Veterans Benefits

office of the president in a faded blue background

You’ve served our country, now let Rhodes State College serve you. We are ready to assist you, your spouse, or your dependents in taking advantage of your educational benefits while at Rhodes State College. Students utilizing their GI Bill® benefits are required each semester to complete the VA Benefits Enrollment Reporting Request Form.

(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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.)

Veterans Benefits Policy 

Rhodes State College in accordance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 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 Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 recipient borrow additional funds to cover the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. This policy is limited to tuition funds paid by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Contacting Our Office:
Stephanie Wilgus, Veterans Certifying Official
Rhodes State College
Public Service Building 148
Lima, OH 45804

  • Email: Wilgus.S@rhodesstate.edu
  • Phone:  419.995.8003   |   Fax: 419.995.8112
  • Office Hours:  8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday - Friday

 

Programs and Benefits

Find the GI Bill® or programs that you may be eligible for: visit the GI Bill - Education and Training to compare the programs. 

Applying for VA Educational Benefits

You may apply for VA Educational Benefits online by accessing the VA application through the GI Bill website.

Education Benefits Application Process

The website for GI Bill benefits is VA.gov. Select Apply for Education Benefits, then follow the necessary prompts.

If you are a Service member, Veteran, or a family member interested in education and training opportunities, you can apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You can also manage your current benefits.

Ready to apply? Which form do you want to use?

  • Veteran applying for a new benefit (22-1990)
  • Dependents applying for a transferred benefit (22-1990E)
  • Dependents applying for a new benefit where your sponsor is permanently and totally disabled (22-5490)
  • Dependent applying for a new benefit where your sponsor is deceased, MIA, or a POW (22-5490)

Make a change to your current education benefits

If you need to make a change (for example, you're moving to a new school), manage your benefits with Form 22-1995 (Chapters 30, 31, 33, 1606) or Form 22-5495 (Chapter 35).

How Do I receive Credit for Prior Military Training?

Take or send your Joint Service Transcript, your Community College of the Air Force transcript, or your DSST/CLEP Examination scores to Admissions.

JST (Joint Services Transcript)
The JST (Joint Services Transcript) is now the official transcript tool for Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard personnel.  These branches of service have aligned to provide one collaborative transcript program.  The JST replaces:  The Army American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS); the Sailor Marine Corps American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART); and the Coast Guard Institute (CGI).

This standardized transcript is academically accepted and approved by the American Council on Education (ACE).  It provides corresponding ACE college credit recommendations allowing institutions to validate and document the recommended college credits for professional military education, training courses and occupational experience.

Community College of the Air Force (CCFA)
The USAF provides a transcript through the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) with ACE recommended credit.  Contact CCAF and complete its transcript request.

DSST/CLEP Examinations (DANTES)
Obtain a record of any credit earned by credit by examination via CLEP or DSST.

Rhodes State College participates in a variety of VA-sponsored services, including:

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty

If you participated in this program, $100 was taken each month for the first 12 months of your service unless you specifically elected not to participate in the program. The money is nonrefundable.

If you participate in this program, the VA requires that you certify your enrollment once a month. You may do this in either of two ways:

On the web: Visit the VA's WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment) site.

By phone: Call 1.877.823.2378.

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill

Benefits are available to individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001 for a period of at least 90 days of aggregate service, or to individuals who have been discharged after 30 days of continuous service for a service-connected disability. Active-duty service time required by graduates of a Service Academy or ROTC does not count toward the 36 months necessary to qualify for 100% of benefits. To be eligible, a veteran must have an honorable discharge or other qualifying discharge (e.g., hardship, condition interfering with duty, etc.).

Tuition and Fees

  • Students may not receive federal student assistance or other federal funds (excluding any Title IV funds) in conjunction with Ch 33 Post-9/11 tuition and fees.
  • Tuition and fees will be assessed to the school after the Veterans Administration Regional Office (VARO) processes the Enrollment Certification (VA form 22-1999) submitted by the school.

Books and Supplies

A yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000.00 paid proportionately based on enrollment

BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing)

You may be eligible for a monthly housing rate. The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is generally the same as the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. This rate is variable and dependent on factors such as the location of your school, your rate of pursuit.  For 2022 the housing allowance for Rhodes State College’s zip code (45804) is currently $1206.00.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:  Enrollment verification is a new requirement for Post-9/11 GI Bill® students to verify that they have remained enrolled in the same courses or training every month. Students who receive BAH will have their payments withheld if they fail to verify or report that they are no longer enrolled in their courses or training. To streamline the process, VA is providing the option to verify enrollment easily and securely via text message. Click here for more information.

Chapter 35: Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program

If you are the child or spouse of a veteran classified as "totally disabled," you are eligible for the educational assistance program.

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve

You are eligible for chapter 1606 benefits, if you meet the following requirements:

  • Incur a six-year Selected Reserve Obligation. You must enter into a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve, If you're an officer, you must agree to serve six years in addition to your current obligation.
  • Complete your IADT (Initial Active Duty for Training).
  • Maintain Selected Reserve Status. Serve in a drilling Selected Reserve unit and remain in good standing.
  • Complete High School. You must obtain a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before you apply for benefits.

Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on November 25, 2015. Some individuals will remain eligible for REAP benefits until November 25, 2019, while others are no longer eligible for REAP benefits..

