AVECO 2014 New SCO Basic Training

1. AVECO 2014 New SCO Basic Training

2. VA Regional Processing Office St Louis, MO Schedule 8AM – 12PM 1PM – 4PM Q&A – 4-5PM July 14, 2014

3. New SCO Training Overview • Organization of VA and RPO • SCO training tools • Explanation of VA education benefit chapters • Role and responsibilities of SCO • Roles and responsibilities of CELO, ELR, ECSS, SAA • Responsibilities of VA students • Certifying, monitoring, and updating enrollments to VA • VA ONCE • Modality, terms, academic policies, tuition & fee charges, Yellow Ribbon Program • Education overpayments • Case Studies

4. AVECO SCO Training Breakout training sessions scheduled this week: - VAONCE Web Based Enrollment Instructions - Yellow Ribbon under Chapter 33 - Non – Yellow Ribbon - OJT, LACAS, Centralized Certification - Study Abroad, Fees, Approvals - New SCO Time Management - Academic progress, probation, suspension - Joint Service Transcripts - VA Work Study Large group training will involve VA Annual Reporting Fees, E Benefits, FTA, POE, CH31, VA Debt Collection, TOP, VA compliance surveys, other topics on the agenda, and a daily Question and Answer session

5. Survey of Certifying Officials • SCO location at College & (full or part time VA) • Know your ELR, ECSS, SAA and RPO • Receive E-mails from ELR/Use RNW email to RPO as VA certifying official • Refer to VA education web site • Paper form or VAONCE web based system • Institutional academic requirements • Direct deposit for institutional tuition & fee payments • Certifying modality of instruction • Certifying net charges • Certifying nonstandard terms • Growth in VA student enrollment activity at institutions • Start Up Questions for today? • Agenda and Topics – New VA Certifying Officials

6. Survey of Certifying Officials • Other areas of interest or concern: • Assisting VA students with questions on their benefits, eligibility, and payment questions? • Internal communications with Business Office, Registrar, and Financial Aid Office • Monitoring VA student enrollments • Annual Reporting Fee payments • VA training time measurements (Graduate and Undergraduate) • Student monthly self verification • Chapter 33 Institution & student debts

7. SCO Area of Interest • VA paper payment reports sent to institutions • Institutions concerned with VA DMC debt letters and TOP • Principles of Excellence • SCO devotes a large portion of time assisting VA students • SCO monitoring has increased substantially due to increased enrollments and certification requirements involving Chapter 33 • Compliance Surveys

8. New SCO Training Overview • Organization of VA and RPO • SCO training tools • Explanation of VA education benefit chapters • Role and responsibilities of SCO • Roles and responsibilities of CELO, ELR, ECSS, SAA • Responsibilities of VA students • Certifying, monitoring, updating enrollments to VA • VA ONCE • Modality, terms, academic policies, tuition & fee charges, Yellow Ribbon Program • Education overpayments • Case Studies

9. VA RPO Locations & Jurisdictions

10. VA Regional Processing Offices There are four (4) VA Regional Processing Offices (RPO) located at Buffalo NY for the Northeastern region, Atlanta, GA for Southeastern region, St Louis, MO for the Central region, and Muskogee, OK for the Western region. - Jurisdiction for the RPO’s is based on the school approval address location. - Effective June 1, 2014 the following States reassigned the VA Education Liaison Representatives and Education Compliance Survey Specialists from St Louis VA RPO to: Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana – Muskogee RPO Tennessee and Kentucky – Atlanta RPO West Virginia – Buffalo RPO Applications and enrollments for these States were retained by the St Louis VA RPO.

