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Honolulu Community College

Student Services

Veterans Services

The Veteran’s Resource Center (VRC) focuses on providing an excellent atmosphere and network for the success of student veterans. Service members and their dependents are welcomed, as well. VRC staff members work to help explain the various rights and benefits that prior service members have earned for themselves and their families.

Services We Offer

Veterans Resource Center (VRC)

Students can utilize the VRC’s Lending Library system to access books needed for class studies and homework. Desktop and laptop computers are also available for the general use of students, from working on schoolwork and research to checking emails and other VA resources. Students can also come in and relax between classes or talk with VRC staff and other students.

Information guidebooks and brochures on veteran-oriented services, from education to medical care, can be found at the VRC. The VRC also works with the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program, which can help student veterans with enrolling in VA healthcare, memory issues, student veteran advocacy, PTSD, and more. For scheduling to see a VITAL counselor, contact Scot Parry.

Education Benefits

Students wishing to apply to the Veteran Affairs (VA) for money to attend school must first determine which category or chapter they fall under and then they can follow the appropriate checklist. Information regarding which category or chapter a VA student falls under may be obtained from the Veterans Affairs Regional Office.

Military Tuition Assistance

Each Branch of Service and Component handles tuition assistance differently. It is important that you contact your unit’s education office. If approved, you will receive a tuition assistance approval voucher which you will be required to submit to the Business Office or Cashier, located in ‘Olani (Building 6) on the first floor.

Also, there is additional funding for service members and their spouses offered through their individual units and by the Department of Defense.

Resources

POLICIES AND DEFINITIONS FOR VA EDUCATION BENEFITS RECIPIENTS

Add/Drop – Changes in registration may impact the benefits the student is receiving. An Enrollment Certification Request Form must be completed every time changes are made to a student’s registration to prevent any additional overpayments that may need to be repaid to the University and/or VA.

Advance Payment (MGIB-AD, DEA, MGIB-SR) – Students may request for an advance payment which pays for the first and second month in advance. See the Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official for Advance Payment Request Form.

Authorization (VR&E) – Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors must send authorizations to Honolulu Community College via the Tungsten Network before an enrollment certification is produced. If books and supplies are also authorized, a separate authorization must be sent to the UH Bookstore.

Certificate of Eligibility (MGIB-AD, Post-9/11, DEA, MGIB-SR) – A Certificate of Eligibility must be submitted to the Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official before an enrollment certification is produced.

Grade Point Average – Courses outside of the student’s STAR Graduation Pathway taken for the purpose of raising GPA cannot be certified (see “repeating courses” and “rounding out”).

Grades– Honolulu Community College will report withdrawals (W), No-Credit (NC), and Incomplete (I) grades to the VA which may result in an overpayment that will need to be repaid to the University and/or the VA.

Grading Option – All courses must be taken for a letter grade (A-F), or for credit/no credit (CR/NC) if the grading option is set by default or is an option. Audited courses (L) cannot be certified to the VA.

Over-Payment – May include Tuition and Fees, Yellow Ribbon, Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), Kickers, Books and Supplies Stipend, or other subsistence allowances.

Prior Training – Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, including the Joint Services Transcript and/or Community College of the Air Force, must be sent to Honolulu Community College for evaluation prior to VA Enrollment Certification. Courses that have been granted credit transfer cannot be certified again. Complete the Transcript Evaluation Request Form and request for official transcripts from all institutions to be sent to the Records Office. Transcripts that are faxed or are handled by the student or parties other than the institution and their transcript service providers will be considered as unofficial and will be used for placement purposes only.

Program of Study – Students must complete a new Enrollment Certification Request Form after his or her program of study has changed.

Repeating Courses – Courses that are repeated may be certified to the VA in which the student has received a grade that does not meet the minimum grade requirement for continuation in your degree program or graduation requirement(s). ROUNDING OUT – Students may round out his or her schedule with non-required courses to bring his or her course load up to a full-time schedule in the last semester only. Required courses taken within the last semester that do not satisfy graduation requirements will cause Enrollment Certifications to be adjusted to revoke round out courses, which may result in an overpayment to the University and/or VA.

Rounding Out – Students may round out his or her schedule with non-required courses that are applicable to the program of study to bring his or her course load up to a full-time schedule in the last semester only. Required courses taken within the last semester that do not satisfy graduation requirements will cause Enrollment Certifications to be adjusted to revoke round out courses, which may result in an overpayment to the University and/or VA.

