VA Certification Checklist
Post 9/11 (CH33)
Students will receive a book and supply payment directly from the VA 6-8 weeks after
their classes are certified. The post 9/11 (CH 33) books and supplies stipend will
pay up to $41.67 per credit certified, for up to 24 credits during an academic year.
The maximum stipend is $1,000 per academic year. It is recommended that you do not
wait to receive this payment to purchase your books.
Students with Financial Aid
Students, who have completed the FAFSA and have been awarded financial aid, may have
an electronic book voucher available for them to use at the OCC Bookstore for books
and supplies directly related to their academic courses. If your tuition and fees
are less than your eligible financial aid award, the remaining amount, up to $1,200,
is available as an Electronic Book Voucher.
MGIB (CH 30 & 1606) Students MUST Verify Enrollment Monthly
Students receiving Chapter 30 and 1606 must verify their enrollment monthly by Web
Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by Interactive Voice Response (IVR).
- The earliest students can verify their enrollment is the last calendar day of each
month.
- WAVE allows students to verify their enrollment on the internet
- IVR allows students to "phone in" (1-877-823-2378) their monthly verification if there
are no changes to the enrollment during the previous month
Chapter 33 on Active Duty Monthly Housing Allowance
CH 33 active duty personnel (including those on terminal leave) and their spouses
utilizing transferred entitlement are not eligible for the housing allowance.
Receive Monthly Benefit Payments (Monthly Housing Allowance for CH 33)
- Monthly benefit payments (or Monthly Housing Allowance for CH 33) are made directly
to the student by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Call 1.(888) 442-4551 to address questions or concerns regarding your monthly benefit
payments or monthly housing allowance.
- Payments are made at the beginning of each month for the previous month for the number
of days the student is certified.
- If a student is certified for a whole month, the full monthly benefit is paid. If
the student is only certified for part of the month, the benefit is prorated.
- The VA uses a 30-day month. Divide the monthly rate by 30 to get the daily rate. For
example: If a student is certified from the January 16 – January 30 (or 31), the student
is certified 15 days and is entitled to 15/30ths of the full monthly benefit.
- View the current status of your payments (both education and disability) through eBenefits.
How Changes in Enrollment Affect your Benefits
Code of Conduct
Students are required to follow the college’s Student Code of Conduct. Any changes
in enrollment due to a student’s failure to follow this code will result in the termination
of VA Educational Benefits for unsatisfactory conduct. This could result in a debt
to the VA. To view the official Student Code of Conduct as well as other important
student information, go to the
OCC Student Handbook located on the OCC website.
Non-Punitive Grades & Dropping Classes
The VA does not pay benefits toward classes for which a student receives a non-punitive
grade, unless there are mitigating circumstances. Receiving this type of mark may
result in an overpayment. Non-punitive grades are grades that do not count toward
graduation or calculate into the student’s GPA and include: "W", "WS", "N", "I ".
Students who withdrawal from a course and receive a "W" or are given a "WS" mark by
their instructor and would like mitigating circumstances to be considered, may submit
supporting documentation to be reported to the VA. This should be done before the
non-punitive grade is assigned.
Mitigating Circumstances
Mitigating circumstances are circumstances beyond the student's control that prevent
the student from continuing in school or that cause the student to reduce credits.
Examples are:
- An illness or death in the student’s immediate family.
- An illness or injury afflicting the student during the enrollment period.
- An unavoidable change in the student’s conditions of employment.
- An unavoidable geographical transfer resulting from the student’s employment.
- Immediate family or financial obligations beyond the control of the claimant that
require him or her to suspend pursuit of the program of education to obtain employment.
- Discontinuance of the course by the school.
- Unanticipated active military service, including active duty for training.
- Unanticipated difficulties with childcare arrangements the student has made for the
period during which he or she is attending classes.
Receiving an "F" Grade
When a student receiving veteran benefits receives an "F" grade, no changes in enrollment
are reported to the VA and no overpayment to the student will result.
Repeating a Course
A student who has received a failing grade or a grade that did not meet the minimum
requirements for the program of study, may repeat the course and be certified for
it until it is successfully completed.
Incompletes
Students, who receive an incomplete "I" in a class, must notify the OCC-Veterans Services
department once the course is completed and a letter grade is issued. Once an appropriate
grade has been issued, the class will no longer be considered to have a non-punitive
grade.
CHAPTER 35 Students – Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Act is a state funded program designed to provide
undergraduate tuition assistance to certain children older than 16 and less than 26
years of age who have been Michigan residents for the 12 months prior to application.
To be eligible a student must be the natural or adopted child of a Michigan veteran.
Stepchildren or grandchildren of the veteran are not eligible. The veteran must have
been a legal resident of Michigan immediately before entering military service and
did not later reside outside of Michigan for more than two years; or the veteran must
have established legal residency in Michigan after entering military service.
Students may receive scholarship assistance for up to four academic years for a total
of up to $11,200. Awards are for an academic year with the amount determined by the
student’s enrollment status. Full-time students can receive up to a maximum of $2,800
per academic year.
Administrative Policy
Oakland Community College prohibits the use of high-pressure recruitment tactics for
the purpose of securing enrollment of students. These include multiple unsolicited
contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging
in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Military Service
Member enrollments.
OCC is a Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency "Gold" college. The Michigan Veteran-Friendly School program recognizes academic institutions of higher learning committed to supporting the needs
of student veterans and dependents. The program awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze level
status to institution that offer veteran-centric services and programs. Any institution
of higher learning and/or training facility in Michigan eligible to receive veteran
education benefits can apply for the program regardless of size, location and program
delivery. 
