assistance program, who have never received VA education benefits, must complete a VA form 22-5490, Application for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance, and be prepared to provide other required documents.
Dependent transfer students who have received VA education benefits at other institutions must complete a VA form 22-5495, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance, and be prepared to provide other required documents.
Certification of enrollment hours will be submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs two to three weeks prior to the start of class for all chapters. Generally, it takes the VA two to four weeks to process that certification.
For chapters requiring (Post 9/11 and Active Duty) eligible in-state tuition and mandatory in-state fee are reported after the 10th class day to the VA. Normally those funds are sent to the school two to four weeks after receipt of the certification with the reportable tuition and fees amount.
If you are experiencing difficulties or need help with the certification process, please contact Teresa Hill at 601.925.3272 or tlhill@mc.edu.
3. VA Benefit Certification
After meeting with an academic adviser and registering for classes in a degree-seeking program, it’s time to get certified for your Department of Veterans Affairs educational benefits.
4. Chapters Veteran Educational Benefits
Federal Benefits
The following are thumbnail descriptions of the various programs. Detailed descriptions of programs and eligibility requirements are available at the GI Bill website at www.gibill.va.gov.
Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30)
This program, commonly known as Chapter 30, provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible active duty service members or veterans. MGIB-AD eligibility requirements include at least two years of continuous active duty service. If you are on active duty, consult with your base Education Services Officer (ESO) before submitting an application for VA benefits. The ESO will discuss the various educational assistance opportunities available. Federal law prohibits concurrent payment of tuition assistance by the military service and VA educational assistance for pursuit of the same class. Students who are on active duty or terminal leave are eligible for reimbursement for tuition and required fees only. For detailed information, see the VA’s Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty pamphlet.
Vocational Rehab and Employment (Chapter 31)
This program pays tuition and fees, cost of required textbooks and supplies, a monthly stipend and assistance with employment. You may be eligible for benefits under this chapter if you have a service-related disability. You must meet with a vocational rehabilitation counselor who will determine your eligibility. Visit the website at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/.
Effective August 1, 2011, if you are also eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33), you may choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance instead of the Vocational Rehab subsistence allowance.
Post 9/11-GI Bill (Chapter 33)
The Post 9/11-GI Bill pays a percentage of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance if your rate of pursuit* exceeds 50% and a stipend for books and supplies. The $600 buy up payable under the Montgomery GI Bill and REAP is not payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
You may be eligible for these benefits if you:
- served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and
- are still on active duty; or
- were honorably discharged from active duty; or
- were released from active duty and placed on the retired list or temporary disability retired list; or
- were released from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; or
- were released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces; or
- were discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001.
*Rate of pursuit applies to Post-9/11 GI Bill only and refers to the number of credit hours you are taking divided by the number of credits considered full-time by the university (rounded to the nearest tenth). The VA considers any rate of pursuit higher than 50% to be more than halftime. Effective August 1, 2011, monthly housing allowance benefits are prorated based upon the rate of pursuit, rounded to the nearest tenth.
Post 9/11-GI Bill (Transfer of Entitlement)
The Department of Defense determines whether or not you can transfer benefits to your family members. Get more information on determining eligibility and the process for transferring benefits, go to www.gibill.va.gov
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA or Chapter 35)
This program pays a monthly benefit based on enrollment status. These benefits are available to dependents of:
· a veteran who died or was permanently and totally disabled while serving on active duty, or who died from any cause while so disabled;
· a service member missing in action or captured in line of duty; or forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power;
· a service member hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged from service for that disability.
For more information, see the VA’s Survivors and Dependents Assistance pamphlet.
Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
This is an educational program for active members of the Selected Reserve. Eligible recipients receive a monthly stipend based on enrollment status. Chapter 1606 eligibility is determined by the Department of Defense. Basic eligibility requires a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve and satisfactory participation in required Selected Reserve training. You must be a drilling reservist or guardsman to receive this benefit, as it is only extended to those members of the Armed Forces currently serving in one of those statuses. For more information, see the VA’s Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve pamphlet.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP or Chapter 1607)
This educational benefit is for certain Reservists who were activated after September 11, 2001. Eligible recipients receive a monthly stipend based on enrollment status and period of service. To be eligible, you must be a member of a reserve component and have performed active service for a minimum of 90 consecutive days. Additional benefits may be available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Visit the REAP website for more information at www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/other_programs/reap.html.
If you have questions or need help with the certification process, please contact Teresa Hill at 601.925.3272 or tlhill@mc.edu.
Returning Veterans
Students returning to Mississippi College for another term who have submitted a Certificate of Eligibility, the signed first page of the Statement of Understanding, an approved curriculum, Student Information Sheet and any applicable scholarship letters only have to submit the following:
Term Approval Form
Changing your Major?
If a student using VA Educational Benefits changes their major, the student must provide a Change of Major Form, a Term Approval Form, new schedule, an approved curriculum for the new major, and new Student Information Sheet. ALL OF THESE FORMS MUST BE TYPED AND SIGNATURES MUST BE WRITTEN.
Additional Information Can be found at https://www.mc.edu/veterans/
