Veterans
Services

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Student veterans are required to sign up for eBenefits through the VA for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and submit a copy of the eligibility page to the Butte College Office of Veterans Services in order to be certified. Failure to submit a copy will delay certification of the student veteran's claim.

Out-of-State Residents
If you are considered an out-of-state student, you will be responsible for nonresident fees. For Post 9/11, out-of-state fees will not be paid. For Information about residency, contact Admissions and Records.

Monthly BAH
If you are under the Post 9/11 GI-Bill, keep in mind you have to be in at least 7 units or more to receive monthly BAH. If you are certified for 6 units or less, tuition and fees will be paid and you will not receive any BAH.

Fees
Post 9/11 GI Bill coverage pays the actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees after the application of any waiver, scholarship, aid, or assistance (other than loans and Pell) provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees. Bottom line: If the VA pays your fees and then you get the BOGFW, the VA wants the money back for the fees it paid.

Optional Fees
If you are under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, health and transportation fees are covered; however, optional fees are not paid by the VA. Optional fees include: Student activity, rep, and technology fees. You are responsible to pay these fees out-of-pocket, or contact the Business Office to have them waived.

Credit for Military Service
To be considered for Butte College credit for military service, a student must present discharge papers (DD-214, member 4) to the Butte College Veterans Services Office. The student must have a minimum of one year of active service with a general discharge. The student veteran will receive 6 units that will meet the Area "F" (Self Integration and Physical Education) requirement for an Associate's Degree. 

Credit for Military Training
Butte College grants elective credit for successful completion of non-collegiate instruction (military or civilian) appropriate to the Associate's Degree that has been recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE).

To be considered for credit for military training, a student must complete a minimum of 12 units with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 or above at Butte College. The student must request official Joint Transcripts to be sent to Butte College Veterans Services Office and submit a Request for Military Training Evaluation to the Office of Veterans Services.

For more information, contact the Office of Veterans Services at (530) 895-2566.

Butte College Student Veterans currently receiving GI Bill benefits under any of the following chapters do not need to self-report and will automatically receive priority registration: Chapter 30, 31, 33, 1606, 1607 and VRAP.

Butte College Students not receiving GI Bill benefits must self-report to be considered for priority registration.

Requirements:

• Have a current Application for Admission on file at Butte College.
• Completed Assessment Test.
• Attended Butte College Orientation.
• Veterans: must submit a copy of their DD Form 214 (Member-4 copy, with an honorable, a general, or other than honorable discharge) to the Office of Veterans Services and request priority registration.
• Active duty or state reservist: must show their military ID to the Office of Veterans Services.

*NOTE about Timeline: You must request priority registration at the Office of Veterans Services at least one month prior to registration for the next academic term. This policy pertains to all veterans, active duty service members, reservists, and the National Guard who meet the above conditions.

The VRC was established spring 2008 to serve Butte College's Student Veterans by offering them the support and assistance they need to navigate the often murky waters of transition into the civilian world. As the number of Veterans returning from the overseas conflicts continues to increase, our goal is to help them complete their education or continue on to additional levels of academia. To this end, and to assist the Veteran in his or her daily life, the VRC staff connects Veterans with existing community services and advocates for the development of new services to meet the growing need. Services provided by the Veterans Resource Center include:

• Veterans educational benefits information
• Access to academic counselor
• Disabled Veterans compensation information
• Peer support and mentoring
• Printing, copying, & faxing
• Referrals to the on-campus resources
• Financial aid information & application assistance
• Lounge area with couches, internet, coffee, and study tables

The Veterans Resource Center is located on the Butte College main campus, Swing Space C. Our staff consists of Veterans who have attended or are currently attending Butte College, and who will treat their fellows with an empathy and respect born of shared experiences. Already our staff has met with Veterans seeking help with such serious issues as Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Substance Abuse. We were able to direct these individuals to appropriate community resources. The VRC staff also serves as a liaison between Veterans and the college, providing a voice for those whose needs might otherwise go unmet. All Veterans are welcome and can expect to receive professional, courteous, and compassionate support in pursuit of their educational or vocational goals at Butte College.

The Veterans Resource Center is an extension of the Office of Veterans Services. Expansion of services is dependent on available resources.

Satisfactory Academic Progress
The law requires that educational assistance benefits to veterans and other eligible persons be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory progress toward completion of his or her training objective.

Policy
The policy of the Office of Veterans Services is to provide guidance and to ensure students maintain consistent progress towards an approved educational goal. Schools are required by law to have and enforce standards of progress and conduct in order for their school to be approved for VA benefits. It is the responsibility of all VA educational aid recipients to understand the terms and conditions of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy in order to maintain eligibility for aid.

Standards
There are three standards used for the assessment of SAP: 1. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.02. Completion of at least 50% of units attempted each semester. Student progress is reviewed at the end of each semester. Under this policy it is possible that a veteran or dependent's VA educational benefits could be suspended due to unsatisfactory progress while they are still technically in a probationary status with the College and allowed to continue in attendance.

THERE ARE TWO NON-SATISFACTORY STATUSES:

Warning Status
Is the status assigned to a student who fails to make SAP. A student on WARNING status will receive email notification that they may continue to receive aid. WARNING status does not require an appeal or other student action.

Probation Status
At the end of the WARNING semester, a student is expected to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Students who fail to make SAP by the end of the WARNING semester will be notified by email about their probation status for VA benefits. At the discretion of the Butte College VA Certifying Official, a student may be placed on PROBATION and continue to receive benefits. If approved on a probationary status, the student will be required to sign a Probation Agreement which outlines the terms and conditions that must be met for the student to maintain eligibility. The Probation Agreement must be in place before certification of benefits will be filed with the Veterans Administration for subsequent terms.

Academic Suspension
Is only assigned to a student who has failed to meet SAP standards after a probationary term. Students will be placed on "Academic Suspension" and educational benefits will be discontinued.

Reinstatment
Students may regain eligibility for education benefits, after being placed on Academic Suspension, under the following circumstances: Student must complete at least one term unaided in which the following conditions are met:

• Completing a minimum of six units with a 2.0 GPA during the unaided semester;
• Completing at least 50% of units attempted during the unaided semester.

Students whose educational benefits have been reinstated after suspension may receive benefits on a probationary status. However, those students must continue to show progress during that probationary semester by completing at least 50% of units and improving the overall cumulative grade point average (if previously below a 2.0).