Veterans Services

Veterans Information and Educational Benefits

Triton College is committed to a supportive lifelong learning environment empowering individuals personally, professionally and culturally to contribute to a global community. In this same spirit, we recognize the service of Veterans towards our country as well as their presence within our student community. Whether you are a new student, returning student, or deployed on active duty, we can assist you and your eligible dependents, as you begin your education.

VA Benefits & Enrollment Checklist

Please click HERE for enrollment steps. If interested in receiving VA benefits at Triton, please fill out the Military Data Benefits Form each year and send it to your Veterans Representative. If seeking additional financial aid, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

All qualifying students are required to submit a Military Benefits Data Form for ALL benefit programs.

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Contact

Vet Rep/School Certifying Official (SCO):
April Sharelis
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3616
aprilsharelis@sjzddclm.com
Last Names (A-M)

School Certifying Official (SCO):
LaTanya Walls
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3531
latanyawalls@sjzddclm.com
Last Names (N-Z)

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Credits Awarded for Military Courses and Transfer Credits

If you have previously earned college credit, all prior credit must be reported to the Veterans Specialist and the Records office. Courses completed in military training may also be accepted for college credit. To be awarded additional credits, eligible veterans or military personnel must submit their military transcript to the Records Office in the Student Center, Room B-220. Military transcripts may be obtained via the sites listed below.

Army, Marine, Navy and Coast Guard - http://jst.doded.mil/official.html

Air Force - http://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/

In addition, the College follows the recommendation of the American Council on Education in granting four (4) semester hours of undergraduate credit in physical education and two (2) credit hours in health for education received in Basic Training. To obtain this credit, veterans must submit their DD-214 indicating basic training has been completed and sign a general petition form to their Veteran Specialist at Triton College. It takes approximately three weeks for the evaluation process to be completed.

Military Credits Table

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Educational Benefits

Our institution is approved by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs State Approving Agency to process the following educational benefits for qualifying students:

Illinois Programs

Administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)

What is it?
The IVG is a grant which, if a student qualifies, will cover tuition and most fees at Illinois state-supported colleges, universities, and community colleges. If eligible, a student is given 120 units of credit, equivalent to approximately four years of study, toward credit and non-credit, undergraduate and graduate level courses at Illinois state-supported schools. The grant is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and is subject to their rules and regulations.

To qualify, a student must:
1.	Be an honorably discharged veteran.
2.	Reside in Illinois at least six months before entering the service.
3.	Have at least one full year of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces which includes veterans who were assigned to active duty in a foreign country in a time of hostilities in that country, regardless of length of service.
4.	Return to Illinois within six months of discharge from the service.

More info available at www.veterans.illinois.gov/benefits/education.htm.

To apply:
•	Fill out the application. Include a copy of your DD214 Member 4 and other appropriate documentation.

•	Complete the Military Benefits Data Form and return it to the Financial Aid office.

Now what?
It takes ISAC approximately four weeks to respond. You will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail.
Once you receive your letter, please bring in a copy to the Financial Aid Office.

In order to use your grant, you must:
   • Be enrolled at an Illinois public two- or four-year college.
   • Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant.
   • Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.

After confirming this information, we will be able to pay your account.

★ The IVG does not cover laboratory, online course fees or late registration fees at this time; therefore, be aware these costs will fall to you, the student.

★ Continuing Education coursework is allowable under Illinois Veterans Grant benefits.

For more information: www.isac.org
→Go to ISAC Gift Assistance Programs
→Go to IL Veteran Grant (IVG)

Information as of 06/2012

Administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)

What is it?
The ING is a grant which, if you qualify, will cover tuition and some fees at all Illinois state-supported colleges, universities, and community colleges. If eligible, a student is given 120 units of credit, equivalent to approximately 4 years of study, towards credit and non-credit, undergraduate and graduate level courses at Illinois state-supported schools. The grant is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and is subject to their rules and regulations.

To qualify, a student must:
1. Have completed one full year of service in the Illinois National Guard.
2. Be a current Illinois National Guard member.

To apply:
1.	The ING has an online application that must be completed for each academic year.
		You may access it through ISAC.org.
		After reading the material → Go to Launch Application.
2.	Complete the Military Benefits Data Form and return it to the Financial Aid Office.

Now what?
You will receive a letter of eligibility in the mail. Once you receive your letter, please bring in a copy for your file as well as a copy of your current schedule with “ING” and a current phone number written on it.

In order to use your grant, you must:
   1. Be enrolled at an Illinois public two- or four-year college.
   2. Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant.
   2. 3. Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.

After confirming this information we will be able to pay your account.

★ The ING does not cover laboratory fees, online course fees, late registration fees, technology fees or auxiliary fees at this time; therefore, be aware these costs will fall to you, the student.

