College of Dupage

Veterans Federal Education Benefits

• Covered Programs

• Steps to Receiving Benefits

• How to Get Started

• Military Transcripts

Phone: (630) 942-2444; Fax: (630) 942-4991
E-mail

Veterans Services
Student Services Center (SSC), Room 2225

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

Covered Programs

• Chapter 30 – Montgomery G.I. Bill for Active Duty
• Chapter 31 – Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation, which is handled in the Office of Financial Aid
• Chapter 32 – Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Assistance (VEAP)
• Chapter 33 – Post-9/11 Bill
• Chapter 35 – Survivors and Dependent Educational Assistance Program
• Chapter 1606 – Montgomery G.I. Bill (Selected Reserve)
• Chapter 1607 – Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

Steps to Receiving Your Education Benefits

All benefit recipients must first apply to College of DuPage.

All applications are available electronically through the VA web site or in the Veterans Services office in SSC 2225.

PLEASE NOTE: Post 9/11 benefit recipients will receive a Certificate of Eligibility outlining their eligibility percentage based on the number of years that they have served after Sept. 11, 2001.

Eligibility Criteria: Service requirements/Payment Tiers Percentage
(after 9/11/01 an individual must serve an aggregate of)
• At least 36 months: 100% payment
• At least 30 continuous days of active duty: 100 % payment
(Must be discharged due to service-connected disability)
• At least 30 months, but less than 36 months: 90% payment
• At least 24 months, but less than 30 months: 80% payment
• At least 18 months, but less than 24 months: 70% payment
• At least 12 months, but less than 18 months: 60% payment
• At least 6 months, but less than 12 months: 50% payment
• At least 90 days, but less than 6 months: 40% payment

*Excludes time served in Basic Military Training and/or Skill Training

Duty Discharge 214 (DD 214)
Certification of Eligibility

Survivors and Dependents should submit Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance to the Veterans Services office.
Duty Discharge 214 (DD 214)
Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE)

Once registered for classes, in order to be certified with the VA, all benefit recipients must fill out the Veterans Certification Request Form and submit it to the Veterans Services office.

Each benefit recipient should fill out the appropriate Certification Report that relates to the benefit they are receiving (pick one):
• Chapter 30,35,1606,and 1607 – Montgomery G.I. Bill for Active Duty Veterans Certification Report
• Chapter 33 – Post-9/11 Bill Veterans Certification Report

This form must be submitted every semester in order to be certified for the term. However, if you make any changes to your schedule, by adding or dropping classes, you will need to submit an Drop/Add form. This must be done in order to avoid overpayment.

Once you are certified, you will receive a courtesy message via your COD e-mail notifying you of your certification.


Satisfactory Academic Progress
All students receiving DVA education benefits are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the COD established requirements.

Benefits will not be paid for courses in which a passing grade has previously been awarded.
PLEASE NOTE: Excluding prerequisite courses that require a passing grade of C or better. (ADD)

It is the student's responsibility to make any necessary payment to COD. If you are eligible for the Illinois Veterans Grant or the Illinois National Guard Grant, please contact the Financial Aid office. Please consult the VA web site.

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 COD credit will be accepted. The letter should be written by your college advisor. The letter can be dropped, mailed, or e-mailed to: veterans@cod.edu

Six credits are considered full-time for the eight-week summer session. The VA determines your status for purposes of payment.

Chapter 30, 33, 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 COD e-mail regularly. This is our first link in communicating with benefit recipients.

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 (877) 823-2378 or online at the WAVE web site.

*Post 9/11 recipients do not need to verify their enrollment.

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 can be obtained in the Financial Aid office. Contact Brenda Marcy at (630) 942-2844. You may also contact this office regarding the National Guard Scholarship, MIA/POW and ROTC inquiries.

Military Transcripts

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 granted for some military training. Military records can be obtained via the sites listed below.

SMART
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
Phone: (866) 297-4427

Air Force
Mail a written request to:
CCAF Registrar
CCAF/RRR
Maxwell AFB