Veterans' Benefits and Aid

 

Submit the required documents for your program using the Document Requirements for New Veterans guide to keep track.

Veterans using Chapters 30, 32, 33, 1606

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Letter, dated less than 6 months. Must submit VA Form 22-1990 (if applying for the first time) or VA Form 22-1995 (if transferring to WCJC or changing majors) at eBenefits to receive COE.
• DD214, Member 4 or Service 2 copy.
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended.
• Official military transcripts (AARTS, SMARTS, CCAF). 
• VA students co-enrolled at another institution must inform the WCJC VA Certifying Official of their co-enrollment status and provide a Parent Institution Letter.
• Chapter 1606 applicants: Signed Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE Form 2384) is required.
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit every term of enrollment.

Veterans using Chapter 31

• COE Letter, dated less than 6 months. Must submit VA Form 22-1990 (if applying for the first time) or VA Form 22-1995 (if transferring to WCJC or changing majors) at eBenefits to receive COE.
• DD214, Member 4 or Service 2 copy
• VA Form 28-1905
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended
• Official military transcripts (AARTS, SMARTS, CCAF)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit every term of enrollment

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If you are a dependent or spouse of a current or former service member, submit the following documents to qualify for aid.

Dependent Child or Spouse using Chapter 35

• COE Letter, dated less than 6 months. Must submit VA Form 22-1990 (if applying for the first time) or VA Form 22-1995 (if transferring to WCJC or changing majors) at eBenefits to receive COE.
• DD214 for the Veteran, Member 4 or Service 2 copy
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended 
• VA Form 22-5495 if transferring to WCJC or changing majors
• Birth certificate and/or marriage certificate showing relationship to the veteran. Step-children of veterans will need both the birth certificate and the parent/step-parents' marriage certificate.
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit every term of enrollment

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Veterans who are continuing at or returning to take courses at WCJC must submit the required documents to continue receiving VA aid. Use the Document Requirements for Returning Veterans guide to keep track.

Veterans using Chapters 30, 32, 33, 35

• VA Form 22-1995 (www.va.gov) if veteran changing majors; VA Form 22-5495 if DEA changing majors.
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit every term of enrollment.

Veterans using Chapter 31

• VA Form 22-1905 (www.va.gov) if changing veteran changing majors.
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit every term of enrollment.

Veterans using Chapter 1606

• VA Form 22-1905 (www.va.gov) if changing veteran changing majors
• NOBE or COE
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit every term of enrollment.

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Complete and submit the following forms to be eligible under the Hazlewood Act

• Texas Hazlewood Act Application
• DD214, Member 4 or Service 2 copy
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended
• Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill® benefits (Chapter 30, 33) by requesting an education benefits letter from the VA at eBenefits
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. Veterans must register and provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit every term of enrollment

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Dependent children or spouses of service members must complete and submit the following forms to be eligible under the Hazlewood Act

Dependent Child (Legacy) 

• Texas Hazlewood Act Application
• DD214 for the Veteran, Member 4 or Service 2 copy
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended
• Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill® benefits (Chapter 30, 33) by requesting an education benefits letter from the VA at eBenefits
• Relationship Documentation: child's birth certificate listing the veteran as a parent or the most recent tax return of the veteran listing dependent child. A death certificate for the veteran is required if the death was not related to service.
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. Both the veteran and the student must register and provide a printout of the Hazlewood hours used.
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit for every term of enrollment

Dependent Child or Spouse of a Veteran who is rated 100% disabled for the purpose of employability, Killed-in-Action (KIA), or Missing-in-Action (MIA). There is no age limit for the dependent. 

• Texas Hazlewood Act Application
• DD214 for the veteran, Member 4 or Service 2 copy
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended
• Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill® benefits (Chapter 30, 33) by requesting an education benefits letter from the VA at eBenefits.
• Relationship Documentation: the child's birth certificate listing the veteran as the parent or the most recent tax return of the veteran listing the dependent child. A marriage license is required for a spouse. A death certificate for the veteran is required if the death was not related to service.
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. The dependent child or spouse must register and provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• VA disability letter stating Veteran is 100% disabled, if applicable
• KIA or MIA: VA Form DD1300
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit for every term of enrollment

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Veterans who are continuing at or returning to take courses at WCJC must submit the following forms each semester to continue eligibility under the Hazlewood Act

• Continued Enrollment Hazlewood Application
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. The veteran must provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit for every term of enrollment

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Dependent children or spouses of service members must submit the following forms each semester to continue eligibility under the Hazlewood Act

Dependent Child (Legacy)

• Continued Enrollment Hazlewood Application
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. Both the Veteran and the student must provide a printout of the Hazlewood hours used.
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit for every term of enrollment

Dependent Child or Spouse of a Veteran who is rated 100% disabled for the purpose of employability, KIA, or MIA. There is no age limit for the dependent. 

