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Veterans Affairs

Eligibility for VA Educational Benefits

Eligibility for VA educational benefits is determined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Muskogee, Oklahoma. More information may be obtained online at www.gibill.va.gov. Students eligible to receive VA educational benefits must submit a copy of their schedule to the college's VA Coordinator. Any change in your program or schedule must be promptly reported. The student must provide a copy of the certificate of eligibility to the TC VA Coordinator upon enrollment at the college. Additionally, all Veterans must provide a copy of their DD-214. The DD-214 ideally should be the Member-4 copy.

VA Benefits Programs

The following VA benefit programs are in place at Temple College: 

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill (active duty or veteran status)

  • Montgomery GI Bill / Chapter 30 (active duty or veteran status) must have served in the United States Armed Forces and participated in the GI Bill program. In most instances, veterans must also have been honorably discharged. Veterans must complete Form 22-1990 at VONAPP.The student must provide a copy of the certificate of eligibility to the TC VA Coordinator upon enrollment at the college.

Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation (service-connected disabled veterans)

  • VA Vocational Rehabilitation / Chapter 31 (service-connected disabled veterans) must apply with a VA caseworker to have rehabilitation plan developed indicating a TC degree plan. The student must provide a copy of the VA Form 1905 (generated by the vocational rehabilitation counselor) to the TC VA Coordinator upon enrollment at the college.

Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill

  • The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. Veterans must complete Form 22-1990 at VONAPP. The student must provide a copy of the certificate of eligibility to the TC VA Coordinator upon enrollment at the college.

Chapter 35 Survivor's and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (dependents and spouses of 100% disabled or deceased veterans)

  • Survivor's and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (dependents and spouses of 100% disabled or deceased veterans) / Chapter 35 must complete Form 22-5490 (application) and submit to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Once the benefit is established, the VA will issue a certificate of eligibility to the dependent/spouse. The student must provide a copy of the certificate of eligibility to the TC VA Coordinator upon enrollment at the college.

Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill (selected guard and reserves)

  • Montgomery GI Bill / Chapter 1606 (selected guard and reserves) must have completed all initial entry training (IET) and are now assigned to a Reserve and/or a Texas National Guard Unit. Please submit a copy of your DD 214 Form and NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility, obtained from your unit education officer).Veterans must complete Form 22-1990 at VONAPP. The student must provide a copy of the certificate of eligibility to the TC VA Coordinator upon enrollment at the college.

Chapter 1607 Reservists Call to Active Duty (REAP)

  • Montgomery GI Bill / Chapter 1607 (REAP) must have been called to active duty under federal authority for a contingency operation as determined by Congress or the President. Veterans must have served on active duty in a contingency operation for at least 90 continuous days after September 11, 2001. You must remain within your component to use benefits. Veterans must complete Form 22-1990 at VONAPP.

VA Work Study Program

VA students are eligible to apply for VA work study positions. Additional VA work study information is available at the VA GI Bill website.

Getting Started

After gaining admission to Temple College, students should go online to www.gibill.va.gov to begin the process of applying for VA benefits. If you are a veteran transferring from another school, you must fill out Form 22-1995 "Change of Program or Place of Training." If you are a family member or dependent, you must fill out Form 22-5495 "Change of Program or Place of Training." The following documents should be presented to the college's VA Coordinator when making application for VA benefits:

  • DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
  • VA Certificate of Eligibility
  • Copy of current semester/term college class schedule (returning students)

Veteran Students' Responsibilities

Tuition and Fee Payment:

Students are responsible for paying all college tuition and fees. TC and the VA do not have an agreement to process tuition/fee waivers (excluding Hazlewood, and Voc rehab/Ch.31); therefore, failure of the VA to pay students in a timely manner does not eliminate or delay students' financial responsibility to the college. Programs such as MYCAA and Post 9/11 GI Bill may cover a portion or all tuition/fees costs. It may take the Muskogee VA processing center 6-8 weeks to process new education claims, so please plan accordingly.

Academic Progress and Enrollment:

Veteran students at TC have ongoing responsibilities to the VA. The TC VA Coordinator closely monitors each student's enrollment status and academic program. The student's entitlement is based on the number of credit hours for which they are enrolled in conjunction with the length of term that they are enrolled in (Rate of Pursuit). Current pay rates can be viewed on the GI Bill website. 

Veteran students at TC must do the following to ensure continued benefits:

  1. Notify TC's VA Coordinator every semester enrolled in which VA benefits are expected using the PDF icon  Certification Request Form.
  2. Complete an academic plan with the VA Coordinator and provide a copy of a current class schedule each term.
  3. Notify the TC VA Coordinator if you:
    • change your degree program
    • change your schedule / add or drop (notification required within two days)
    • withdraw completely (notification required within 24 hours)
    • change your address

Chapter 30, 1606 and 1607 Monthly Verification

All students receiving Chapter 30, 1606 or 1607 benefits must verify their monthly enrollment on the last day of each month or after. The benefit (monetary award) will not be released by the VA until this is done. Enrollment verification can be accomplished by using the VA toll-free telephone number 1-877-823-2378 or the WAVE feature found on the VA website www.gibill.va.gov. 

Advance Pay

TC's Office of Veterans Services does process VA Advance Pay, but must be notified and processed 60 to 120 days BEFORE the start of the semester/term.

Texas Tuition Waiver Program

What is it?

The Hazlewood Act provides qualified veterans, spouses, and children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition and fee exemptions at state supported colleges or universities.

How to get it?

To use Hazlewood benefits or to transfer unused benefits to an eligible child, applicants must complete the appropriate form listed below:

Veterans PDF icon

Children/Spouse PDF icon

(Veterans' spouses are not eligible to receive a transfer of unused hours except in limited circumstances as outlined at http://texas-veterans.com/education/hazlewood.)

To contact the Temple College VA Coordinator you can call 254-298-8311 or send an e-mail to va@templejc.edu.