11. St Louis VA Regional Processing Office • The jurisdiction of the St Louis VA RPO is 18 States • Responsibilities for: • Processing all applications received by veterans and dependents for our region • Processing all enrollments and changes to enrollment data for all schools and training establishments in our region • VA work study program • Providing service to veterans, dependents, and SCO’s in researching and responding to questions in Right Now Web emails

12. Nationwide Enrollment Data As of April 2014 nationwide total VA enrollment of VA beneficiaries:

13. Nationwide Active Institutions • IHL (6663) Non Degree (3083) • Public 2,346 625 • PvtProfit 1,7772,264 • PvtNon Prof 2,540194 • Total active institutions – 10,032 • *As of April 2014 Nationwide

14. VA Nationwide 2013 Students Awarded Benefits Total number of active schools – 11,260 Total number of VA students – 1,119,892 St Louis Regional Processing Office Data Total number of active schools – 2,986 (27%) Total number of VA students – 287,845 (26%) Annual Reporting Fee Nationwide Payment for 2013 - $13,451,925.00

15. Training Type • Where VA students enroll: • *(Non degree institutions, OJT/APPR, Vocational Flight, Correspondence)

16. How it Begins-- Student Applies School Certifies Paper Paper VA-ONCE VONAPP RPO

17. RPO The Image Management System VCE Write Award • Request Info • ELR • SCO • Student Authorizer U. S. Treasury Austin, TX +

18. State Approving Agency (SAA) School Other Schools Certifying Official VA (ELR) Military Reserves Students WE NEED YOU The success of VA educational programs depends largely on you, as a certifying official. Your work on behalf of your institution in assisting VA students is critical in the processing and payment of veterans educational benefits. We could not do our job without you.

19. New SCO Training Overview • Organization of VA and RPO • SCO training tools • Explanation of VA education benefit chapters • Role and responsibilities of SCO • Roles and responsibilities of CELO, ELR, ECSS, SAA • Responsibilities of VA students • Certifying, monitoring, updating enrollments to VA • VA ONCE • Modality, terms, academic policies, tuition & fee charges, Yellow Ribbon Program • Education overpayments • Case Studies

20. St Louis VA Regional Processing Office What do the following mean and what is their purpose or function?

21. Training Resources • Access from www.gibill.va.gov under school resources for: • National SCO Handbook • VAONCE Quick Reference User Guide • Online school certifying official training • FAQ’s • VA Education Benefit Chapter Information • Principles of Excellence, Treasury Offset Program • ELR Technical Assistance & VAONCE Instruction • Workshops in your state sponsored by VA, SAA, or other agencies • Webinars • ELR • VACO

22. Training Resources • SCO on line training module sessions • Access GI Bill web site • Open SCO on line training • Register – email and facility code • Complete the training modules • 1 module is optional on VA benefit chapters • SCO module provides training on certifications and monitoring

23. On Line SCO Training

24. New SCO Training Objectives

25. Training Resources

26. New SCO Training Overview • Organization of VA and RPO • SCO training tools • Explanation of VA education benefit chapters • Role and responsibilities of SCO • Roles and responsibilities of CELO, ELR, ECSS, SAA • Responsibilities of VA students • Certifying, monitoring, updating enrollments to VA • VA ONCE • Modality, terms, academic policies, tuition & fee charges, Yellow Ribbon Program • Education overpayments • Case Studies

27. Education Programs • Chapter 30 • Chapter 1606 • Chapter 1607 • Chapter 35 • Chapter 31 • Chapter 33 • Chapter 33 TOE • VRAP – CH30 and ended March 2014 SCO Handbook pages 24 - 40

28. Student Application forms (paper or on line) VA Form 22-1990 – Application for all chapters (except Ch 35) VA Form 22-1990e – Chapter 33 Transfer of Entitlement VA Form 22-5490 – Chapter 35 original claims and Fry *Updated Form VA Form 22-1995 – All Chapters except Chapter 35 & VA Form 22-5495 – Chapter 35 subsequent claims

29. Issues & Concerns with Applications • Common error when applying on line – • Failure to hit submit when application completed for a tracking system • NOTE: SCO certification of enrollments to VA will not be processed if no application has been submitted by veteran or dependent • This information will not be communicated back to SCO that VA does not have application