★ Continuing Education coursework is allowable under Illinois Veterans Grant benefits.

For more information: ISAC.org
→Go to ISAC Gift Assistance Programs
→Go to IL Veteran Grant (IVG)

Information as of 06/2012

Administered by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

What is it?
The MIA/POW Scholarship Grant is a grant which, if you qualify, will cover tuition and some fees at all Illinois state-supported colleges, universities, and community colleges. If eligible, a student is given 120 units of credit, equivalent to approximately 4 years of study, towards credit and non-credit, undergraduate and graduate level courses at Illinois state-supported schools. The grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and is subject to their rules and regulations.

To qualify a student must:
1.	Must be a dependent (spouse or child) of a veteran who has been declared by the Department of Defense or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be a prisoner of war, missing-in-action, to have died as the result of a service-connected disability or be permanently disabled from service-connected causes with 100% disability.
2.	The Veteran must be/must have been an IL resident at least within 6 months of entering military service.

To apply:
1.	Student must fill out an application.
2.	Complete the Military Benefits Data Form and return it to the Financial Aid office.

Now what?
Correspondence will be sent from the State of IL Veterans Office. Once you receive the letter and the scholarship card, bring copies to the Financial Aid office.

In order to use your grant you must:
   1. Be enrolled at an Illinois public 2- or 4-year college.
   2. Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant.
   3. Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.

After confirming this information, we will be able to pay your account.

★ The MIA/POW scholarship is tuition exclusive and does not cover online, lab or mandatory fees.

★ Continuing Education coursework is allowable under the MIA/POW Grant benefits.

For more information: www.veterans.illinois.gov/benefits/education.htm
→Scroll down to MIA/POW Scholarship heading

Information as of 06/2012

Federal Programs

Administered by the Federal Government, Office of Veterans Affairs

What is it?
The Original Montgomery GI Bill is an education program that provides up to 36 months of educational benefits to an eligible student. It directly pays the veteran a monthly amount based on eligibility, rate of training and type of training. It expires after 10 years or after the 36 months is used up, whichever comes first.

To qualify a student must:
   1. Be honorably discharged.
   2. Have had at least 1 year active duty.
   3. Have entered active duty for the first time after 06/30/1985.

There may be other scenarios which may make you eligible.
Access this information via the website noted below.

To apply:
•	Online at the VA website noted below. Once you receive your letter of eligibility, bring in a copy to the Financial Aid office.

Also required:
•	You will need to supply a copy of your DD214 Member 4.
•	Complete the Military Benefits Data Form and return it to the Financial Aid office.
•	You are also granted credit through this specialized General Petition for two courses, HTH 104 and PED 100, for completing Basic Training.

Now what?
Once all the paperwork has been reviewed by our office and your status as a student in good standing* has been confirmed, we will certify your classes. Payments will be sent directly to you. It is up to you to confirm your enrollment, monthly, through the VA website when appropriate.

For more information: www.ebenefits.va.gov

* In order to be eligible to receive benefits a student must:
1.	Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2.	Complete 67% of all credits attempted with a grade of C or higher (Grades of W count against your average, will be reported to the appropriate VA agency, and may result in an overpayment of benefits for which the student, alone, will be responsible to repay).
3.	Have completed a formal academic evaluation of all previous college credit towards the degree which they are pursuing at Triton College, within two semesters of attendance.

Information as of 06/2012

Administered by the Federal Government, Office of Veterans Affairs

VA Pending Payment Compliance
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(c), Triton College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch.33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA.

Triton will not:

Prevent the student’s enrollment.
Assess a late penalty fee to the student.
Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding.
Deny the student access to any resource (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such student may be required to:

Provide the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class.
Provide a written request to be certified.
Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

What is it? The new Post 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill is an education program that provides up to 36 months of educational benefits to an eligible student, and up to 48 for qualifying students who can combine 2 or more VA programs. It expires after 15 years or after the 36/48 months is used up, whichever comes first. It is also a program that can be passed on to eligible dependents (see VA website for details).
•	It directly pays the school tuition and fees up to the predetermined percentage of eligibility established by the VA.
•	It can also pay the veteran a book stipend based on the predetermined percentage of eligibility established by the VA and based on the number of credit hours the student is enrolled.
•	It can also pay the veteran a basic housing allowance based on a predetermined rate established by the VA, if the student is enrolled in 7 credit hours or more. Current rates can be viewed on the VA website or by using the online benefits calculator.

To qualify a student must have:
•	An Honorable Discharge and have served at least 90 aggregate days active duty after September 10, 2001.
•	Been honorably discharged for a service-connected disability while serving 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001.

To apply:
Complete the online application which you may access at the VA website noted below.