• Continued Enrollment Hazlewood Application
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. The dependent child or spouse must provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification; submit for every term of enrollment

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You will receive your benefit based on entitlement and the coursework you enroll in. Work with WCJC staff to register for courses that meet benefit criteria:

Course Selection:

• Each course must be a requirement for graduation in a degree program at WCJC. No course may be taken for audit. No course may be a repeat of a course for which credit has already been received (A, B, C, & D are passing grades). Each course must be completed and assigned a grade that is used to compute the grade point average (GPA) and progress toward the degree.
• Withdrawals without mitigating circumstances that culminate with no credit being awarded or no punitive grade being assigned result in benefits being terminated from the beginning date of the semester, thus creating an over-award and possible student responsibility for repayment to the Veterans Administration.
• Hazlewood Act recipients are only eligible for the benefit at Wharton County Junior College for up to 150% Maximum Hours.

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In order to remain eligible for veteran’s benefits, you must comply with the following requirements.

67% Completion Rate (Pace)

If you’re receiving state and/or federal veterans benefits you must successfully complete 67% of all institutional and transferrable credit hours attempted, regardless of whether benefits were received for the credit hours. Wharton County Junior College only recognizes and accepts transferrable credit from colleges or universities that have been accredited by a Regional Accrediting Association, as defined in the college’s catalog. 
To calculate the completion rate, divide the total hours successfully completed by the total attempted hours. The total is not rounded up (EX: Completion of .6666667 is a 66% completion rate).
The completion rate of transfer students will be evaluated upon enrollment at WCJC. If you have not met the 67% completion rate where it is mathematically possible to achieve a 67% completion rate in one semester of full-time enrollment (defined as 12 semester credit hours), you will enter on Warning (“Probation”) status. If it is mathematically impossible for you to achieve a 67% completion rate in one semester of full-time enrollment, you will enter on Suspension status, with the opportunity to appeal.

2.0 Institutional GPA

If you’re receiving state and/or federal veterans benefits, you must maintain a 2.0 term and cumulative grade point average on all college-level credit hours attempted at WCJC (this includes developmental studies and dual credit hours) in order to remain eligible for state and/or federal veterans benefits.

Maximum Timeframe of 90 Attempted Hours

You’re eligible for state and/or federal veterans benefits for up to 150% of the credit hours required in your program. Eligibility is lost beyond this limit. 
Example: An Associate of Arts Degree requires 60 credit hours. 60 credits hours x 150% = 90 credit hours. After 90 credit hours, eligibility for state and/or federal veterans benefits is lost
NOTE: ALL attempted academic coursework in your academic history, including developmental coursework, foreign credits, and credits from proprietary institutions, is included in the 150% limit, regardless if it transfers to WCJC for course credit or not.

SAP Evaluation

• SAP for new and returning students, including transfer students, will be evaluated upon enrollment at WCJC.
  SAP for continuing students will be measured three times per year, at the end of each semester, fall, spring, and summer. The evaluation will be made regardless of the number of credit hours attempted during the semester.
• Grades of A, B, C, and D are considered credit hours attempted and successfully completed (earned).
• Grades of F, I (Incomplete), and W (Withdrawals and drops) are counted as credit hours attempted but not successfully completed (unearned).
• Course repeats are counted as attempted credit hours and either earned or unearned depending upon the grade assigned. The last grade is included for GPA purposes if the course was attempted for the last time at WCJC.
• Only the first two attempts of a course completed with a passing grade can be paid for by financial aid. The third attempt cannot be included for payment purposes.
• Coursework attempted and grades earned in semesters forgiven through the State of Texas “Academic Fresh Start” program will be included in the SAP calculation.
• Students failing to meet a term or cumulative 2.0 GPA on institutional coursework and/or complete 67% of their transferrable and institutional coursework will be placed on Warning status for one term. Students in Warning status will have “Probation” posted as their financial aid status in Online Services.
• Students who receive all F’s, W’s, I’s, or a combination of these for the last attempted semester are considered to have earned a zero GPA for that semester and will be placed on financial aid Suspension. This policy applies to all students, including transfer students, regardless of the coursework transfers.
• Students not meeting the minimum SAP criteria at the end of their warning (Probation) period will have “Suspension” status (NONSAP) posted in Online Services and will be ineligible for financial aid.