30. Maximum of 48 Months of Entitlement Although students may be eligible under more than one education benefit chapter, they cannot use more than 48 months total between multiple chapters. Public Law 111-377 – Persons entering active duty on or after August 1, 2011 can only utilize one period of military service for one VA education benefit chapter Individuals may be eligible for more than 1 benefit chapter now based on eligibility based on multiple veterans (Chapter 35 DEA, Chapter 33 Transfer of Benefits, Fry Amendment), and veteran-reserve-national guard service, AGR32 (active guard reserve)

31. Benefit Chapter Resource Access VA National SCO Handbook (pages 24 – 41) which contains comparison information on each benefit chapter. • Provides information on student application forms • Provides information for each benefit chapter • Provides eligibility and entitlement information • GI bill web site provides assistance in finding schools and comparing institutional programs and costs

32. Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation) This program assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. The Vocational Rehab program is NOT administered by RPO Does count against the 48 months Educational Benefits Does use the same certification process as VA Education Pays the student a monthly stipend based on dependents or BAH rates Requires communication between the Chapter 31 Voc Rehab Case Manager and the SCO Pays the school directly for tuition/books/supplies Important: Chapter 31 is not processed by RPO; however those who want CH33 BAH rate under CH31 must apply to RPO for determination of eligibility

33. Post-9/11 GI Bill - Chapter 33 • For service members who served on active duty after 9/10/2001 • Eligibility from 40 – 100% based on military service period(s) determines benefit payments • Pays up to full in-state tuition and fees at Public Schools • Pays up to $ 20,235.02 (effective 8/1/14) for tuition and fees per academic year at Private School (VA Academic year – 8/1 – 7/31) • $19,138.31 effective 8/1/2013 for (8/1/13 – 7/31/14) • Stipend for Books and Supplies – Maximum $1,000 per VA academic year based on 24 total credits within VA academic year at $41.67 per credit • DOD “kickers” can transfer to CH33 from Chapters 30, 1606 & 1607

34. Post-9/11 GI Bill - Chapter 33 • Monthly Housing stipend—military rankE5 w/dep rate (BAH) based on zip code of the approved institutional facility code • Transfer of benefits as approved by Dept of Defense • Yellow Ribbon Program for participating and approved Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) for VA matching payment for IHL contribution to reduce student tuition

35. Chapter 33 • Individuals should carefully consider their education goals before applying and electing benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill • VA can provide general benefit comparison information, however, an individual’s unique circumstances must also be considered • Benefit comparison information is available at www.gibill.va.gov • Individuals who establish eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill must make an irrevocable election if they are: • Eligible for either MGIB-AD, MGIB-SR or REAP; or • A member of the Armed Forces who is eligible to receive MGIB-AD benefits and who is making the basic $1200 contribution toward MGIB-AD

36. Chapter 33

37. Chapter 33 • Benefits to attend NCDs, OJT/APP, Flight, Correspondence • Break pay no longer available (all chapters) • Active Duty may receive less than 100% • Housing payments affected by Rate of pursuit (ROP) • Housing for Distance Learners • Books for Active Duty

38. Chapter 33 Yellow Ribbon • Program to help pay some/all of unmet charges at IHLs • School must enter into agreement with VA • School can contribute up to half of unmet charges and VA matches amount • Only available to 100% tier • AD, Spouses of AD, & Fry Scholarship not eligible

39. CH33 Post-9/11 GI Bill – Tuition & Fees • U.S. Public Schools: The actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees after the application of any waiver, scholarship, aid, or assistance [other than Title IV funds] • Private and Foreign Schools: The lesser of the actual net cost for tuition and fees after the application of any waiver, scholarship, aid, or assistance [other than Title IV funds], or $20,235.02 for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2014

40. CH33 Post-9/11 GI Bill – Tuition & Fees • Before reporting Tuition and Fees apply… • Federal aid (excluding Title IV funds) • Waiver/Discount in tuition and fees • Scholarships for tuition or fees • State, institutional, or employer-based aid or assistance • NOTE: Aid or assistance not designated for the sole purpose of reducing a student’s tuition and fee cost should NOT be excluded from the net in-state charges reported to VA.