The Post-9/11 GI Bill in many ways has replaced REAP in that it also provides educational assistance benefits for Reserve and National Guard members called to active duty on or after September 11, 2001, and in many cases provides a greater benefit than REAP.

Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation-Veterans with Disabilities

To participate in this program you must have a military-related disability or disabilities that the VA has rated as at least 20 percent compensable.

Submit these documents to the Rhodes State College Financial Aid office:

  • a current Vocational Rehabilitation Authorization
  • Rhodes State College Request for Certification

Veteran Enrollment Checklist

To receive veterans benefits you must meet the VA's certification requirements. Also you must recertify every term that you are enrolled at Rhodes State College. Our office provides assistance with meeting these requirements.

Rhodes State College has provided you with this list which will help guide you through the enrollment process. Please complete these steps and submit all requested documentation:

STEP 1: Apply and complete all three of the following:

For assistance, call the VA Education Benefits Department at 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GIBILL1)

Step 2: Request and submit ALL sealed (un-opened) official transcripts from college/universities attended and military transcripts to Rhodes State College, Office of the Registrar, 4240 Campus Drive, Lima, OH 45804 in order to apply all appropriate credit to your academic record.

  • For Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy transcripts, request online through Joint Services Transcripts. Click here for transcripts.
  • For Air Force transcripts, request online through Community College of the Air Force. Click here for transcripts.

Military transcripts received will be reviewed and credit awarded based on ACE (American Council on Education) recommendations for coursework applicable to a student’s program.

STEP 3: Meet with the Rhodes VA Certifying Official in Public Service Building, Room 150, to complete and submit.    

New Students

  • Veterans: Copy of the confirmation page from your online application(s) from VA Form 22-1990.
  • Dependents: Copy of the confirmation page from your VA Form 22-1990e (Ch 33 dependents), or VA Form 22-5490 (Ch 35 dependents)
  • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility or Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE)
  • Copy of DD-214

Transfer students

If you have previously used benefits at another institution or you are changing your program of study you must complete and submit these:

STEP 4: Connect with your Success Navigator

Your Success Navigator will guide you through the rest of the enrollment process and will help you work with our Veterans Financial Aid specialist.

Responsibilities and Reminders

It is your responsibility to be aware of and to fulfill all requirements for receipt of your Veterans benefits.  If you are using GI Bill® Benefits at Rhodes State College, you should contact the Financial Aid Office and submit all appropriate paperwork.  To continue receiving veterans educational benefits, the VA requires that you:

  • attend class regularly
  • make satisfactory academic progress
  • adhere to a specific degree program

Reminders

  1. Register with our office every semester by completing Rhodes State’s Enrollment Reporting Request.
  2. Inform us promptly of any degree or major change, excessive non-attendance, repeated courses, and any changes to your address, marital status, or number of dependents claimed.
  3. After registering for classes, immediately notify us of any changes to your class schedule by completing Add/Drop/Withdrawal-Mitigating Circumstances form, including:
  • adds
  • drops
  • section changes
  • canceled courses
  • withdrawals

Term Certification
Complete and submit Rhodes State College’s Enrollment Reporting Request.  The certification must be completed each term of attendance

Changes in Term Enrollment
If you make changes to your enrollment, you must submit the Add/Drop/Withdrawal-Mitigating Circumstances form. Failure to notify the SCO of changes may delay payment or result in an overpayment of benefits.

Notice:  Students using their Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits and receiving Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments must verify enrollment monthly and may use text messages to do so. Students should call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to update their information. See information about verification and FAQs from VA.

(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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.)

Why do I have to re-certify every semester?

  • The VA gives universities the option of certifying either by term or for the whole year. We have chosen to certify by term primarily because we have no guarantee that a student will re-enroll in the subsequent term. If we certified by year, we would run the risk of overpaying someone who did not enroll for the second term.

How soon should I submit my VA paperwork for an upcoming term?

  • After you register for classes, you may complete the Enrollment Reporting Request You must complete this form for each semester for which you register and wish to claim benefits.

How does the VA determine which courses I'll receive VA pay for?

  • The VA will pay only for those courses required for your specific degree. It will pay for elective credit provided that you have not already exceeded the number of elective hours allowed for graduation with your degree. You can use your VA benefits during any academic term, including Summer, so long as you have remaining entitlement.

What happens if I fail the courses I am taking with my VA benefits?

  • The VA will not certify a course you have already successfully completed, regardless of whether or not you received VA Educational Benefits for the earlier attempt. However, if your program requires a higher grade in a course than you achieved, you may repeat that course in order to meet graduation requirements.

For example, if your program requires a "C" or better in a course, then you may repeat that course if you scored lower than a "C"; your VA benefits will cover the repeat.

Whom do I notify about a change of address if I am using VA benefits?

  • You must notify the VA of your change of address by calling 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). Also, you should update your address with the College as well.

Do I have to enroll as a full-time student to use my VA benefits?

  • You may enroll as a part-time student and still use your VA educational benefits. The VA offers reduced rates for those who do not want to study full-time.
  • Students who attend on less than a half-time basis are paid by the VA based on the amount of tuition and fees for the course.
  • Full-time status is:
    • 12 hours for students
    • For more information, you may e-mail your questions to the Veterans Administration by using the "Submit a Question" button on the VA website. You may also call the VA toll-free number, 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551), to speak with a veterans benefit representative.