New Students

Eligible active duty, reserves, veterans and dependents who have never used their VA educational benefits and would like to use them at Grossmont College.

1. Apply for admission to Grossmont College at CCC Apply
2. Apply for VA Education benefits at www.gibill.va.gov it takes about 30 days to receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Veterans can get started using their benefits without their COE and using their DD 214 member 4 copy, but dependents must have COE to start using benefits
3. Apply for financial aid at www.fafsa.gov the 2020-21 application includes Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 
4. Veterans and Active Duty request priority registration at the Veteran Affairs Office by e-mailing your DD 214 member 4 copy to grossmontva@gcccd.edu 
5. Dowload the myVRC application to have the tools and resources to be successful at your fingertips
6. Log in to webadvisor to complete: "Step One-Online Orientation" and "Step Two-Assessment/Placement Questionnaire" 
7. Schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor and create your education plan. To create your education plan you can meet with a Veterans Counselor by emailing grossmont.veteransresourcecenter@gcccd.edu. You can also schedule an appointment to meet with any other counselor but if you are planning to use benefits let them know. Phone & zoom appointments are currently available.
8. Register for classes using WebAdvisor
9. Turn in the following documents: Registration Statement (available on webadvisor, must be submitted every semester using benefits), Education Plan (required for students transferring to another institution, must be completed with counselor), Certificate of Eligibility (not required immediately for veterans if providing DD 214) & Letter of Intent (form available in the VAO & must be submitted every semester using benefits) to the VAO at grossmontva@gcccd.edu 
10. Buy your books and attend class(es)

General Information for All Veterans/Students:

Everyone receiving VA benefits is required, by the Veterans Administration, to maintain regular class attendance and satisfactory progress to comply with the Academic Policies section of the current Grossmont College Catalog.

The Transfer Center is also available for information about the UC and CSU Public Institutions, as well as Independent Institutions. Refer to the -Transfer Planning" section of the current catalog. (619) 644-7150

VETERANS: Chapters 30, 31, 33, 1606 & 1607 receive FIRST DAY Priority Registration. This is about 9 weeks before the start of each semester. You are encouraged to plan accordingly to take advantage of this opportunity, then file your Intent form at the VAO. Call the VAO for questions about registration dates.

Military Credit: Submit your military transcript to the VAO for review of military service schools. You will need to fill out a request for military credit form. Credit may be granted in accordance with recommendations by the ACE guidelines, up to a maximum of 20 units for work similar to Grossmont courses. Military Credit is not evaluated for transfer. Military credit can be used toward major requirements, only with consent from the Department Chair and a Modification of Major form. You will be mailed documentation showing the results of your military credit if requested.

DOCUMENTATION:

Advance Payment:

New or Returning Students (who have been out of school for over 30 days) may choose to receive Advanced Payment. This must be done no later than 30 days prior to the beginning date of the semester/term. Check with the Grossmont VAO for requirements, general questions and applicable dates to apply for Advance Pay. Please note that by receiving Advance Pay you will receive payment for the first partial month and the second month of the semester. The next payment will not be made until you certify at the end of the 3^rd month of the semester. As of this time, Post 9/11, Ch 33 is not eligible for advance pay.

Concurrent Enrollment:

While receiving VA Educational Benefits, students may be concurrently enrolled at more than one school during the same semester. Whichever school the student is pursuing a degree from is considered the Parent School. The other school is considered the Secondary School. Grossmont Students must fill out a -Veterans Affairs Office "Parent School letter" form at the VAO. If you are attending another institution and wish to receive benefits as a Guest Student for a course at Grossmont College, an authorization form/letter from the VAO at your Parent School is required. This form/letter states that the courses taken at the Secondary School will be credited toward the current major the student is pursuing. All -"Guest Students" are responsible for contacting the Secondary School's Veterans Office to file required forms, the Parent School Course Approval Letter is usually mailed or faxed between colleges. The Secondary School will complete the certification for Guest Student benefits.

