Veterans Benefits
Delta College has one of the largest veteran student populations in the area and wants you to take advantage of your veteran's benefits. We have an extensive history of serving veterans and can provide academic training that will assist you in entering the civilian workforce.
Use the Student Guide Checklist to guide you through the process of admitting, registering and applying for education benefits under the GI Bill here at Delta College. The most current GI Bill information is available at the GI Bill website.
Applying for Benefits
Applying for GI Bill Benefits - Fill out an online application using VONAPP (Veteran Online Application). Print a copy for your Delta College file. Attach a copy of your DD-214 Member-4, and a copy of a voided check if you are interested in direct deposit. In addition, submit to Delta’s Veteran Services Office a VA Educational Benefits Certification Request form to request VA certification.
Approximately 8-12 weeks after you apply for benefits the VA will send a certificate of eligibility to you; bring it into the Veteran Services Office at Delta. For questions about the status of your application or payments call the VA at 1-800-442-4551.
Transferring to Delta College - If you've been receiving GI bill benefits and you're changing schools, complete the Change of Place of Training form (22-1995 for chapters 30, 31, 33, 1606, 1607) or (22-5495 for dependents or spouses of Chapter 35). Download the form from the link above or stop by Veteran Services in B100. Give the completed form to the Veteran Services Office. In addition, submit to Delta’s Veteran Services Office a VA Educational Benefits Certification Request form to request VA certification.
Tuition Assistance www.military.com
Guest Students - If you are attending Delta College as a guest student and are requesting VA certification, your home school must submit and send to the Veteran Services Office a parent institution letter stating that the courses you are taking at Delta College will satisfy the degree requirements at your home school. In addition, complete the Delta College VA Educational Benefits Certification Request form each semester and submit to Delta’s Veteran Services Office to request VA certification. If you are a Delta College student attending another college, please see the Veteran Services Office for a parent letter.
Eligibility for Benefits (“What’s My Chapter?”)
Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill - Chapter 30 -- At least 2 years on active duty and contributed $1200 to your GI Bill fund and were honorably discharged.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) - Chapter 31. Also known as the VetSuccess program. Assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For Veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VetSuccess offers services to improve their abuility to live as independently as possible. Veterans are eligible if they: 1) Have recieved, or will recieve, a discharge that is other than dishonorable; 2) Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%, or a memorandum rating of 20% or more from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA); 3) Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) VetSuccess services.
Post 9/11 GI Bill - Chapter 33 -- At least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or be discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. Post 9/11 pamphlet is available.
IMPORTANT - If you are currently receiving benefits under Chapter 30, 1606 or 1607 and you apply on VONAPP, you are required to make a decision that is irrevocable (cannot be changed) to give up one of the other programs you are eligible for. However, if you completely exhaust your entitlement under your current chapter before the effective date of your Chapter 33 election, you may receive up to 12 additional months of benefits under Chapter 33. Choose your effective date for Chapter 33 carefully. Let the Delta Veteran Services Office know that you submitted an application on VONAPP.
Survivors' or Dependents' Educational Benefits - Chapter 35 -- Child (18-26 years) or spouse of a veteran determined to be 100% disabled or deceased due to military related injuries.
Reservists/National Guard - Chapter 1606 -- You must have a six-year obligation to serve in the Reserves or Guard and be currently in good standing with your unit.
REAP (Reserve Education Assistance Program) - Chapter 1607 -- Selected reserves called to active duty in response to a contingency operation declared by the President or Congress. The Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard) determine who’s eligible for chapter 1607. The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the program and pays benefits. Members of the Selective Reserve may be eligible for chapter 1607 and chapter 33 after serving 90 consecutive days on active duty for a contingency operation.
General Information
Audit Grade Option -- The VA will not pay for courses that you receive audit (X) grades. The VA may ask you for repayment for these courses.
Academic Progress (Probation/Dismissal) -- The Veteran’s Administration requires that all recipients of veteran educational benefits maintain progress towards their stated academic degree. Therefore, all veterans and persons receiving benefits must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to remain eligible for VA benefits. A veteran who allows her/his cumulative GPA to fall below 2.0 will be placed on probation. A veteran will be allowed two semesters to bring their cumulative GPA up to 2.0. If the veteran fails to do so, the VA will be notified of unsatisfactory progress. Enrollment will not be certified to the VA. Certifications may resume once the cumulative GPA has reached 2.0.
