GI Bill ® Programs

As a Veteran, you may be eligible for educational benefits through numerous GI Bill® programs. Once you’ve decided to use your GI Bill® benefits it’s important to choose the proper school and type of training. Veterans, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for educational benefits through the GI Bill® program. Once you have chosen to use your benefits, you have to choose the right training and school. With the help of the Department of Veterans Affairs' decision-making tools, you will get the most out of your benefits.

Actions to Applying Your GI Bill® at Galveston College

1. 1. Students who are eligible to use VA education programs must apply for admission to the school. Students may apply to Galveston College at Galveston College Admissions, or in person at the Office of Admissions.
   2. Apply for VA education benefits at VA.gov. This process may take up to 4-6 weeks. Students who are approved will receive a Certificate of Eligibility. 
   3. Student must submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. If the student has earned less than 15 college credits, an official high school transcript with the date of graduation. If you received a GED® in Texas, see the Office of Admissions, they may be able to assist you with attaining the GED® transcript. If you are the veteran, you will also need to submit your military transcript, you may go to https://jst.doded.mil/jst/login?returnTo=%2Fhome  to order a free official transcript to be sent to Galveston College.
   4. All new students are required to attend New Student Orientation. For more information, please visit the New Student Orientation page or contact the Counseling and Advising Center at 409-944-1220.
   5. Students should meet with their Student Success Advisor to assist them to register for classes.
   6. It is strongly recommended that you apply for Financial Aid. The website is Student Aid, the school code for Galveston College is 004972. If you need assistance, contact a Financial Aid staff member. If you have had a significant decrease in income, you may need to file a Special Circumstances Request Form.
   7. Submit evidence of the Bacterial Meningitis vaccination or appropriate exemption.
   8. Submit a Military Benefit Enrollment Certification Request Form. Any courses not required on your degree plan will not be certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Be advised that the number of weeks of a course may affect your BAH payment. For more information, contact the School Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office or the Department of Veterans Affairs. If the student changes their schedule, it is the students’ responsibility to give notice in writing by email to the School Certifying Official so that your Enrollment Certification may be updated.
   9. Service members and Reservists, if you need to be absent due to service requirements, please contact your instructors and be prepared to show a copy of your orders.
   10. Review your College Financing Plan, in your myGC account. 

Explore Your Options

Comparison Tool and Payment Rates:

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

You may be eligible for several types of VA education and training benefits, but there are many things to consider before you apply for a GI Bill® program. To choose a school, click here: Department of Veterans Affairs

O*NET Interest Profiler:

https://www.onetcenter.org/IP.html

Explore career options that match your interests.

My Next Move for Vets

 https://www.mynextmove.org/vets/

Get help finding a new career or a civilian career that’s like your military job.

College Navigator:

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

Search for and compare colleges on all sorts of criteria including costs, majors offered, size of school, campus safety, and graduation rates.

Who is here to help me:

• Academic Advising: Student Success Advisor located in the Advising and Counseling Department
• Financial Advising: School Certifying Official located in the Financial Aid Office
• Disability Accommodations: Student Success Advisor located in the Advising and Counseling Department

College Financing Plan Information:

What is a College Financing Plan Information sheet? The Financial Aid College Financing Plan Information is a consumer tool that participating institutions will use to notify students about their financial aid package. For more information, go to College Financing Plan Information.

How do I access my  College Financing Plan?

Step 1: Login to the Whitecaps Portal, found on the Galveston College Webpage – www.gc.edu, with your GC user name and password.

Step 2: Once logged into the Whitecaps Portal, Click myGC, Financial Aid, College Financing Plan.

Guides to help students use their benefits

Regardless of where your students are in their education journey, VA has a useful resource that can help them make decisions about what to do next. It’s a three-part guide, “Building Your Future with the GI Bill®”:

Part One: A Guide to Choosing Your Education Pathway
Part Two: A Guide to Understanding Your Benefits
Part Three: A Guide to Furthering Your Career

General Information

Repeating Courses:

No student may repeat a course for VA benefits in which a passing grade or temporary grade of “I” has been earned. Students are responsible for knowing which courses have been completed, unless a higher grade is required for degree plan.

Concurrent Enrollment:

A student pursuing a degree at a school may take a course at another school. The school that will grant the degree is the student’s primary school. All other schools are secondary schools. If the primary school will accept the secondary school’s course as a transfer credit that applies towards completion of the student’s degree, then both the primary school and the secondary school certify the students to VA. The student must request a parent institution letter to submit to the secondary school.

Mitigating Circumstances:

Unanticipated and unavoidable events beyond a student’s control which are responsible for the student’s inability to complete a course(s) which result in the student’s receipt of a non-punitive grade for a course the student did not complete. Generally, a student will be required to submit corroborative evidence to demonstrate the reason(s) for being unable to complete a course with a passing grade.

Change of Program:

A change of program is a change in a student’s program and curriculum. The student must submit the correct degree plan in pursuit along with the Military Benefit Enrollment Request to the Financial Aid Office.

Chapter 35: Students must verify their attendance if they are certified as Non College Degree, i.e. Certificate Program.

Important Contacts and Websites

Nikki Montoya

Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Assistant

4015 Avenue Q  Galveston, Texas 77550

Business: 409-944-1232

Fax: 409-944-1505

Email: [email protected]

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Processing Office:

VA Regional Processing Office

P. O. Box 8888

Muskogee, Oklahoma 74402

Business: 888-442-4551

Veterans Affairs Website:

https://www.va.gov/

GI BILL® Home:

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

Frequently Asked Questions:

https://ask.va.gov/ 

You may create an account and ask a question about your educational benefit. You will receive an email once the VA has responded to your question.

Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE):

https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do

This site allows students to submit their monthly verification of enrollment over the Internet. Please note, this system is NOT being used for monthly verifications for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. You can verify your enrollment via text message or by calling the Education Call Center (ECC) 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). The ECC can also help you opt into text verification. VA strongly recommends verifying enrollment via text.

VA Forms:

http://www.va.gov/vaforms

VA Forms available on the internet.

Web Automated Reference Management System (WARMS):

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/ 

On-line access to VBA Manuals, Directives, Circulars, Letters, Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations, and other materials necessary to support our nation’s Veterans

VA Debt Management Center (DMC):

http://www.va.gov/debtman 

DMC has collection jurisdiction for all education benefit debts.

DMC e-mail address: [email protected]

E-Benefits:

http://www.ebenefits.va.gov/

eBenefits is a one-stop shop for online benefits-related info.

Download VA benefit letters

American Council on Education Military Guide:

http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Guide-Online.aspx

Guide to evaluation of educational experiences in the Armed Services

Joint Services Transcript (JST):

https://jst.doded.mil/jst/login?returnTo=%2Fhome

Get a transcript translating army formal military education and job experience into civilian language; also includes college equivalent credit recommendations.

DOD Transferability:

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/ 

DOD transferability documents, policies, and procedures.

VOW/VRAP:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/VOW/ 

VOW to Hire Heroes Act information, including the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program.

College Navigator:

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

A tool for students to aid in the selection of schools and training programs.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill ®

The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) helps you pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). Find out if you can get this education benefit.

Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (Chapter 30)

The MGIB-Active Duty program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to those who have served on active duty. This benefit may generally be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses.

Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) 

The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you’re a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, you may be eligible for this benefit.

Survivors' and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35)

DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may generally be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship)

The Fry Scholarship provides payments in an amount equal to the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to eligible children of Service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. Effective January 1, 2015 this benefit is extended to surviving spouses of Service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.

Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32)

The Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. This benefit may generally be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses.

National Call to Service

This National Call to Service Incentive program requires a participant to perform a period of national service to be eligible for benefits. It is a Department of Defense program that is administered by VA. For more information about these programs, please click here. 

Tuition Assistance Overview/ Eligibility

The Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a Soldier’s professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are offered in the classroom or by distance learning and is part of an approved academic degree or certificate program. The courses must be offered by schools that are registered in ArmyIgnitED, are accredited by accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and are signatories to the current Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (DOD MOU).

For Academic Programs, Certificate’s, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree, TA may not be used for a lower or lateral degree program from the one the Soldier currently possesses. In addition to degree programs, TA is available to Soldiers to complete a high school diploma and certificate programs. TA is not authorized for programs of study beyond a master’s degree.

All eligible Soldiers will request TA through ArmyIgnitED.

By law, officers who use TA incurs a service obligation. Active Duty officers incur an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) of two years, and Reserve Component officers incur a Reserve Duty Service Obligation (RDSO) of four years. The ADSO/RDSO is calculated from the date of completion of the last course for which TA was used.

Further details on the provisions of TA are found in AR 621-5 and policy documents signed by the Director, Army Continuing Education System.

Tuition Assistance Rates/Fees

The Department of Defense (DoD) has directed a uniform per semester hour cap of $250 for tuition assistance (TA) and an annual ceiling of $4,500. The Services are authorized to establish Service specific eligibility criteria to manage TA funds. The Army will pay 100 percent of tuition costs up to the DoD semester hour cap of $250 per semester hour cap for up to 16 semester hours of TA funded courses not to exceed $4,000 per fiscal year.

Current Army policy limits TA to 130 semester hours of undergraduate credit or baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first and 39 semester hours of graduate credit or master’s degree whichever comes first. The 39 semester hour limit applies to all credits taken after completion of a baccalaureate degree.

New Students Create ArmyIgnitED Account

All TA for Active Duty, USAR, and ARNG Soldiers must be requested through ArmyIgnitED. Click here to start.

Tuition Assistance Procedures

Soldiers’ TA enrollment requests must be submitted and approved through www.armyignited.army.mil prior to the course start date; any enrollments requested on or after the class start date will be approved as Soldier funded.

TA is requested on a course-by-course basis, and each course must be part of an approved degree program.

ArmyIgnitED will notify the Soldier, whether the TA is approved or not. If the TA request is not approved, ArmyIgnitED will advise the Soldier of the reason and next steps.

All drops/withdrawals must take place through ArmyIgnitED. Soldiers who do not successfully complete a class will be required to repay the TA. Soldiers who are unable to successfully complete a class due to military reasons must request a Withdrawal for Military Reasons through ArmyIgnitED and complete all required steps to ensure that they will not be charged.

If the Soldier wishes to take a class with a school that does not participate in the electronic ArmyIgnitED class schedule, a TA Request Authorization form must be completed in ArmyIgnitED. The TA Request Authorization will be routed to an Army Education Counselor to be reviewed and approved. Soldiers should allow extra time for this. If the TA Request Authorization is approved, the Soldier will be notified by email. Soldiers must print the approved TA Request Authorization form in ArmyIgnitED, provide it to the school and enroll directly with the school.

Soldiers must acknowledge and electronically sign the TA Statement of Understanding (TA SOU) each quarter they wish to use TA.

Educational institutions will comply with these requirements for the return of Tuition Assistance funds:

(a) Return any Tuition Assistance Program funds directly to the Military Service, not the Service member.

(b) Up to the start date, return all (100%) Tuition Assistance funds to the appropriate Military Service when the Service member does not:

(i) Begin attendance at the institution; or

(ii) Start a course, regardless of whether the student starts other courses.

(c) Return any Tuition Assistance funds for a course that is cancelled by the educational institution

(d) Have an institutional policy that returns any unearned Tuition Assistance funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60 percent portion of the period for which the funds were provided. Tuition Assistance funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, which unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. In instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the educational institutional will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

Army Credentialing Assistance Program

Much like Tuition Assistance (TA), Soldiers can request Credentialing Assistance (CA) for training that leads to a credential, license, or certification through ArmyIgnitED. CA will pay for training courses that lead to a credential, and also provides funding for books, materials, fees, exams, and recertification. Soldiers have a combined fiscal year limit not to exceed $4000 for use towards TA and CA.