Satisfactory Academic Progress – Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (2.0 or higher CGPA) to use VA Education Benefits without any disruptions. Academic Suspensions and Academic Dismissals are reported to VA, which may impact the student’s ability to use education benefits in the future.

Scholarships and Waivers (VR&E and Post-9/11) – Recipients of a scholarship/waiver (or other funds) designated solely for tuition and fees are deducted from the net tuition and fees and are reported to VA. Honolulu Community College will update the student’s net tuition and fees to the VA when tuition and fees specific funds are awarded after an enrollment certification.

  • MGIB-AD, DEA, MGIB-SR – Students are responsible for making payment towards tuition and fees.
  • VR&E and Post-9/11 – The VA will pay for tuition and fees as authorized or up to the eligibility percentage as stated on the Certificate of Eligibility or Statement of Benefits. Students whose eligibility is less than 100% and/or are being assessed non-mandatory fees are responsible for paying portions of tuition and fees not covered by the VA.

Honolulu Community College will not impose any penalty to Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment and Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other facilities because of the student’s inability to meet his or her financial obligation due to delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the VA.

MGIB-AD and MGIB-SR – Students must verify their enrollment at the end of each month to receive payments. Students may verify enrollment by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment system (WAVE) or by calling 1-877-823-2378.

Post-9/11 GI Bill® – Students must verify their enrollment at the end of the calendar month. Failure to verify enrollment for two consecutive months will cause payments of Monthly Housing Allowance and other subsistence allowances to be halted until verification is resumed. Students may verify enrollment by text (if opted-in) or by calling the Education Call Center at 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551).

Work Study Allowance Program – Students participating in the VA Work Study Allowance Program must be registered at a ¾-time training or higher to maintain eligibility to participate in this program.

Yellow Ribbon Program – Students in good academic standing whose residency status is Non-Resident for tuition purposes may be eligible to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students must submit a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility to participate to confirm eligibility to participate. Contributions from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Honolulu Community College will be adjusted if there are any changes in enrollment which may cause an overpayment that will need to be repaid to the University and/or VA.

VA Educational Benefits Quick Guide (PDF)

SEC. 103. DISAPPROVAL FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF CERTAIN COURSES OF EDUCATION THAT DO NOT PERMIT INDIVIDUALS TO ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN COURSES PENDING PAYMENT.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, beginning on August 1, 2019, a State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State approving agency, shall disapprove a course of education provided by an educational institution that has in effect a policy that is inconsistent with any of the following:

“(A) A policy that permits any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of this title and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

“(i) The date on which the Secretary provides payment for such course of education to such institution.

“(ii) The date that is 90 days after the date on which the educational institution certifies for tuition and fees following receipt from the student such certificate of eligibility.

“(B) A policy that ensures that the educational institution 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 the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33 of this title.

“(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of this title.

“(3) The Secretary may waive such requirements of paragraph (1) as the Secretary considers appropriate.

“(4) It shall not be inconsistent with a policy described in paragraph (1) for an educational institution to require a covered individual to take the following additional actions:

“(A) Submit a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance not later than the first day of a course of education for which the individual has indicated the individual wishes to use the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance.

“(B) Submit a written request to use such entitlement.

“(C) Provide additional information necessary to the proper certification of enrollment by the educational institution.”.

(b) PROMPT PAYMENTS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the Secretary makes a payment to an educational institution on behalf of an individual, who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of title 38, United States Code, and who is using such assistance to pursue a program of education at the educational institution, not later than 60 days after the date on which the educational institution certifies to the Secretary the applicable tuition and fees for the individual.

(2) SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than May 1 and October 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a semiannual report summarizing any cases in which the Secretary failed to make a payment described in paragraph (1) within the period set forth in such paragraph and an explanation for each delayed disbursement of payment.

(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—In a case in which an individual is unable to meet a financial obligation to an educational institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33 of such title and the amount of such disbursement is less than anticipated, nothing in section 3679(e) of such title, as added by subsection (a), shall be construed to prohibit an educational institution from requiring additional payment or imposing a fee for the amount that is the difference between the amount of the financial obligation and the amount of the disbursement.

SEC. 104. PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON REQUIRED ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO STAY ENROLLED IN COURSES OF EDUCATION PENDING RECEIPT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

Section 3698(c)(1)(C) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in clause (x), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;

(2) in clause (xi), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new clause:

“(xii) information on whether the institution requires a covered individual to take additional action pursuant to section 3679(e)(4) of this title to stay enrolled in a course pending receipt of educational assistance under a law administered by the Secretary.”.

