Veteran Services Policies and Notices

Dual Certification Process

Mt. SAC will certify enrollment through the VA-ONCE system once a student submits a “Request for Active Benefit Form” (accompanied by a current schedule/receipt demonstrating enrollment in eligible courses). The VRC will recertify the student after the last day to drop without a "W" deadline (this date can be found on the semester’s schedule/receipt).

Enrollment/Attendance Verification Requirement

Students using the Post 9/11 GI Bill® are required to submit enrollment/attendance verification to the VA every month they are enrolled. Students who fail to verify continued enrollment two months in a row may not receive their monthly housing allowance from the VA.

Requirements for In-State Tuition

Students eligible for GI Bill® educational benefits including the Montgomery GI Bill®–Active Duty program (Chapter 30), the Veterans Readiness and Employment program (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) (Chapter 31), or the Post-9/11 GI Bill® program
(Chapter 33) are exempt from paying nonresident tuition regardless of when the veteran separated from the military. To confirm eligibility, complete the Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Request Form and submit to the Office of Admissions.

Prohibition of Automatic Enrollment Certification

Mt. SAC prohibits school Certifying Officials from automatically certifying courses to the VA without a request in writing from the student. Per the Mt. SAC “Statement of Obligations Form", after registering each semester a student must fill out a “Request for Active Benefits”. Note: Students who do not fill out the “Request for Active Benefits” form EVERY semester, will not be certified.

Absence Due to Military Service

Withdrawal Policies for Members of the Military: A student who is a member of an active or reserve United States military service and who receives orders compelling a withdrawal from courses shall be permitted to withdraw upon verification of such orders. A withdrawal symbol of “MW” will be assigned. Military withdrawal shall not be counted in determining registration priority, progress probation, or dismissal calculations. In no case may a military withdrawal result in a student being assigned an “FW” grade. Upon returning to Mt. SAC, if the student desires to retain his/her previous catalog rights, the student must both reapply for admission and complete a Petition for Exceptional Action requesting their previous catalog rights. As part of the documentation, the student should include their military orders outlining their deployment period. If the student returns to Mt. SAC within two years of completing his/her assigned deployment, his/her catalog rights will be reinstated.

Mountie Academic Plan (MAP)

All students requesting certification of GI Bill® benefits must obtain a comprehensive Mountie Educational Plan (MAP) from a VRC Counselor in order to request the processing of benefits. Students must have a current and complete Educational Plan on file with the Mt. SAC Veterans Resource Center at all times, abbreviated plans will not be accepted. All MAPs shall included required classes and timeline to graduate.

Listing of Designated Campus Employees for Military-Connected Students

Military-Affiliated Students’ Contact: Jazmin Vargas, VRC Coordinator 9E, 1^st Floor jvargas@mtsac.edu		GI Bill® Benefits Contact: Lisa Foster, VRC Certifying Official 9B, 2^nd Floor lfoster10@mtsac.edu

Academic Counseling Contact: Dr. Bernie Somers, VRC Counselor 9E, 1^st Floor bsomers@mtsac.edu		Academic Counseling Contact: Luis Echeverria-Newberry, VRC Counselor 9E, 1^st Floor lecheverrianewberry@mtsac.edu

Academic Counseling Contact: Jason Conway, VRC Adjunct Counselor 9E, 1^st Floor jconway8@mtsac.edu		Financial Aid Contact: Naomi Lagerstrom, VRC FA Specialist 9B, 2^nd Floor nspinella@mtsac.edu

Disability Counseling Contact: Eloise Reyes, ACCESS Counselor 9B, 1^st Floor Ereyes86@mtsac.edu		Contact for VRC Issues/Complaints: Desiree Marquez, VRC Manager 9B, 2^nd Floor dmarquez@mtsac.edu