Also required:
•	You will need to supply the Financial Aid/Veterans Affairs office at Triton College with a copy of your DD214 Member 4.
•	Complete the Military Benefits Data Form and return it to the Financial Aid office.
•	You are also granted credit through this specialized General Petition for two courses, HTH 104 and PED 100, for completing Basic Training.

Now what?
Please let the Financial Aid Office know you have applied for this benefit program. We will place your tuition on a protective hold while you are awaiting your letter of eligibility.

Once you receive your letter of eligibility, please bring in a copy, as well as, a copy of your current schedule, your DD214, responsibility form, and specialized general petition. You may also be asked to fill out one last form in our office declaring your degree for our records.

When your status as a student in good standing* has been confirmed, we will apply payment to your account. Book stipends and housing allowances will be sent directly to you. It is up to you to confirm your enrollment, monthly, through the VA website when appropriate.

For more information:www.ebenefits.va.gov

* In order to be eligible to receive benefits a student must:
1.	Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2.	Complete 67% of all credits attempted with a grade of C or higher (Grades of W count against your average, will be reported to the appropriate VA agency, and may result in an overpayment of benefits for which the student, alone, will be responsible to repay).
3.	Have completed a formal academic evaluation of all previous college credit towards the degree which they are pursuing at Triton College, within two semesters of attendance.

Information as of 06/2012

Administered by the Federal Government, Office of Veterans Affairs

What is it?
The Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserves is an education program that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserve. This includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserves, as well as, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Typically, your eligibility ends when you leave the Selected Reserves. If you stay in the Selected Reserves, benefits generally end ten (10) years from the date you become eligible, if you became eligible before 10/01/92. If you became eligible on or after 10/01/92, your benefits end after 14 years.

To qualify:
1.	You signed a six-year contract to serve in the Selected Reserve after 6/30/1985.
2.	You completed your Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT).
3.	You got your High School Diploma or GED before you completed your IADT.
4.	You are in good standing in a drilling Selected Reserve unit.

To apply:
•	Online at the VA website noted below. Once you receive your letter of eligibility, bring in a copy to the Financial Aid office in order to certify your enrollment.

Also required:
•	You will need to supply a copy of your NOBE (DD2384 or 2384-1) and, if applicable, a copy of your DD214 Member 4.
•	Complete the Military Benefits Data Form and return it to the Financial Aid office.
•	You are also granted credit through this specialized General Petition for two courses, HTH 104 and PED 100 for completing Basic Training.

Now what?
Once all the paperwork has been reviewed by our office and your status as a student in good standing* has been confirmed, we will certify your classes. Payments will be sent directly to you. It is up to you to confirm your enrollment, monthly, through the VA website when appropriate.

For more information: www.ebenefits.va.gov

* In order to be eligible to receive benefits a student must:
1.	Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2.	Complete 67% of all credits attempted with a grade of C or higher (Grades of W count against your average, will be reported to the appropriate VA agency, and may result in an overpayment of benefits for which the student, alone, will be responsible to repay).
3.	Have completed a formal academic evaluation of all previous college credit towards the degree which they are pursuing at Triton College, within two semesters of attendance

Information as of 06/2012

Administered by the Federal Government, Office of Veterans Affairs

What is it?
Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance is an education benefit for eligible spouses and children of certain veterans. Eligible persons can receive up to 45 months of full-time or equivalent benefits. Spouses have 10 years from the date VA established eligibility to use this benefit. Surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty have 20 years from the date VA established eligibility to use this benefit. Children may use the benefits while they are between the ages of 18 and 26.

To qualify:
To be eligible you must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:
•	A veteran who died, or is permanently and totally disabled, as the result of a service connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
•	A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
•	A service member missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force.
•	A service member forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.
•	A service member hospitalized or receiving outpatient care for a VA determined service-connected permanent and total disability may be eligible for DEA benefits (Effective December 23, 2006).

To apply:
A student who HAS NOT used benefits before may apply one of two ways:
•	Online at the VA website noted below. Once you receive your letter of eligibility, bring in a copy to the Financial Aid office in order to certify your enrollment.
•	Please apply for Survivors and Dependents’ Educational Assistance at: http://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. Also, after submitting your application, provide the SCO with your final schedule so that you can be certified with the VA.
A student who HAS used benefits before may apply:
•	Please apply for Survivors and Dependents’ Education Assistance at http://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/.

Also required:
•	Complete the Military Benefits Data Form and return it to the Financial Aid office.

For more information: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

* In order to be eligible to receive benefits a student must:
1.	Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2.	Complete 67% of all credits attempted with a grade of C or higher (Grades of W count against your average, will be reported to the appropriate VA agency, and may result in an overpayment of benefits for which the student, alone, will be responsible to repay).
3.	Have completed a formal academic evaluation of all previous college credit towards the degree which they are pursuing at Triton College, within two semesters of attendance.

