Veterans Certification/Benefit Information

As a veteran or service member, you may be eligible to use educational benefits from more than one GI Education Benefits program. It's important to understand the difference between programs and choose the one that is best suited to your educational goals. The VAs decision-making tools will help you get the most from your benefits: GI Education Benefits Programs The VAs education programs include:

• the Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) for veterans and service members who served after Sept. 10, 2001;
  • the Machine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post 9/11 GI Education Benefits to spouses and children of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10,2001;
• the MGIB (Chapter 30) for veterans and service members who have a minimum of two years of active duty;
• the Montgomery GI Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) for Reservists and National Guard members who signed a six-year obligation on or after July 1, 1985;
• the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35) for eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition;
• the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program (Chapter 31) for veterans who have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable and have a service-connected disability rating. VRE questions concerning the CalVet Fee Waiver? Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (714) 895-8394 or FinAid@gwc.cccd.edu

If you have questions about benefits, speak to a VA representative at the VAs Education Call Center in Muskogee, OK. Call (888) 442-4551.

Very Important: The decision to relinquish benefits under the MGIB (Chapter 30) for Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) is irrevocable. Contact the Education Call Center in Muskogee, OK, at (888) 442-4551, for assistance.

A Veteran participating in the VRE (Chapter 31) Program who qualifies for Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) benefits can elect to receive the Chapter 33 rate of pay instead of the regular Chapter 31 subsistence allowance. In most cases, the Post-9/11 rate is higher than the regular VRE rate of pay. To elect the Post-9/11 rate, the Veteran must have remaining eligibility for the Post-9/11, and must formally choose (or elect) the Post-9/11 rate.

The academic year is divided into four sessions: fall semester, extending from August through December; Intersession, if offered, during the month of January; spring semester, from February through May; and summer session, from approximately June through mid- August. Check the college website for application filing periods.

The application for admission is available on-line at https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/index.html. 

New and returning students who have been absent for two or more semesters must submit a new application online at https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/index.html. Students are strongly encouraged to apply early in the application filing period in order to have time to complete all the requirements to be eligible for a priority registration appointment.

New and returning students will receive information via email on how to log in to MyGWC, the colleges student/faculty web portal once their application is processed. The email will also include the student ID number and outline the steps required to secure the best possible registration appointment.

Admissions, Registration, and Certification Procedures

1. Apply for Admission online

• