Veterans' Affairs

The Veterans' Affairs 'Certifying Official' is an LBCC staff member who provides assistance to veteran students and eligible dependents regarding college-related matters. A list of LBCC courses approved for benefits is available, as well as information regarding certification and general payment policies. The Certifying Official will help veterans and eligible dependents iapply for benefits. Academic advising, counseling for veterans and referral assistance are also available. The amount of the educational benefits varies with the number of credits taken. For details, contact the Veterans Administration directly at http://www.gibill.va.gov.

Obtaining the Montgomery G.I. Bill Education Benefits and Enrollment Certification

What LBCC does:
The VA Certifying Official issues enrollment certification documents to the appropriate VA regional office and monitors students' satisfactory progress for the VA Administration. Programs at LBCC are approved for the use of VA benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Title 38 and Title 10 of the U.S. Code, or benefits offered by the State of Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs.

What the Veteran/Student does:
Veterans (or other qualified persons) who want to use their educational benefits at Linn Benton Community College must submit a Certificate of Eligibility for VA Education Benefits to the VA certifying official (Financial Aid Office). Veterans (or other qualified persons) who have previously used VA education benefits at another institution and wish to transfer to LBCC, must file VA Form 22-1995, Change of Place of Training, or VA Form 22-5495, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance, with the Linn Benton Veterans Office.

Apply to the VA Administration for your education benefits, confirmation number, and certificate of eligibility. Make your monthly WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment) verifications.

Select a major

Contact the LBCC Veterans Office:
  • If you change your academic major.
  • If you have used VA education benefits at another institution.
  • If you withdraw from studies at Linn Benton Community College.

Instructions for Chapters 30, 1606, 35 and 31

Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30) and Veteran-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606):

  • Apply for your education benefits on the G.I.Bill Website.
  • Provide your confirmation number and subsequent Certificate of Eligibility to the LBCC Veterans Office along with a copy of your DD214-Member 4 and your kicker contract.
  • Submit your Course Compliance Verification Form (CCVF) to the LBCC Veterans' Office (each term). You must inform the LBCC Veterans' Office if you drop any of your classes.
  • The LBCC Veterans Office will certify your enrollment to the VA.
  • Submit Official transcripts to the Registrars' Office before they can be certified for the fourth term.
  • On the last day of the month, verify your enrollment to the VA via the Web Automated Verification (WAVE) or by calling the toll free Interactive Voice Response line at 1-877-823-2378.
  • Monthly benefits are paid directly to you for use at your discretion. If your enrollment has been certified 30 days prior to the start of the term, you can expect the first benefit to arrive in the month following the first full month of school For example, if you start school in the fall your first benefit check should be expected to arrive in November.
Survivors' and Dependent' (DEA) (Chapter 35):
  • Apply for your Survivor' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) using VA Form 22-5490 on the G.I. Bill Website.
  • Mail the application form to the VA Regional Office in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
  • After you receive your Certification of Eligibility, mail or bring a copy to the LBCC Veterans' Office. If submitting your application to the LBCC Veterans' Office, you must provide us with a copy of your birth certificate (child) or marriage certificate (spouse).
  • Submit your Course Compliance Verification Form (CCVF) to the Veterans Office (each term). You must inform the LBCC Veterans' Office if you drop any of your classes.
  • The LBCC Veterans' Office will certify your enrollment.
  • The VA mails monthly benefit checks to the address given on the application form. Your first check should arrive sometime in the month following the first full month of school. For example, if you start school in the fall, your first check should arrive sometime in November.
  • Oficial transcripts from other institutions must be submitted to the Registrars' Office for evaluation before you can be certified for the fourth term.
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
  • Apply for vocational rehabilitation benefits from a VA counselor. You can fill out VA Form 28-1900, Disabled Veteran, and mail it to the VA regional office that serves your area. You can fill out the form online at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/who_uses.asp.
  • Once your vocational rehabilitation benefits have been approved, the VA will send LBCC an authorization form so that you can be certified for your enrollment and purchase books and supplies.
  • Submit your Course Compliance Verification Form (CCVF) to the LBCC Veterans' Office (each term). You must inform the LBCC Veterans Office if you drop any of your classes.
  • For more information about Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits you can call 1-800-827-1000.

Standards of satisfactory progress for students receiving veterans' benefits.

Students receiving Veterans' Administration (VA) benefits must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate in a VA-approved program of study. The VA will only pay for classes that advance students toward their established program goals.

School admission and evaluation of prior credit.

Veterans must become fully admitted students, which requires:
  1. Formal application for admission to the college.
  2. Completion of a Placement Test (unless waived by adequate transfer credit).
  3. Having official transcripts of all college credit earned at other schools sent to the LBCC Admissions Office.
  4. Requesting an official credit evaluation of all prior or transfer credit.
  5. Attendance at a scheduled LBCC new student orientation.

Grades.

Satisfactory grades are 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D' and 'P'. All non-punitive grades ('Y', 'W', 'NP' and 'IN') that reduce the student's total credits to less than the original certification amount are reported to the VA. Any benefits that have already been paid for courses in which non-punitive grades are received must be repaid to the VA.

Note: The VA may deduct the overpayments from future benefits when due. Any course in which an 'F' grade was received may be retaken with benefits only if that specific course is required for graduation. The VA allows one year for 'IN' grades to be completed. Failure to complete an 'IN' within one term may result in an automatic reduction of benefits. However, college policy requires incompletes to be made up within one term.

Variable Credit Classes:

You may be certified for all the credits of a variable credit class; however, failure to complete all the credits for which you are certified results in an overpayment of benefits.

Grade Point Average:

A cumulative GPA of 2.00 is the minimum acceptable GPA necessary to qualify for any degree, diploma or training certificate from Linn-Benton Community College.

Unsatisfactory Progress

You will be notified of unsatisfactory progress at the end of any term that you fail to meet minimum standards of progress. Probation letters are sent to students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.00. A termination of benefits letter is sent to students who fail to bring their cumulative GPA above 2.00 for a second consecutive term. In addition, 70 percent of all classes attempted must be completed in order to qualify for graduation. Therefore, any student whose total course work consists of more than 30 percent 'Y', 'F' and 'NP' grades also will receive a probation or termination letter in the same manner that is prescribed for a deficient GPA. Failure to complete any of the courses attempted in one term may result in immediate termination of benefits, (e.g. Attempted 12 credits, completed none).

Reinstatement of VA Benefits:

To re-establish VA benefits following unsatisfactory progress, you may:

  • Continue without benefits until the unsatisfactory progress has been corrected. Benefits will then be reinstated to include the unpaid period of attendance.
  • Or, submit the following to the LBCC Veterans' Office: A letter of counseling from an LBCC guidance counselor addressing the reasons for unsatisfactory progress and an assessment of your potential to correct academic problems; or a statement explaining reasons for the unsatisfactory progress and how any reoccurrence will be avoided.

Changes in course scheduling:

Students are responsible for notifying the LBCC Veterans' Office of any change in courses attempted or credit load (adds, drops, cancelled or withdrawal from classes). Failure to do so immediately may result in unnecessary overpayments that must be repaid or deducted from future benefits.

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