Recommendation Letters and Forms for Transferring Students
Veterans Federal Education Benefits
Committed to serving those who serve
Veterans Federal Education Benefits
Montgomery G.I. Bill
Cherise Olmo, Veterans Education Certifying Official
Supervisor Veterans Education
Phone (630) 942-2444 Fax (630) 858-9390
olmoch@cod.edu
Records Office
Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 2015
Applications and Certifications are processed through the:
St. Louis Regional Processing Office
Veteran Affairs Regional Office
P.O. Box 66830
St. Louis, MO 63166-6830
Phone: (888) 442-4551All benefit inquiries regarding entitlement should be directed to Veteran Affairs directly at (888) 442-4551 or the VA website: www.gibill.va.gov.
Any documentation submitted directly to the St. Louis office should be copied and submitted to the certifying official in the Records office as well.
Covered Programs
Chapter 30 - Montgomery G.I. Bill for Active DutyChapter 31 - Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation which is handled in the Office of Financial Aid
Chapter 32 - Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Assistance (VEAP)
Chapter 35 - Survivors and Dependent Educational Assistance Program
Chapter 1606 - Montgomery G.I. Bill (Selected Reserve)
Chapter 1607 - Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Please be aware that …
You can only be certified for courses that satisfy your degree requirements. If they are not needed to complete your degree, you will not be certified for the credit for those courses.
Steps to Receiving Your Education Benefits
All benefit recipients must first apply to College of DuPage.All new applicants applying for G.I. Bill education benefits must fill out a DD Form 22-1990, Application for VA Education Benefits and submit it to the Records office. This form can be obtained at the Records office or filed electronically at the VA website. All documentation that applies will need to be submitted with the application. Once the application is received by the VA Regional office it takes at least eight weeks to process. After processing, a Certificate of Eligibility outlining benefit eligibility and the expiration date is mailed to the student.
If an applicant has used benefits at another institution, and is transferring to a new institution, the applicant must fill out a DD Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training. This form can also be obtained in the Records office or accessed via the VA website. This form must also be filled out if the applicant decides to change degree programs. This form must be submitted at C.O.D. if transferring in, and at the new institution if transferring out of C.O.D.
Required Documentation to be submitted with applications:
Duty Discharge 214 (DD 214)Leave of Earning Statement (LES) or kicker
Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE)
Survivors and Dependents should submit Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance to the Records office.
Once registered for classes, in order to be certified with the VA, all benefit recipients must fill out the Veterans Certification Report and submit it to the Records office. This form must be submitted every semester you are registered for classes in order to receive benefits. It must also be submitted when classes are added, dropped or when there is a complete withdrawal. This must be done in order to avoid overpayment.
Once you are certified you will receive a courtesy e-mail via your C.O.D. e-mail notifying you of your certification.The final step to receiving your benefit is verifying your enrollment. Chapter 30 and 1606 benefit recipients must verify enrollment at the end of each month in order to receive benefits. This must be done on the last day of the month. This can be done by calling 1-877-823-2378 or online at the WAVE website: https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave.
If an Illinois veteran (entered service from Illinois and returned to Illinois after discharge), you may be eligible for the Illinois Veterans Grant. This is a state grant that pays tuition. Information regarding this grant and Vocational Rehabilitation can be obtained in the Financial Aid office. Contact Brenda Marcy at (630) 942-2844. You may also contact this office regarding National Guard Scholarship, MIA/POW and ROTC inquiries.
Tuition Assistance Grant inquiries should be directed to Rita Bobek in Financial Aid at (630) 942-2722.
All prior credit must be reported to the VA.
Please have all transcripts along with a Transfer Evaluation form submitted to the Records office. Credit is accepted for some military training. Military records can be obtained via the sites listed below. All military credit is evaluated by the certifying official.Smart: https://www.navycollege.navy.mil
Phone: (877) 253-7122
Fax: (850) 452-1281
For further information, contact:
SMART Operations Center,
NETPDTC N2, 6490
6490 Saufley Field
Pensacola, FL 32509-5204
AARTS: https://aarts.army.mil
Phone: (866) 297-4427
Air Force: http://www.degreechk.com
Mail a written request to:
CCAF Registrar
CCAF/RRR
Maxwell AFB
AL, 36112DD214: Chapter 30, 1606 and 1607 recipients are eligible for 3 PE credits.
*Visit www.defenselink.mil/faq/pis/PC03MLTR.html to
request a DD214 if you need a replacement copy.Please be aware that …
You can only be certified for courses that satisfy your degree requirements. If they are not needed to complete your degree, you will not be certified for the credit for those courses.VA requires that attendance is monitored. Non-attendance will be reported to the VA.
Satisfactory Academic Progress – All students receiving DVA education benefits are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the C.O.D. established requirements.Break Pay – Break Pay is paid for the time between semesters. The student had to attend at least half time or more to receive break pay. The Department of Veteran Affairs will not authorize payment if:
• The student is attending less than half time or is on Active Duty.
• The student changes schools and the interval is more than 30 days.
• The student changes schools and program, regardless of length of interval preceding the change.
• You withdraw from courses or discontinue training during the term preceding the break.
Benefits will not be paid for courses in which a passing grade has previously been awarded.
The G.I. Bill is a monthly benefit issued directly to the student. It is the student's responsibility to make any necessary payment to C.O.D. If you are eligible for the Illinois Veterans Grant or the Illinois National Guard Grant, please contact the Financial Aid office.
Please consult the Department of Veterans Affairs website for pay charts.
If you are taking courses for transfer, you will need to complete Form 22-1995 and submit a parent letter from the transfer school, stating that C.O.D. credit will be accepted.
Six credits is considered full-time for the eight-week summer session.
The VA determines your status for purposes of payment.
Chapter 30, 1606 and 1607 students currently have the option of Direct Deposit. Contact the VA at (877) 838-2778 with your bank routing number and account number.
Remember to check your C.O.D. e-mail regularly. This is our first link in communicating with benefit recipients.
Cherise Olmo
Veterans Education Certifying Official
Supervisor Veterans EducationPhone (630) 942-2444
Fax (630) 858-9390
Records Office
Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 2015