View Veterans Education Benefits & Resource Center in the College Catalog (PDF)

Aerial view of campus and downtown honolulu

Get in Touch

Veterans Resource Center
Building 5, Room 140
Phone: (808) 847-9833

Email Us

STAFF

School Certifying Official
Jeremy Rountree
Phone: (808) 847-9833
Fax: (808) 356-0962

Veterans Counselor
Scot Parry
Phone: (808) 845-9172
Fax: (808) 356-0962

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Department of Veterans Affairs – Honolulu
Medical & Regional Office
Attn: Veterans Services Division (271)
459 Patterson Road
Honolulu, HI 96819-1522
Phone: 1-800-827-1000 (toll free)

Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Processing Office
P.O. Box 8888
Muskogee, OK 74402-8888
Phone: 1-888-442-4551 (toll free)

Frequently Asked Questions

Courses that are successfully completed may not be certified again.

Yes, if the VA representative from their home campus submits a 315 Parent Letter.

A VA student must take 12 credits during a semester to receive full benefits.

A VA student must take four credit hours during the first summer session and six credits during the second summer session.

Yes. A VA student can take any number of online courses as long as he/she is taking at least one credit physically on campus each session or semester they are in school.

Yes, unless the VA student can provide documentation indicating that they were physically ill and could not continue with the class. This documentation should be given directly to the VA School Certifying Official.

In most cases, you won’t have to pay back the University and/or VA. However, if you complete the term with all “F” and/or non-punitive grades, then you will have to pay back the University and/or VA.

It depends on when the VA student dropped the class. The best advice we can give is for the student to pay close attention to our drop dates. For example, if the student dropped a course before school started and they did not receive any payments such as Housing (BAH), a book stipend, and/or tuition/fees then they have nothing to pay back. If the VA student received a payment for tuition and fees and they never attended any classes then a portion of the tuition and fees will be returned to the VA. If the student received a housing and book stipend they will need to repay a portion of it back to the VA. VA will notify them concerning the amount they must pay back.

Yes, Chapter 33 Post 9/11 students do receive a book stipend after their courses have been certified. But unfortunately they do not receive extra money for tools.

Any course or program at Honolulu Community College that is listed in our college catalog may be covered. However, a VA student must register for courses that are pertinent to their specific major.

Yes.

Yes. Honolulu Community College is required to review all transcripts, including those from Joint Services Transcript (JST) or the Community College of the Air Force. The VA will not pay for that course that you have completed successfully

You should pay for your books out of your own pocket knowing that your VA money will reimburse you.

The VA School Certifying Official will send a Primary School Letter to the secondary school.

Allowances are paid in arrears at the end of every month of training.

You will not have a WAVE record if:

  • VA hasn’t yet processed your application for benefits
  • You’re receiving Tuition Assistance Top-Up
  • You’ve been out of school for six months and your WAVE record became inactive
  • You’re receiving benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, CH32 (VEAP) or CH35 (DEA) and therefore don’t need to verify your enrollment in WAVE
  • You’ve received an accelerated payment
  • You’re receiving benefits for on-the-job training, apprenticeship training, flight training, or correspondence courses

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

The most common reason a check may be less than the monthly rate is that checks are prorated based on the number of days in the month for which you are enrolled. For example: Your full time rate is $800.00; however your term starts on August 19th and continues through December 14th. Payment for the month of August would include the 19th to the end of the month. (All months are based on 30 days, so months with more or less than 30 days would not affect the rate). Thus your payment for the month of August would be approximately $320.00. Payments for September, October, and November would be $800.00 each month and payment for December would be approximately $373.36 (prorated from the 1st to the 14th).

  • OR: An overpayment was deducted from your payment
  • OR: You reduced your training time after you received your award letter

You are certified as enrolled in classes for the exact attendance dates of your course(s). For example, in the fall semester, if your class ends in October, your certification will reflect the course dates (not the semester dates), and VA payments may be reduced. For more assistance on this please see a counselor.

Certification is done by the VA School Certifying Official and lets the VA know how many hours or credits you will be enrolled in so we can determine your payment rate.

Verification is done by the student at the end of each month of training and lets VA know that your enrollment information has not changed.

The VA disperses funds to UH Manoa who then disperses the appropriate funds to the Community Colleges. Once the Community Colleges receive their money they are able to disperse those funds amongst their VA/Military students and post the funds to each students account. However, this process can take up to 4-6 weeks and may result in a financial hold on your account. Students shouldn’t be alarmed, but they are encouraged to talk to the Business Office and make sure this is indeed the reason for the hold on their account.

Disclaimer

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Website.