HONOR OUR VETERANS
VETERAN'S BENEFITS

The federal government and the State of Alabama have programs that provide financial assistance to veterans and their dependents. Shelton State Community College believes that veterans and their dependents are entitled to all eligible benefits. The following information is given for those applying for veterans' benefits:

Post - 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).  For more information click here Chapter 33.
The Post - 9/11 GI Bill is a new education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001.  Post - 9/11 GI Bill benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009.

Alabama GI Dependents' Scholarship Program
The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs offers financial assistance to eligible dependent's child, stepchild, spouse, or unmarried widow(er) of disabled veterans (living or deceased), who were permanent civilian residents of Alabama prior to entry into military service. Special consideration is given to dependents of permanently and totally disabled veterans who are bona fide residents or were prior to their death.

Other benefits may be available to eligible dependents of the following: former prisoners of war (POW), those declared missing in action (MIA), and those who died in service.

Maximum educational benefits include free tuition, technology fees, and required textbooks excluding non-credit and/or remedial courses for four standard academic years or a prescribed technical course at any state-supported junior or community college, university, or technical school.

Dependent children must file an application prior to age 26 (may be extended to age 30 in certain cases). A spouse or widow(er) does not have a filing deadline or age limitation.

For more information and application procedures, students should contact the nearest Veterans Affairs Office located in each county courthouse or write to the: Alabama GI Dependents' Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 1509, Montgomery, AL 36102-1509.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35)
This program provides financial aid for the education of dependent sons, daughters, and spouses of the following individuals:

1. Veterans who died or are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
2. Veterans who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
3. Servicepersons missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force.
4. Servicepersons forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.

Eligible dependents under this program must provide the following items:

1. Completed VA Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.
2. Official grade transcripts from any colleges previously attended (submitted to the Admissions and Records Office).
3. An official copy of the applicant's birth certificate (Child/Stepchild)
4. A copy of the veteran's disability rating
5. A copy of the parent's marriage certificate (Spouse/Stepchild) 

Old GI Bill (Vietnam Era Chapter 34)
Benefits for veterans under the Old GI Bill were terminated December 31, 1989. Some benefits for these veterans were carried over to the new bill (Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 30). If a veteran feels he or she has some remaining eligibility under the Chapter 34 program, he or she should contact the Veterans Administration at 1-888-442-4551.

Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32)
Veterans under this program (service beginning on or after January 1, 1977, through June 30, 1985) must provide the following items to apply for these benefits:

1. Completed application for educational benefits (Form 22-1990 available in the Financial Aid Office at Shelton State Community College).
2. Copy of DD 214 (separation papers).
3. Official grade transcripts from any colleges previously attended (submitted to the Admissions and Records Office). 

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 30)
Certain veterans with an honorable discharge and servicepersons may qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill. Veterans under this program must provide the following items:

1. Completed application for educational benefits (Form 22-1990 available in the Financial Aid Office at Shelton State Community College and on line). Once you have completed the application on line or in person, you will need to contact the V. A. Certifying official at the college at (205) 391-2376 or 391-3903.
2. Copy of DD 214 (separation papers).
3. Official grade transcripts from any colleges previously attended (submitted to the Admissions and Records Office).  Active duty or servicepersons complete Form 22-1990 only.

Complete the application at  http://vabenefits.vba.gov/vonapp or call 1-888-GIBILL-1.

Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve/National Guard Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606)
Members of the Selected Reserve who enlist, re-enlist, or extend an enlistment in Selected Reserve so that the reservist has an obligation to serve for a period of not less than six years following the date of such action may qualify for Chapter 1606. Reservists under this program must provide the following items:

1. Completed application for educational benefits (Form 22-1990 available in the Financial Aid Office at Shelton State Community College).
2. DD 2384 (Notice of Basic Eligibility) completed by Guard or Reserve unit.
3. Official grade transcripts from any colleges previously attended (submitted to the Admissions and Records Office). 

Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve/National Guard Educational Assistance Program-REAP (Chapter 1607)
REAP is a new educational program that provides up to 36 months of educational benefits to members of the Selected Reserves.  Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and National Guard, who are called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress.  Eligibility will be determined by the Department of Defense (DOD) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as appropriate.  Generally, a member of a Reserve component who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10, us. Code, for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation, is eligible for REAP.  There is no specific time frame to use REAP; however, your eligibility generally ends when you leave the Selected Reserves.

National Guard members are eligible if their active service extends for 90 consecutive days or more and their service is    authorized under section 502(f), title 32, U.S. Code, authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense for a national emergency, and supported by federal funds.

The percentage of the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB) rate is based on the number of continuous days served on active duty. Complete the application http://vabenefits.vba.gov/vonapp or call 1-888-GIBILL-1.  Once you have completed the application on line or in person, contact the V. A. Certifying official at the college at (205) 391-2376 or 391-3903.

Tuition Assistance Program (TA)
Tuition Assistance is a benefit paid to soldiers, sailors, marines, guardsman, and airmen several programs to support their education goals including up to 100% tuition and fees for college courses taken during off-duty hours.