More than 1600 credentials, licenses, and certifications are listed in Army COOL (www.cool.army.mil). COOL aligns credentials to Soldiers’ military occupational specialties (MOS), but for CA, Soldiers can select and earn credentials during their off-duty time that do not relate to their MOS.

The Army CA program will become effective Army-wide in FY 20. For more information on the Army CA program, Soldiers can contact their local Education Center or Education Office. To see a listing of all credentials offered go to www.cool.army.mil.

If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment can help. This program—also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E—helps you explore employment options and address education training needs. In some cases, your family members may also qualify for certain benefits.

For additional information, go to Apply for VR&E. 

Go to www.va.gov, under "Explore VA benefits and healthcare", go to "Education and training". You can apply online right now. Just answer a few questions, and you will get started with the education benefits form that’s right for you.

• Applying for a new benefit
• Updating my program of study or place of training
• Applying to extend my Post-9/11 or Fry Scholarship benefits using the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

Apply for a new benefit: Choose this if you are applying for the GI Bill® for the first time; Or if you are applying for another GI Bill®.

Updating my program of study or place of training: Choose this if you are transferring to a different school.

Applying to extend my Post 9/11 or Fry Scholarship benefits using the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship: Choose this to apply for this Fry Scholarship. 

• Social Security number

• Bank account direct deposit information

• Education and military history

• Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend or are attending now

You will need to submit a Military Benefit Enrollment Certification Request with supporting documentation.  You should also contact the Galveston College’s Financial Aid Office for the School Certifying Official.

Contact Information: Nikki Montoya, phone: 409.944.1232

Email Nikki

 

 

Fry Scholarships

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

American Legion Scholarship

The Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) Scholarship 

 

The Principles of Excellence program requires schools that get federal funding through programs such as the GI Bill® to follow certain guidelines. Learn about these guidelines.

Schools participating in the Principles of Excellence program agree to the following guidelines:

•  Give you a written personal summary of the total cost of your educational program, including:
  • The costs covered by your benefits.
  • The financial aid you may qualify for.
  • Your expected student-loan debt after you graduate.
  • Other information to help you compare aid packages offered by different schools.
    • For access to your College Financing Plan, log into your Whitecaps Portal.
    • After you log in, click on “myGC”, open the drop-down menu on the left side  .  Then, click on “Financial Information" then “Financial Aid”  and finally  College Financing Plan.

• Give you an educational plan with a timeline showing how and when you can fulfill everything required for you to graduate.
  • For access to your Degree Plan, log into your Whitecaps Portal
  • After you log in, click on “myGC”, open the drop-down menu on the left side  .  Then, click on “Academics” > “Student Planning and Registration” > “Planning Overview”. From the “Steps to Planning and Registration” page, find STEP 1: Review your Degree Plan and Progress, and click “Go to My Progress”.

What is a degree plan? A completed Academic Evaluation will show you which of your previously earned credits apply to a degree, and wherein the degree they apply. The Academic Evaluation will then also show where in the degree there are still required credits to be filled.

*Students who do not have all prior college transcripts on file will not have an accurate degree plan until all transcripts have been submitted and evaluated.

• Assign you a point of contact who will give you ongoing academic and financial aid advice (including access to disability counseling).

  Who is here to help me?

  Academic Advising: Student Success Advisors located in the Advising and Counseling Department of the Main Campus or Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center

  Financial Aid Advising: Financial Aid & Veterans Affairs Assistant located at Main Campus

  Disability Accommodations: Student Success Advisor located in the Advising and Counseling Department at the Main Campus

• Allow for you to be gone for both long and short periods of time due to service obligations (service you must fulfill) for active-duty service members and Reservists.
  • Readmission of Service Members and Reservists. Service members and reservists are eligible to be readmitted to a program of study if they are temporarily unable to attend class or must suspend their studies due to service requirements. Service members and reservists are admitted to the program with the same status and standing prior to the temporary interruption of attendance.

