NEW VETERAN STUDENT ORIENTATION

RIO HONDO COLLEGE

VETERANS SERVICE CENTER

New Student Orientation

The Veteran Service Center (VSC) has a two-fold mission:

1. Facilitating veteran and/or their dependent students transition to higher education 2. Promoting academic success.

Topics that will be covered: Applying for college Steps to be certified Academic and other requirements to keep VA funds, and Support services offered to Veteran students.

• Review of this presentation and completion of a quick questionnaire will be required to be completed and submitted to the VSC office.

Applying to Rio Hondo College

To apply online go to the Rio Hondo website: www.riohondo.edu and click Get Started icon.

The above link is also available on the Veterans Webpage: www.riohondo.edu/veterans/

All students must first apply to the college

• Note: Applying to Rio Hondo College is not the same as enrolling for classes.

• Once you have completed the application process, you will receive a “student” ID number approximately within 24 hours.

Please memorize your student number or have it accessible when inquiring about your personal information.

How to apply for Educational benefits

Log on to: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vonapp

Select “I Am A New VONAPP User” if you’ve never filled out the resume in VONAPP or select “I Have Used VONAPP Before” if you already started filling out resume.

VONAPP is an acronym for Veterans Online Application

Follow directions and answer all questions as accurately as possible.

Steps to be Certified for Educational Benefits

• Go to www.benefits.va.gov and choose Education and Training link for valuable information.

• Once you have completed the VONAPP you will need the following in order to be certified:

1. Have all of your official college and military transcripts sent to Rio Hondo College, Admissions, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601. Note: These must be mailed in, they cannot be hand-delivered

2. You must take the Rio Hondo College assessments in Math, English, & Reading, if you have not done this at another college.

3. Submit your Certificate of Eligibility from VA to VSC ( Veteran Service Center)

4. Submit a copy of your DD-214 (member #4) to VSC

• ONCE ALL OF THE ABOVE IS IN THE VSC, THEN MAKE A VETERAN COUNSELING APPOINTMENT TO DO AN EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION. WITHOUT THIS EVALUATION YOU MIGHT ENROLL IN “NON-REQUIRED, THEREFORE NON-PAYABLE CLASSES.

Ordering Military Transcripts

Go to the Rio Hondo webpage at http://www.riohondo.edu/ and click on the “Student Services tab.

In “Student Services”, click on “Veteran Services” and this takes you to the Veteran Service Center Webpage.

On the VSC Webpage, click on “Request transcripts” tab and this takes you to a screen showing College transcripts and Military transcripts.

Under Military transcripts, select the branch of service icon that applies to you at the bottom of the page, the page will take you to the appropriate military website.

U.S. Army uses the AARTS for official military transcripthttps://www.cpcc.edu/military/AARTS.pdf

U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine uses the SMART for official military transcript

www.navycollege.navy.mil/jst_info.aspx U.S. Air Force uses the CCAF for official military transcript

http://www.au.af.mil/au/barnes/ccaf/transcripts.asp U.S. Coast Guard uses the CGI for official military transcript

https://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/forms/CG_Form_1561.pdf

Ordering College Transcripts

For ordering College Transcripts, you must contact the other Colleges you attended and you must have the Admissions office from your previous college(s) MAIL THE TRANSCRIPTS to Rio Hondo College Admissions office.

Mail to: Rio Hondo College, Admissions, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601

All transcripts must be sent through the mail directly to Rio Hondo Admissions and Records department. Hand-delivered transcripts will not be accepted.

Academic Counseling for an Educational Evaluation

Academic Counseling Requirements

• Determine one major – Can’t do two academic goals at the same time

• Prior courses from all transcripts will be evaluated for possible credit toward current goal

• Assessment scores will be reviewed to determine which Math,

English, or Reading course YOU will enroll in.

• Once you enroll, you must submit a copy of your enrollment to the VSC, if the enrollment matches your educational evaluation, you can be certified.

• If there are any changes made to your enrollment, then you need to notify the VSC immediately by stopping in the VSC office or via e-mail to TCaldera@riohondo.edu

Why Must You Submit All Transcripts?

THE VA will only pay for classes that are “required” for your current stated academic goal.

Your PRIOR classes from other schools, including your military training, may apply to your current goal.

If you enrolled in a course now, that you already satisfactorily completed, the VA will not pay for a “repeated” course.

Some “D” graded classes are accepted as completing a requirement. If you re-enroll in a “D” graded course, it may not be payable. (a Veteran counselor will determine)

Academic Progress Requirement

All Veterans and eligible dependent students are required to maintain satisfactory attendance and academic progress toward their stated academic goal. The Veteran’s Administration has determined the following: Veterans or eligible dependents must complete each semester

with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.

Class additions, drops, withdrawals and last day of attendance must be reported at once to Rio Hondo College Veterans Service Center

Should a veteran or eligible dependent fail to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better for 2 consecutive semesters, the veteran must complete a petition for 3rd semester Certification to the Veterans counselor in VSC.

Note: A complete Veteran Student Academic Progress must be read, signed and brought to the office of VSC. A complete VSAP can be access on the Veterans website.

WIP(Work in Progress)

A WIP (work in progress) form must be submitted to the VSC EVERY month. This is a progress report completed by your instructor. Failure to turn in the WIP will result in the non-certification for the month.

The WIP form can be access through the Veteran’s website

Support Services for Veteran Students in the Veteran’s Service

Center Veterans Loan: Up to $300 can be borrowed, payable

within 60 days. Hold placed on your enrollment or transcript requests, etc. if not repaid.

Tutoring: Veterans tutoring veterans in our VSC. Sign up for assistance . Also, a Veteran can receive from the VA up to $100 per month for 6 months to hire a tutor. The Veteran Service Center has the forms. An additional 6 month of tutoring is possible, but the $100 per month comes out of the Veterans Entitlement.

Computer/printer: As available – for veteran student use

Financial Aid : Staff member available to assist and process your financial aid application in the VSC.

Veteran Student Worker: Consider working in the Veterans Service Center for $9 per hour. You can work around your class schedule.

Conclusion You must apply to College In order to be Certified, you must:

Apply for the GIBill and receive your letter of eligibility Must take the Assessment test Must have copy of DD214 All official military transcripts and all college/trade school

transcripts must be submitted to Admissions and Records Meet with VSC counselor to select a major and Educational Plan

A WIP must be turned in every month for following month certification

Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better To continue to be certified, you must submit proof of enrollment to

VSC

PLEASE TAKE THE SHORT VETERAN’S WORKSHOP QUIZ, PRINT OUT AND TAKE TO THE VSC OFFICE ALONG WITH YOUR OTHER DOCUMENTS. PLEASE NOTE: YOU CAN TAKE THIS QUIZ IN THE VSC OFFICE IF YOU PREFER.