Veteran and Military Services

General Information

Veteran’s Affairs Office of Veteran & Military Services is located within the Office of Admissions and Recruitment and we are dedicated to providing exceptional service to all of our students. We are available to assist veteran students with obtaining educational benefits to help pay for school. Veteran Affairs also hosts a variety of events in order to improve relationships with veteran students on campus and CUNY-wide. If you have any questions or concerns please make an appointment to see one of our representatives in the Office of Veterans Affairs located at 1150 Carroll Street, Room 306. Students must notify the certifying official of all changes in their course load every semester in order to ensure their eligibility for future benefits. Contact the Veteran School Certifying Official at 718-270-4915. Forms completed by the Veteran Affairs Office in the Office of Admission are submitted to the regional VA office. Veteran’s educational benefits are available from federal and state sources.

To ask any general education benefit question or to inquire concerning the status of an education claim, veterans should contact the VA Education Service through its website at www.gibill.va.gov or call 888-GI-BILL-1 (888-442 4551) to speak with a veteran’s benefits counselor. Current rates of payment for any of these programs, as well as late-breaking news regarding VA benefits, can be obtained by calling the toll-free number above or via Internet at www.gibill.va.gov/ education/benefits.htm.

CUNY Policy on Veterans’ Admission, Registration, Grades and Tuition

The following policies apply to students who leave CUNY to fulfill military obligations. Military personnel for whom these provisions apply must register each semester with the Veterans Certifying Official.

Students Called Up to the Reserves or Drafted Before the End of the Semester:

1. Grades: In order to obtain a grade, a student must attend 13 weeks (five weeks for summer session).
2. Refunds: A student called up to the reserves or drafted who does not attend for a sufficient time to qualify for a grade is entitled to 100% refund of tuition and all other fees except application fees.

Students Who Volunteer (Enlist) for the Military:

1. Grades: Same provision as for students called up to the reserves. In order to obtain a grade, a student must attend for 13 weeks (five weeks for summer session).
2. Refunds: The amount of the refund depends upon whether the withdrawal is before the 5th week of classes.
   1. Withdrawal before the beginning of the 5th calendar week (3rd calendar week for summer session): 100% refund of tuition and all other fees except application fees
   2. Withdrawal thereafter: 50% refund.

Other Provisions for Military Service Resident Tuition Rates: These lower rates are applicable to all members of the armed services, their spouses and their dependent children, on full-time active duty and stationed in the State of New York.

1. Re-enrollment of Veterans: Veterans who are returning students are given preferred treatment in the following ways:
   1. Veterans, who were former students with unsatisfactory scholastic records, may be readmitted with a probationary program.
   2. Veterans, upon their return, may register even after normal registration periods, without late fees.
   3. Granting of college credit for military services and armed forces of instructional courses.
   4. Veterans returning too late to register may audit classes without charge.
2. Late Admissions: Veterans with no previous college experience are permitted to file applications up to the date of registration and are allowed to begin classes pending completion of their application and provision of supporting documents
3. Readmission Fee: Upon return from military services, a student will not be charged a Readmission Fee to register at the same college.
4. Veterans Tuition Deferrals: Veterans are entitled to defer the payment of tuition pending receipt of veterans’ benefits.
5. New York National Guard Tuition Waivers: Active members of the New York National Guard, who are legal residents of New York State and who do not have a baccalaureate degree, are eligible for a tuition waiver for undergraduate study.

Veterans Administration Educational Benefit

The Veterans Administration Education Service is the organization within the federal Veterans Benefits Administration charged with administering the education programs designed for veterans, reservists, National Guard persons, widows, and orphans. The administration of these programs is accomplished through four regional processing offices (in Atlanta, Buffalo, Muskogee, and St. Louis). Application forms are available at all VA offices, active-duty stations, and American embassies.

Recruitment Incentive & Retention Program (RIRP)

The RIRP is a New York State program designed to recruit and retain members for the State Military Forces (Army and Air National Guard, and Naval Militia). This competitive program will pay the cost of tuition up to SUNY tuition rates per semester.

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB)

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for ten years following the veteran’s release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.

Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

The MGIB-SR program may be available to veterans who are members of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Post-9/11 GI Bill - Chapter 33

In July of 2008, the Post-9/11 GI Bill was signed into law, creating a new robust education benefits program rivaling the WWII Era GI Bill of Rights. The new Post 9/11 GI Bill, which goes into effect on August 1, 2009, will provide education benefits for service members who have served on active duty for 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001. These benefits are tiered based on the number of days served on active duty, creating a benefits package that gives current and previously activated National Guard and Reserve members the same benefits as active duty service members.

Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP)

REAP is a Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This new program makes certain that individuals who were activated after September 11, 2001, are either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.

Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

VEAP is available to those who first entered active duty between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, and elected to make contributions from their military pay to participate in this education benefit program. The veteran’s contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the government. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Work-Study Program

This program is available to any student receiving VA education benefits who is attending school three-quarter time or more. An individual working under this program may work at a school veterans’ office, a VA regional office, VA medical facilities, or approved state employment offices. Work-study students are paid at either the state or federal minimum wage, whichever is greater.

Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program

Veterans who have at least a 10 to 20 percent disability as a result of active service may apply for Vocational Rehabilitation. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program is the element within the VA that assists veterans with service-related injuries achieve suitable employment or enhance their ability to function independently at home and in the community. Program services may include educational training, such as certificate or two- or four-year college programs.

Programs for New York State Residents Child of Veterans Award the Child of Veterans Award is a financial aid program for students whose parent(s) served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of war or national emergency and, as a result of service, died or suffered a 40% or more disability, is classified as missing in action, or was a prisoner of war. The veteran must currently be a New York State resident or have been a New York State resident at the time of death if death occurred during or as a result of service.

Child of Veterans Award

Child of Veterans Award recipients may receive up to $450 each year without consideration of income or tuition cost. The tuition award may be granted for 4 years of full-time undergraduate study (or for 5 years in an approved 5-year baccalaureate degree program). A special application for the Child of Veteran Award must be filed with the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC). Applications may also be obtained by contacting the Higher Education Services Corporation’s Scholarship Unit at 1-888- 697-4372.