Each branch of the service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process and restrictions. This money is usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services. Additionally active duty members may elect to use the MGIB "top-up" in addition to their service provided TA to cover high cost courses. Tuition Assistance is not a loan; it should be viewed as money you have earned just like your base pay.

Follow the links for your particular service:

• Air Force Tuition Assistance
• Army Tuition Assistance
• Navy Tuition Assistance
• Marines Tuition Assistance
• Coast Guard Tuition Assistance
• National Guard Tuition Assistance
• Reserve Tuition Assistance

Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program (ANGEAP)
A financial award by the State of Alabama to an Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program applicant who is a resident of Alabama, and who is designated to be an eligible student enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program at an eligible institution, and is awarded to the student to defray direct educational-related expenses: tuition, mandatory fees, books, and supplies, not to exceed $500 per term and not more than $1,000 annually.

Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
Vocational Rehabilitation is intended to help the service-disabled veteran become independent in daily living and, to the extent possible, to select, prepare for, and secure employment that is compatible with his or her interests, abilities, physical capabilities, and goals. Under Chapter 31, the Veterans Administration pays the cost of required tuition, fees, books, equipment, and supplies. The veteran also receives a monthly subsistence allowance.

Note: Interested students should contact the county Veterans Administration Office or the Regional Veterans Administration at 1-800-827-1000.

REQUIRED STANDARDS OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS FOR VETERANS
To retain eligibility for veterans' benefits, all veterans must meet the same Standards of Student Progress applicable to all students at the institution. (See Grading System in the General Policies section of the catalog for complete standards.)

CERTIFICATION OF VETERANS
The following criteria are used for certifying veterans or eligible dependents:

• Certification is granted only for courses that are applicable to the declared program of study. Any deviation must be approved in writing.
• Certification is granted only for hours required to complete the selected program of study. However, certification may be granted for basic institution credit courses and developmental courses if such courses are necessary for the student to reach his or her objective.
• Certification is not granted for audit, Community Services courses or continuing education courses.
• Veterans must be recertified for education benefits each year at the beginning of fall semester and when they reenter college after an interruption of their educational program. The V.A. Certifying Official does not certify enrollment for veterans to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) until after the last day of late registration. This is to ensure that the correct information is sent to the VA for the semester in which veterans are registering. However, the College will certify the veteran prior to registration for fall term based on the assumption that the veteran's enrollment status remains the same as summer term. Because of the early certification, the veteran could be overpaid or underpaid until the correct information is received and processed by the VA after the last day of late registration.
• Veterans who have received college credit at other institutions are certified only for courses necessary to complete the declared program of study at Shelton State Community College. Veterans are required to have an official grade transcript on file in the Admissions and Records Office if they have attended any other college. It is the veteran's responsibility to notify the Veterans certifying official located in the financial aid office when the transcript has been received in the Admissions and Records Office. Enrollment is certified to the VA for only two semesters until prior transcripts are received and evaluated by the Admissions and Records Office at Shelton State Community College.
• Should a veteran register for a course not in his or her program of study and not approved by the appropriate instructional officer, his/her benefits may be reduced at any time during the semester. This action may occur without notification to the student.
• Benefits are paid on the following enrollment schedule:
  Full Time = 12 credit hours or more
  Three-quarter time = 9-11 credit hours
  Half Time = 6-8 credit hours
  Part Time = 5 or less credit hours (Tuition and Fees Only)

A veteran may, under certain circumstances, be awarded credit in physical education (PED) for prior military service. A copy of the veteran's DD 214 with honorable discharge must be submitted to the Registrar's Office for credit to be granted. Credit for military learning experiences may also be granted.

Veterans should refer to the General Policies section of the catalog for the official policy. Payment and application processing by the Veterans Administration normally takes up to 90 days; therefore, the veteran must be prepared to pay all tuition and fees for the first two terms of enrollment before benefits are received.

Class Attendance of Veterans
All students attending Shelton State Community College are required to attend classes. For the veteran, failure to attend class may result in a reduction or elimination of benefits. Any irregularity in class attendance must be approved by the instructor and the appropriate instructional officer as to whether absences are excused or unexcused. Should the veteran accumulate excessive unexcused absences, the reduction of benefits to the veteran will be made effective the last date of attendance in class.

WITHDRAWALS FROM CLASS OR CLASSES BY VETERANS
Veterans may adjust their schedule without penalty only during the late registration period. A veteran who withdraws after this period without demonstrating extenuating circumstances will suffer loss of payments under VA educational assistance.

ELIGIBILITY IS DETERMINED BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION

ADVANCE PAY
Shelton State Community College does not participate in advance pay. The veteran must be prepared to pay tuition and fees prior to registering for classes.

For additional information about the full range of veterans' programs available through the Veterans Administration, veterans should contact the Veterans Administration Regional Office at 1-888-442-4551, their county Veterans Affairs Office, or the Office of Financial Aid at Shelton State Community College at (205) 391-2376 or (205) 391-3903.