Veterans Office

Elissa Silverstein, Veterans Counselor

Services Provided to Veterans at RCC

The purpose of the Veterans Office at RCC is to provide multiple services to our students who have served in the military or who are eligible for survivor’s benefits. The RCC Veterans Counselor’s office is located within the Financial Aid Office, Room 8141 of the Technology Center. The Veterans Counselor meets individually with students to help them identify all the federal and/or New York State educational benefits for which they may qualify, guide them through the application process for those benefits, and advise them about the related academic requirements. The Veterans Counselor also certifies the student’s enrollment each semester to the Veterans Administration and assists students in the resolution of problems associated with obtaining their benefits.

Veterans Education Programs Administered by Veterans Affairs (VA)

• Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) Chapter 30
• Montgomery GI Bill (Selected Reserve) Chapter 1606
• Dependents Educational Assistance Chapter 35
• Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Chapter 1607
• Post-Vietnam Era Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Chapter 32
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
• Restored Entitlement Program for Survivors

New York State Veterans Education Programs Administered by New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)

• Veterans Tuition Awards
• Military Service Recognition Scholarship
• NYS Regents Award for Children of Veterans
• Children of Vietnam Veterans born with Spina Bifida
• Recruitment Incentive and Retention Program for Army and Air National Guard, and Naval Militia

Applying for Benefits

Students who have never used any Federal VA educational benefits should apply in person to the Veterans Counselor in the RCC Veterans Office.

Veterans who will be applying for their Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Active Duty Educational Assistance (Chapter 30) benefits for the first time will need a copy of page 4 (Member’s Page) of their DD214 to send to the VA. Additional information can be found on the United States Department of Veterans Affairs web page (http://www.gibill.va.gov)

Reservists who have not used any of their MGIB-Selected Reserve Educational Assistance (Chapter 1606/1607) benefits will need the original DD Form 2384, or Notice of Basic Eligibility, provided by their Reserve Unit. More information can be found on the United States Department of Veterans Affairs web page (http://www.gibill.va.gov)

Spouses and children of deceased or 100% service disabled veterans who have not previously received VA benefits will need to provide appropriate documentation to apply for the MGIB Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits. Those who have previously been approved for survivor or dependent benefits should provide the Veterans Counselor with their Certificate of Eligibility for the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA). More information can be found on the USDVA Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) web page ( http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH35/CH35_Pamphlet_General.htm ).

The VA center that processes all Montgomery GI Bill benefits for our region is:

The Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office

130 South Elmwood Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14202

Phone: 1-800-827-1000

Veterans who have service related disabilities and who want to apply for MGBI Vocational Rehabilitation for Service Disabled Veterans (Chapter 31) must direct their applications for Vocational Rehabilitation benefits to:

The Department of Veterans Affairs

245 West Houston Street

New York, NY 10014

Phone: 1-800-827-1000

More complete information on Federal Benefits for Veterans and Survivors, including qualification requirements, payment rates and time restrictions on eligibility, can be found at Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents web page ( http://www1.va.gov/opa/IS1/4.asp ).

Rockland County Veterans will find very useful additional information and services at the Rock Vets web page ( http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/vets/veterans.html ).

Students applying for New York State Veterans Tuition Awards or Awards for Children or Spouses of Veterans must first complete a FAFSA and a TAP application before applying for the NYS awards. The NYS application may be obtained by contacting the HESC Scholarship Unit at 1-888-697-4372. Additional information about NYS programs can be found on the HESC web site at Military Corner web page ( http://www.hesc.com/content.nsf/SFC/Military_Corner ).

The Recruitment Incentive and Retention Program (RIRP), a New York State program designed to recruit and retain quality members for the State Military Forces (Army and Air National Guard, and Naval Militia) will pay the cost of tuition up to a maximum of $4,350 per calendar year for eligible qualified applicants. Information on the RIRP program is available at 100% NYS Retention and Recruitment Incentive Program web page ( http://dmna.state.ny.us/community/rirp.htm ).

Military Residency Waiver

The New York State residency requirement for recipients of awards administered by HESC is waived for a member of, or for the spouse or dependent of a member of, the armed forces of the United States who is on full-time active duty and is stationed in this state.

Financial Aid for Veterans

In addition to applying for veterans’ benefits, veteran students are also encouraged to apply for scholarships, federal and state financial aid grants, student loans, and federal work-study jobs on or off campus. However, please be aware that veterans’ education benefits are considered a resource in the Financial Aid package and adjustments to other aid will be made as required by law. For complete information about financial aid at RCC, please visit our Financial Aid web page or visit the Financial Aid Office for applications or to speak with a Financial Aid Counselor.