41. Chapter 33 Housing • The amount payable for the Monthly Housing Allowance for any academic year (beginning on August 1) will be based upon the BAH rates effective on January 1 of that year. • This means that Monthly Housing Allowance rates for chapter 33 awards will change effective August 1 of each year, and not on January 1. Distance Learning: Individuals only enrolled in distance learning courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing. Rates will be multiplied by the rate of pursuit rounded to the nearest multiple of 10. Housing allowance is payable to students (Also Excluded: those on active duty or spouse who is a CH33 TOE of an active duty transferor)

42. CH33 Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program • Private Schools: • Annual Cap amount must be reached before Yellow Ribbon (YR) applies $19,138.31 for 8/1/13 – 7/31/14 • Exhaust the annual cap amount before certifying YRP • VA academic year (8/1 – 7/31) • Annual cap rate will increase to $20,235.02 effective 8/1/2014 • VAONCE – for those approved at your IHL for YRP set up in VAONCE for CH33 Yellow – report 0 until needed • Do NOT certify YRP contributions to VA until the annual cap dollar amount for tuition and fees has been exhausted within VA academic year

43. CH33 Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement • An individual approved to transfer benefits may: • Transfer up to 36 months of benefits (unless DoD/DHS restricts number of months an individual may transfer). • Transfer to spouse, child, or children in any amount up to amount transferor has available or amount approved by DoD/DHS. • Department of Defense branch of service must approve the serviceperson’s request to transfer benefits. • Revoke or modify a transfer request of any unused benefits unless the transferor’s 15-year eligibility period has ended.

44. CH33 Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement • VA Form 22-1990e is used for those who have been transferred benefits under Ch33 • The paper applications and VONAPP forms available on the GI Bill website contain ch33 information • A signature is not required in support of applications for education benefits or applications for a change of program or place of training

45. CH33 Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement Spouses: May use after transferor completes 6 years in Armed Forces Paid at transferor’s rate - Cannot be paid monthly housing allowance or books and supplies stipend if the transferor is on active duty when the spouse is receiving benefits Can continue to use benefits if divorced, unless the transferor revokes remaining entitlement Can use benefits up to transferor’s 15-year eligibility period, unless transferor specifies an earlier ending date Not limited to highest in-State tuition and fee rates while transferor in on active duty

46. CH33 Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement Children: Entitlement must be transferred to an unmarried child who has not reached the age of 18 or, if in school, before child is 23 years of age May use benefits after transferor completes 10 years in Armed Forces Must have: • reached age 18; or • completed requirements of secondary school diploma • (or equivalency certificate) Receives veteran rate, including housing allowance & book stipend, even if transferor is on active duty May use until 26 years old even if transferor’s 15-year eligibility period ended May continue to use benefits after marriage

47. Transfer Benefits VA Home Page

48. CH33 Fry Scholarships for Dependents Fry Scholarship as part of Chapter 33- • For children of service members who die in the line of duty after Sept 10, 2001 • *Application form has been updated recently • Have 15 years beginning on 18th birthday to use the benefit • Entitled to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level • Not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program • Service member did NOT have to make election for CH33 • NOTE: SCO Handbook page 33

49. New SCO Training Overview • Organization of VA and RPO • SCO training tools • Explanation of VA education benefit chapters • Role and responsibilities of SCO • Roles and responsibilities of CELO, ELR, ECSS, SAA • Responsibilities of VA students • Certifying, monitoring, updating enrollments to VA • VA ONCE • Modality, terms, academic policies, tuition & fee charges, Yellow Ribbon Program • Education overpayments • Case Studies

50. Basic SCO Responsibilities • Inform VA of the enrollment status of veterans and other eligible persons. • Maintain adequate documentation at the institution to support certifications. • Certify enrollments & changes timely to VA. • Inform VA or SAA of new programs, changes in programs, institutional changes, etc. • Apprise supervisors of any internal problems which may affect service to VA students. • NOTE: SCO Handbook pages 16 - 18