           Documentation for Service Members and Reservists:

1. A student who submits an application for readmission to an institution under paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section shall provide to the institution documentation to establish that—

   (i) The student has not exceeded the service limitation in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section; and (ii) The student’s eligibility for readmission has not been terminated due to an exception in paragraph (h) of this section.

2. Documents that satisfy the requirements of paragraph (g)(1) of this section include, but are not limited to, the following:

   1. DD (Department of Defense) 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

   2. Copy of duty orders prepared by the facility where the orders were fulfilled carrying an endorsement indicating completion of the described service.

   3. Letter from the commanding officer of a Personnel Support Activity or someone of comparable authority.

   4. Certificate of completion from military training school.

   5. Discharge certificate showing character of service. Copy of extracts from payroll documents showing periods of service. Letter from National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Team Leader or Administrative Officer verifying dates and times of NDMS training or Federal activation.

   6. (ii) The types of documents that are necessary to establish eligibility for readmission will vary from case to case.

   7. Not all of these documents are available or necessary in every instance to establish readmission eligibility

3. The College may not delay or attempt to avoid a readmission of a student under this section by demanding documentation that does not exist, or is not readily available, at the time of readmission.

The student (or an appropriate officer of the armed forces or official of the Department of Defense) must give oral or written notice of such service to the school as far in advance as is reasonable under the circumstances. Alternatively, at the time of readmission, the student may submit an attestation of military service that necessitated his absence from school. No notice is required if precluded by military necessity, such as service in operations that are classified or would be compromised by such notice.

The student must also give oral or written notice of his/her intent to return to the school within three years after the completion of the period of service. A student who is hospitalized or convalescing due to an illness or injury incurred or aggravated during the performance of service must notify the school within two years after the end of the period needed for recovery from the illness or injury. A student who fails to apply for readmission within these periods does not automatically forfeit eligibility for readmission but is subject to the college’s established leave of absence policy and general practices.

The college will promptly readmit the student into the next class or classes in the program. beginning after he/she provides notice of intent to reenroll, unless he/she requests a later date, or unusual circumstances require the school to admit him/her at a later date. This federal requirement supersedes state law—for example, a school must readmit a qualifying service member to the next class even if that class is at the maximum enrollment level set by the state. Finally, a student’s readmission rights terminate in the case of a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, general court-martial, federal or state prison sentence, or other reasons as described in 34 CFR 668.18(h).

This practice is not used to secure service member enrollment at the college.

https://gc.edu/about-gc/administration/board-of-regents/board-policies.php

•  Make sure all new programs are accredited (officially approved) before enrolling students.
• Make sure their refund policies follow Title IV rules, which guide federal student financial aid programs.
  • •   Students who officially withdraw from the institution will have their tuition and fees (except the registration fee) refunded according to the following schedule:

      Fall and Spring Semesters (16-week courses)

      Prior to the first college class day: 100%

      During the first fifteen college class days: 70%

      During the next five college class days: 25%

      After the twentieth college class day: NONE

      Summer Semesters (five-week courses)

      Prior to the first college class day: 100 %

      During the first five college class days: 70%

      During the sixth and seventh college class days: 25%

      After the seventh college class day: NONE

  • Students who reduce their semester credit hour load by officially dropping a course or courses and remain enrolled at the institution will have applicable tuition and fees refunded according to the withdrawal schedule. All other refunds will be processed and mailed after the official state reporting period.  Refund Policy

• End fraudulent (deceitful) and aggressive methods of recruiting.
  • Galveston College does not participate in unfair, deceptive, and abusive marketing aimed at military-connected students and all potential students.
  •  https://gc.edu/admissions/catalogs.php

Galveston College fully complies with the seven principles and is dedicated to helping our veteran and non-veteran students succeed!