Dropping a Course -- If you drop a course or stop attending, notify the Delta Veteran Services Office as soon as possible. You may be asked by the VA for repayment if an overpayment situation occurs.
LW/LWT credits for Military Training -- You will receive credit for LW 221 (2 credits) and LWT electives (2 credits) for military training. Complete and submit the Request for Credit – Military Recruit Training form along with a copy of your DD-214 Member-4 to Delta Veteran Services. You cannot be certified to the VA for these courses because they are awarded to you by Delta. You will not be automatically dropped from LW/LWT classes if you receive credit for military training. Credit for military training is not available to Chapter 35 Dependents.
Pass/No Credit Grade Option -- The VA will not pay for courses that you receive no credit (NC) grades. The VA may ask you for repayment for these courses.
Program Changes -- You must report program changes to Delta Veteran Services. Only courses that apply to your new program can be certified to the VA. If your program is “Deciding,” your enrollment can be certified to the VA for two semesters after which you must choose a degree-program in order to be certified.
Program Evaluation -- The VA will only pay for courses that are required for your declared degree program. Courses that you register for, but are not on your Program Evaluation on MyDelta, will require approval in writing from your academic advisor/counselor that the course(s) will be applicable to your degree program.
Repeating a Course -- Courses that are failed or for which the grade does not meet minimum requirements for graduation may be certified for VA purposes if they are repeated. Courses that are successfully completed may not be certified for VA purposes if they are repeated.
Schedule Changes -- Report all class schedule changes (adds or section changes, and drops with last date of attendance), to the Delta Veteran Services Office.
Scholarships
- Chapter 33 Fry Scholarship (PDF) -- info and instructions
- how to apply for scholarships Jenkins "Usoni" Grant Fund for Veterans: Must be veteran or spouse of active duty military person, preference given to graduates of Saginaw High, Buena Vista or Arthur Hill High School. $1,664 per fall and winter semester - totaling $3,328. May receive scholarship for 2 consecutive years.
- Veteran's Scholarship Application (PDF) -- Must be a member of a Veteran organization.
Short courses training time (Chapters 30, 35, 1606, and 1607) -- The VA pays education benefits for enrollment periods less than 15 weeks long based on credit equivalents. Delta must report to the VA the credits and actual start and end dates of short courses;VA makes the conversion to the equivalent training time. Training Time Conversion Table.
Tuition Assistance www.military.com. Select education, tuition assistance and then choose your branch of service.
Transferring from another school/college -- If you are transferring from another college, you must have your official transcripts sent to Delta’s Registrar’s Office as soon as possible for evaluation. If you fail to do so you are subject to having your benefits terminated according to Section 1775 of title 38 U.S. Code. If you've been receiving GI bill benefits, complete the Change of Place of Training form (22-1995 for chapters 30, 31, 33, 1606, 1607) or (22-5495 for dependents or spouses of Chapter 35). Download the form from the link above or stop by Veteran Services in B100.
Verifying Enrollment -- Chapter 30, 1606, and 1607 students must verify with the VA, either by phone, 1-877-823-2378, or on the web, www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do (WAVE), that you are still attending class. The earliest this can be done is the last calendar day of the each month that you have been in attendance (it doesn't matter if it's a Sunday or holiday). Chapters 33, 35 and 31 do not have to verify at the end of each month.
www.law.udmercy.edu/project_salute/index.php - Legal assistance for disability/benefit problems.
Contacts
VA Contact Information
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Regional Processing Office
400 South 18th Street
St. Louis MO 63103-9722
888-442-4551 (Monday – Wednesday 7 am – 5 pm Central Time
https://iris.custhelp.com/
Delta College Veteran Services Office
B100 (within the Registrar’s Office)
1961 Delta Road
University Center MI 48710
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 8 am – 6 pm, Friday 8 am - 4 pm. (Closed May 17 through July 29 for for Green Fridays).
Phone: (989) 686-9465
Fax: (989) 667-2221
Email: vets@delta.edu
