Veterans Benefits
Kalamazoo Valley has been recognized by the state of Michigan as an institution qualified and equipped to provide education at the collegiate level through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which offers educational assistance to eligible veterans, their dependents, and survivors.
Veterans may apply for VA benefits under Chapter 30 – Montgomery G.I. BillTM, Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 G.I. BillTM, Chapter 1606 – Selected Reserve, and Chapter 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Veterans.
Kalamazoo Valley 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 Kalamazoo Valley with a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to education assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a "certificate of eligibility" can also include a "Statement of Benefits" obtained from the Department of Veteran Affairs' (VA) website - eBenefits, or VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending the earlier of the following dates:
1) The date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution.
2) 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.
Kalamazoo Valley ensures that we 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 beneficiary 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 VA.
Dependents of those veterans who have serious disabilities as a result of their military service and survivors of veterans whose deaths were service-connected may be eligible for veteran’s benefits to attend college under the act’s Chapter 35. Veterans enrolling under the 1966 federal legislation are required to pay their tuition and fees, and buy their books and supplies.
The VA has regulations requiring all community colleges to establish and monitor standards of progress. These include:
Academic Progress Standards for Credit-Based Programs
- Students certified to receive educational benefits are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0.
- They must also satisfactorily complete – with a grade of 1.0 or better – at least 75 percent of the credit hours for which they are enrolled during any enrollment period.
Students who fail to meet these minimum standards will be placed on probation during the next enrollment period for which they are certified to receive educational benefits. Students who fail to meet all standards but demonstrate progress will be given a second probationary semester. To demonstrate progress is to show any improvement in a payment period of academic work as compared to the prior certified payment period. Improvement includes percent of classes completed and/or grade-point average.
Academic Progress Standards for Clock Hour-Based Programs and Academies
All clock hour programs and academies are divided into payment periods. Progress is monitored at the end of each payment period. Students who successfully complete a payment period continue in good standing. Students who fail to successfully complete a payment period are placed on probation during the next enrollment period for which they are certified to receive educational benefits. Students who fail to meet all standards but demonstrate progress will be given a second probationary payment period. To demonstrate progress is to show any improvement in a payment period of academic work as compared to the prior certified semester. Improvement is determined by instructor evaluation.
Students who show no progress after their first semester of probation or who do not meet all standards upon completion of their second semester of probation will not be certified to receive benefits for subsequent enrollment periods. These students may reapply for certification when they have met the minimum standards for at least one full enrollment period prior to the period for which they are applying.
Veterans should know that unsatisfactory progress will be reported to the VA. “Standards of Progress” will include all classes and all grades – including 0.0 – to evaluate progress. Recipients of veteran’s benefits will be notified by mail when they are not in compliance with the standards. Veterans and nonveterans who are receiving benefits while attending Kalamazoo Valley are required to immediately notify the college’s Financial Aid Office if they withdraw, drop, or cancel any classes. This notification should be made in writing within one week of the first day of attendance for each class.
The Financial Aid Office is available to answer any questions regarding VA benefits. Application for these benefits should be made well in advance of registering for classes at Kalamazoo Valley. Applications are available in Room 9210 on the Texas Township Campus, 269.488.4340, or apply online at www.gibill.va.gov.