Information as of 06/2012

Triton will not:

Prevent the student’s enrollment.
Assess a late penalty fee to the student.
Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding.
Deny the student access to any resource (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such student may be required to:

Provide the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class.
Provide a written request to be certified.
Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

What is it?
Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program, is an educational benefit program established to help veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find and keep suitable jobs. It is a program that pays for: eligible tuition, fees and materials; and can be used for 12 years before expiring.

To qualify:
•	Have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable.
•	Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%.
•	Submit a completed application for VR & E services.
To apply:
A veteran must have an evaluation done by the VA. Contact your regional VA Office for more information: Chicago Regional Office, 2212 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 1-800-827-1000

Also required:
•	Complete the Military Benefits Data Form and return it to the Financial Aid office.
•	Download and review the Responsibilities & Checklist for your records.

Now what?
Once your initial evaluation is completed, and you have met with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to determine your academic goals, our office should receive a copy of your Certification paperwork. VR Counselors often fax or mail this paperwork to us.

Once all the paperwork has been reviewed by our office and your status as a student in good standing* has been confirmed, we will certify your classes. Payments will be sent directly to you, the student.

For more information: www.ebenefits.va.gov

* In order to be eligible to receive benefits a student must:
1.	Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2.	Complete 67% of all credits attempted with a grade of C or higher (Grades of W count against your average, will be reported to the appropriate VA agency, and may result in an overpayment of benefits for which the student, alone, will be responsible to repay).
3.	Have completed a formal academic evaluation of all previous college credit towards the degree which they are pursuing at Triton College, within two semesters of attendance.

Information as of 10/2009

Other Program

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Attendance Verification

Students using chapters 30 and 1606 must verify enrollment once per month. Your enrollment can be verified starting on the last calendar day of the month by using the Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by calling the toll free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone line at (877) 823-2378.

The WAVE and IVR systems do not update account information instantly. Please allow up to 2-3 workdays for the systems to reflect updates to your account.

Payments by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer are strongly encouraged. Payments are sent directly to your savings or checking account. To enroll, click on the "Direct Deposit Enrollment Form" link after you have logged into WAVE.

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Veterans Financial Aid

Service members are also eligible to apply for Federal Financial Aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://fafsa.gov.

Note: Both military benefits and financial aid, if granted, may be utilized during the same semester provided:

The student is in good standing as determined by Triton College’s Standards of Academic Progress
No existing regulations preclude the use of both awards

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Resources Links

Scholarship Information:
AMVETS Scholarships
VA Mortgage Center.com Scholarship
SVA (Student Veterans of America) Scholarship Directory

Employment Resources:
Recruit Military
Hire Veterans
Hire a Hero
Federal Jobs Search Engine

National Resources:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Student Veterans of America (SVA)
Accredited Online Schools & Colleges

Additional Resources:
Veterans Educational Benefits and Student Resources
Military Transfer Credit Procedure

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VA Contact Information

For More Information on Illinois program → Go to ISAC gift assistance programs at ISAC.org
Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs
United States Department of Veterans' Affairs GI Bill (1-888-442-4551)
Military.com
Military Student Aid
Student Veterans of America
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
Veteran Center Services of America
Transfer Guide: Understanding Military Credit
Illinois Department of VA Bonus Payment eBenefits

This tool has been made available for wounded and ill Service Members, Veterans and their families. It provides access to thousands of services and resources at the national, state, and local levels that support recovery, rehabilitation and the community reintegration of Veterans. Benefits, Education, Employment, Health and Housing are just a few of the resources available on this site.

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VA Pending Payment Compliance and Consumer Information Disclosure

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:

Prevent the student’s enrollment
Assess a late penalty fee to the student
Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding
Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

Provide the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class
Provide a completed Military Data Form
Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies
Please review the Consumer Information Disclosure that has the VA Shopping Sheet

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In This Section

Veterans Information and Educational Benefits

VA Benefits & Enrollment Checklist

Contact

Credits Awarded for Military Courses and Transfer Credits

Educational Benefits

Illinois Programs

Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)

Illinois National Guard Grant (ING)

MIA/POW Scholarship Grant

Federal Programs

Montgomery GI Bill ® (Chapter 30)

Post 9/11 GI Bill ® (Chapter 33)

Montgomery GI Bill ® – Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606)

Montgomery GI Bill ® – Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)

Tuition Assistance (administered through our Bursar’s Office)

Other Program

National Military Family Association

MilitaryScholar.org

Attendance Verification

Veterans Financial Aid

Resources Links

VA Contact Information

VA Pending Payment Compliance and Consumer Information Disclosure