Chemeketa Veterans' Services

 

The Chemeketa Veterans' Services office is located in Building 2, Room 200, on the Salem campus. Our office hours are 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary. Our office provides the following services:

• Information on the eligibility criteria for the various educational benefit programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA)
• Information and assistance to veterans and eligible dependents in completing forms to apply for all types of VA/ODVA educational benefits
• Information on what Chemeketa degrees and programs are approved for veteran educational benefits
• Information on the regulations and application deadlines for requesting an advance payment of VA educational benefits
• Monitoring and reporting to the Veteran's Administration, student's compliance with state and federal regulations in regard to program requirements, grades, prior credit, and satisfactory academic progress
  

VA Processing Delay:  The Muskogee Regional Processing Center, which handles VA Educational Benefit claim processing for the 14 western states, continues to experience significant delays in processing requests for VA educational benefits. Chemeketa Veterans' Services has begun notifiying Post 9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries when payment for their fall 2009 tution & fees is received from the VA using e-mails to student e-mail addresses. We will continue to provide information on processing delays as it becomes available.

Emergency Payment of VA Educational Benefits: Due to the backlog at the VA in processing benefit requests for the fall term, veterans who are receiving GI Bill educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607) are eligible for advance education benefit payments.  Indepth information on the advance payment program, as well as amounts available under the various benefit programs can be found by following this link.

The intent of the advance payment initiative is to mitigate the hardship students have or may encounter due to the VA's processing backlog.  Advance payments are not available for Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) and the Survivors’ and Dependents Education Assistance Program (Chapter 35).

Veterans can obtain the advance payment by visiting the VA Regional Office in downtown Portland beginning Friday, Oct 2nd.  The Regional Office is located at 1220 SW Third, between Madison and Jefferson and 2nd and 3rd.  Entry to the building is on 3rd street.  It is a secure building and you will need government issued picture ID to enter. Hours to receive emergency advance payments are 8:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday. Students should bring with them proof they are enrolled in school (current class schedule, enrollment verification letter, etc.). The Portland VA Regional office will also be open Saturday, October 3rd from 8:00am until 12:00pm to issue checks to Veterans.

Veterans may also apply for the emergency payment online on the VA's web site beginning Friday, October 2nd.  The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply required information. Veterans applying online should receive their check within 3-6 business days and the payment cannot be sent direct deposit, only by check.

The emergency payment is an advance on the benefit payable to the student and will be recouped from subsequent benefits payable to the student. Additional information may be found here.

Obtaining a Copy of Your DD-214
A Report of Separation is generally issued when a service member performs active duty or at least 90 consecutive days of active duty training. Among other things, the Report of Separation contains information normally needed to verify military service regarding eligibility for educational benefits. If you need to obtain a copy of your DD-214, you may use the eVetRecs Request System on the National Archives Web Site.

Chemeketa Scholars Program
Did you graduate from a local high school with a 3.5 GPA or better prior to entering the military? If so, you my qualify for the Chemketa Scholars program and receive two years of free tuition. Learn more.

Links to VA Benefit Chapter Descriptions, Eligibility, Requirements and required VA and Chemeketa Forms:
Montgomery GI Bill/Active Duty (Chapter 30)
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Chapter 31)
Montgomery GI Bill/Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
Reserve Education Assistance Program (Chapter 1607)
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35)
Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

Comparing Chapter 30, Chapter 33, Chapter 1606 & Chapter 1607
The Department of Veterans Affairs has published a comparison of these different benefit programs on its web site.  To review this comparison, click here.

Oregon Department of Veteran's Affairs Education Fund (Select link for detailed information).

ODVA Form 1004-ME: Student completes this form and submits it to the Oregon Department of Veteran's Affairs along with a certified copy of your DD-214.
ODVA Form 1005-ME: Student completes items 1-4, signs & dates and submits this form to Chemeketa Veterans' Services each term as soon as you register for classes. YOU SHOULD NOT WAIT TO RECEIVE A LETTER OF ELIGIBILITY FROM ODVA TO SUBMIT THIS FORM.
ODVA Monthly Verification of Attendance: Student completes and submits this form to Chemeketa Veterans' Services at the end of each month they attend school and wish to receive ODVA benefits.  Online, Telecourses, or other courses not in a regular classroom setting will require the student to request attendance verification from the instructor via e-mail. Instructors can then send an e-mail to the student with confirmation of satisfactory participation.  The OREGON DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN'S AFFAIRS WILL NOT PROCESS PAYMENT TO STUDENTS UNTIL CHEMEKETA VETERAN’S SERVICES RECEIVES THE REQUIRED ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION FROM THE STUDENT AND SUBMITS IT TO ODVA.

Financial Aid

In addition to benefits received under the various Chapters of the GI Bill (30, 31, 35, 1606 & 1607), students who are eligible for VA educational benefits may also be eligible for federal financial aid and scholarships. Students eligible for benefits under Chapters 1606 and 1607 may also be eligible for federal tuition assistance. For details on applying for scholarships and federal financial aid, please review the information on Chemeketa's Financial Aid web page. For information on applying for federal tuition assistance you can review the attached brochure or contact the Oregon Military Department Education Services Office at (503) 584-3456.

Important Dates

Last date to request an advance payment of VA education benefits:

Spring Term: February 1, 2010

If the date falls on a Friday, weekend or holiday, paperwork will be accepted the following
work day.

Links

Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits
Department of Veterans Affairs On-Line Application For Education Benefits
VA Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E.) for individuals receiving benefits under Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607
Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs
AARTS (Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System)
SMART (Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript)
Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
United States Coast Guard Institute Transcript
The College Level Exam Program (CLEP)
CLEP for Active Duty Military
CLEP for Veterans

Unanticipated Military Service

Chemeketa Community College students receiving VA Educational Benefits who receive unanticipated orders to active military service, including active duty for training that requires them to drop some or all of their classes, should notify Chemeketa Veterans’ Services as soon as possible after receiving orders or notification.

If this happens within 30 days of the beginning of the term, the Veterans’ Services staff will ask you to complete and submit a “Change in Veteran Educational Benefit Enrollment Status” request.  We will then immediately notify the VA of your change in status.

If you receive orders/notification more than 30 days after the beginning of the term, please notify Chemeketa Veterans’ Services as soon as possible after you receive notification.  The Veterans’ Services staff will ask you to complete and submit a “Change in Veteran Educational Benefit Enrollment Status” request and provide a copy of your orders.  We will immediately notify the VA of your change in status as well as the circumstances of your withdrawal from classes.  By following these steps, the VA should not create an overpayment.

If you have any questions, please contact the Chemeketa Veterans’ Services office.

More Information

If you would like additional information, please contact us at 503.399.5004 or via e-mail. You may also fax us at 503.399.3908.

Updated November 9, 2009 by Chemeketa Community College Veterans' Services