Monthly Verification Process:

Veteran students, who receive benefits under Chapters 30, 1606 and 1607, must verify their enrollment on or after the last day of each month. Veterans receive an award letter from the VA Regional Processing Center in Muskogee, OK, after certification of enrollment in authorized courses. Once this is received, the student can self-certify. To insure prompt payment of benefits you must remember to certify every month, even if your class(es) ended before the end of the month. The earliest that verification can be done is the last day of the month. Monthly verification (self-certification) can be done via one of the following two ways: 

Internet - WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment): Easiest and shows detailed information about YOUR benefits. Go To: https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/

Telephone- Using Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
1-877-823-2378

Failure to self-certify every month will lead to your benefits being delayed or suspended.

Please be aware that Federal holidays and filing your Intent Form late, may delay the initial Certification Process and thus, timely deposit of your benefits. You are encouraged to plan accordingly and keep at least a month's benefits in reserve at your financial institution to prevent problems, especially if your benefits provide the majority of your income.

Direct Deposit: 

Direct deposit of your monthly VA educational benefits payment is available for Chapter 30, 31, 33, 1606 and 1607 recipients. This option allows faster receipt of monthly benefits, and work study payments. It also decreases the chance of missing, lost or stolen checks. If you did not request direct deposit when you applied for benefits, you may initiate the process at any time by calling the VA at:

1-877-838-2778; Monday - Friday 5:30 AM to 2:50 PM - Pacific Time.

You need to provide your VA file number, 9 digit bank routing number, and checking or savings account number. To cancel or change direct deposit or home address, fill out Form 20-572 in the VAO. We will same-day-fax your request to the VA Regional Office in Muskogee, OK.

VA Work-Study Program:

This program is available to any student receiving VA education benefits who is attending school three-quarter time or more. A student working under this program may work at the school veterans' office, VA Regional Office, VA Medical Facilities, or at approved State employment offices. Work-study students are paid at either the state or Federal minimum wage, whichever is greater. If you have other questions on this program contact the VA toll-free number 1-888-442-4551, or the VAO on campus.
This is a tax-free employment program. The hourly rate, currently, is $11.00 an hour, as of January 2019. Students must be enrolled in and receiving educational benefits of at least 3/4 time, 9-11.5 units/semester. Contact the Grossmont VAO for summer term requirements.

For jobs at off-campus VA work study sites contact:

• County of San Diego-Veterans Service Office:
  San Diego-619-531-4545
  Vista-760-643-2049 (ask for Mike).

• San Diego VA Regional Office:
  619-400-5630 (Jesus Camacho).

• VA Hospital, La Jolla:
  858-642-3432 (Jerry Mailhot).

• VET CENTERS:
  San Diego 619-294-2040 (Michael Groniga).
  San Marcos 760-744-6914 (Dane Galkey).

GI Bill Benefit Payment Rates:

Rates depend upon amount contributed and/or length of time in service (Number of months of contribution), as well as enrollment status. Inquire at the VAO/ or GI Bill website for current pay rates for each chapter.

Undergraduate Enrollment Status by Number of Credits

Standards of Progress:

Each student receiving VA education benefits through the VAO, must follow the college's standards, as stated in the Academic Policies section of the current college catalog, to be eligible for the VA Certification process. In addition, each student must read and sign the original copy of the Grossmont College Veterans Checklist in the VAO when applying for benefits. This acknowledges your agreement to follow VA rules and regulations, which the Certifying Official is responsible for administering. Students must also keep current and correct contact information on file in the VAO.

Tutorial Assistance Program:

If you are having difficulty in any of your classes, you should first talk to your professor. If the difficulty is other than that which can be addressed by tutoring, you should make an appointment with a Counselor. Through the VA, up to $1200 is available for Individualized Tutorial Assistance. You must be receiving VA education benefits at half-time rate or more. If you have a deficiency in a subject necessitating private tutoring, beyond Tutoring/Learning Assistance services available on campus, students can be reimbursed for payments to a qualified tutor. The first $600 does not count against your benefits award. For questions regarding VA tutorial assistance, and to get a copy of Form 22-1990, contact the VAO. Students will need to provide documentation from their instructor identifying their need for tutoring, the qualifications of, and fees paid to the tutor, to apply for reimbursement.