Admissions, Advisement, Assessment, and Enrollment

In order to receive VA administered Educational Benefits or benefits from New York State, a student needs to proceed through the regular college admissions process. This includes completing an RCC Enrollment Application, taking the English and Mathematics Assessment tests, matriculating into an approved degree or certificate program, and registering for courses required of that degree or certificate program. All full-time students must see an Academic Advisor before selecting their courses. Part-time, degree-seeking students are encouraged to seek advisement from faculty within their degree program or an adviser at the Academic Advisement Center. Accurate academic advisement will prevent a student from making registration errors which could result in a loss of benefits. The Academic Advisement Center is located on the second floor of the Technology Center. For an appointment with an advisor, please call (845) 574 – 4443. For more information see >Academic Advisement.

Institutional Enrollment Certification

Every semester that a student wishes to receive MGIB Educational Benefits, he/she must request that the Veterans Counselor certify the enrollment to the VA. When the student has completed the registration process for a semester, a copy of the student’s schedule should be given to the Veterans Counselor who will review the courses to insure they meet the academic requirements of his program and then complete the on-line Institutional Enrollment Certification process.

Also, the college is required to report any changes in enrollment to the VA in order to insure that the student is neither over-awarded nor under-paid. Whenever a course is added to or dropped from the student’s schedule for a semester, the Veterans Counselor must be informed so that the certification for that semester can be corrected immediately.

Monthly Enrollment Verification

Veterans receiving MGIB-Active Duty (Chapter 30) or MGIB-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) must verify their continued enrollment each month in order to receive payment for that month. Your enrollment can be verified beginning on the last calendar day of the month by calling the toll free interactive voice response telephone line at (877) 823-2378 or by logging on to the >Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) web site an following the instructions.

Deferred Payments for Veterans

It is college policy that all students must pay tuition and fees in full or provide credit authorizations to the Bursar’s Office when they register for classes. Because of the delay in processing benefit payments each term from the VA, the Veterans Office has arranged with the Bursar’s Office to defer payments for a period of time after registration. However, veterans are expected to make regular payments as soon as they receive their benefit checks, and they must complete the payments for each semester before they are allowed to register for any subsequent semester. If you wish to take advantage of the deferred payment option, you must request it each semester from the Veterans Counselor, who will then arrange it with the Bursar’s Office.

Prior Training, Experience and Transfer Credits

Rockland Community College participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Students who earn satisfactory scores on an appropriate examination may be granted credit for prior training. Qualifying scores and the number of credits granted are determined by the individual academic disciplines. For a current listing of examinations and passing scores, or to arrange to take a CLEP exam, call the Office of Assessment and Placement at (845) 574-4525.

The College may grant credit for college-level learning acquired as a result of work experience. Students seeking this type of credit will take competency exams and/or prepare a portfolio that documents their learning. Students must be currently enrolled in credit-bearing courses and complete that semester of enrollment in order to apply for this type of credit. Information concerning credit for life and work experience is available at the Office of Assessment and Placement, (845) 574-4525 or (845) 574-4288.

The College may grant credit for some courses offered by the Armed Forces. These courses are reviewed by the Records Office when the official transcripts are submitted. In addition, a maximum of three physical education credits may be granted to veterans who have served at least six months in the Armed Forces. To receive this credit, documentation of completion of Basic Training must be submitted to the Director of the Athletic Department, Room 5111 in the Fieldhouse.

The College may grant credit for some courses completed at other colleges. Students should have their former institutions forward all official transcripts to the RCC Records Office. Upon receipt of all academic documents, the Registrar's Office will evaluate transfer credit and inform the student in writing of their decision. Transfer credit is granted for courses which are equivalent to RCC courses when a grade of C or better was earned at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. RCC will evaluate courses for transfer credit based on the degree or certificate program that the student intends to pursue at RCC.

Withdrawal/Refund Policy for Military Personnel Called to Active Duty

Students who are called to active duty during a semester must officially withdraw from their classes to avoid failing grades. Plus, students who must withdraw due to military orders are advised to apply for Tuition Appeals. A completed Tuition Refund Appeal Form, which can be found at http://www.sunyrockland.edu/current-students/student-services/student-forms/student-development-center/, and a copy of the student’s deployment orders should be submitted to the Dean of Student Personnel Services, Student Development Center, Rockland Community College, 145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901. Approval of a tuition appeal will result in a full tuition refund for the term and an indication on your transcript that you had a no-fault withdrawal from your classes for an approved reason.