Regaining Eligibility

If you’re placed on suspension you may continue to enroll at WCJC but you must pay for your coursework from your funds. State and/or federal veterans benefits eligibility will be reinstated after you meet the SAP criteria, both the completion rate (67%) and institutional term and cumulative grade point average (2.0). Reinstatement will occur at the end of the academic term and will secure financial aid eligibility for the next term of enrollment

If you’re placed on suspension status, you may file a veteran benefits appeal.

Veteran Benefits Appeals

• A student who has been suspended from state and/or federal veterans benefits for failure to meet SAP requirements due to extenuating circumstances may appeal the decision by completing an appeal form, explaining the extenuating circumstances, and providing appropriate documentation to support their claim. Appeals without documentation will not be considered.
• Students who receive all F’s, W’s, or I’s or a combination of these (zero GPA) for the last attempted semester will be placed on financial aid suspension. This policy applies to all students, including transfer students, regardless of the coursework transfers. Students who can document extenuating circumstances for a zero GPA need to file a veteran's benefits appeal with the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible with information/documentation regarding their circumstances. State and/or federal veterans benefits appeal information is available on the WCJC website. Students are advised these circumstances include but are not limited to:
  
  • • Student health issues or significant trauma that resulted in withdrawal from the college
    • Verifiable errors by the college that resulted in withdrawal
    • Deployment into active military service
• Appeals for attempting below a 67% completion rate require a copy of a degree plan, an appeal form, and an explanation of why coursework was not successfully completed, with supporting documentation as relevant to the situation.
  
  • • Students for whom it is mathematically possible to achieve a 67% completion rate in one semester of full-time enrollment (defined as 12 semester credit hours) and who successfully appeal enter the next semester on Warning (Probation) status and must achieve 67% completion at the end of the term.
    • If it is mathematically impossible for a student to achieve a 67% completion rate in one semester of full-time enrollment and the student successfully appeals, the student will be placed on an academic plan, which they must follow. Students must complete 67% of the classes for which they register each term and maintain a term and overall grade point average of at least 2.0. Violation of any of these conditions will result in the appeal becoming void.
• Appeals for attempting beyond the maximum timeframe (90 hours) require a copy of a degree plan and an appeal form explaining why the additional coursework is necessary.
• Students approved for over 150% of the program length will be placed on an academic plan, which they must follow. Students must complete 67% of the classes for which they register each term and maintain a term and overall grade point average of at least 2.0. Violation of any of these conditions will result in the appeal becoming void.

Rounding

SAP guidelines do not allow rounding of SAP standards. For example, a 66.7% completion rate would not meet the 67% completion rate standard, and a GPA of 1.95 does not meet the 2.0 standard.

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for understanding and monitoring your own SAP status. You can check your SAP status in real-time through the Online Services student portal. Although the Financial Aid Office attempts to notify students of their veteran benefits status, failure to receive notice does not affect the calculated status and is not a reason to appeal.

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In compliance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, section 3679(e) of Title 38, United States Code, Wharton County Junior College conforms to the following policy for “covered individuals,” defined as any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Benefits. 

• Any covered individual may attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to Wharton County Junior College a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
  
  • • The date on which payment from VA is made to Wharton County Junior College.
    • 90 days after the date Wharton County Junior College certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.
• Wharton County Junior College will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to Wharton County Junior College due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

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Pursuant to the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, effective August 1, 2021: Wharton County Junior College will NOT charge a tuition rate higher than the rate charged for residents of Texas to any covered individual receiving educational assistance under Chapters 30, 31, or 33, as long as the covered individual is currently living in Texas (regardless of the covered individual’s State of legal residence).

You can access their College Financing Plan (CFP) through Online Services. An estimate of total program cost can be calculated by multiplying the figures in the CFP by the years in the program.

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Please review these additional resources to discover more about our VA Benefits.

• BAH Calculator
• GI Bill ®Benefits Comparison Tool
• National Testing Program
• Rate Tables
• Tutorial Assistance 

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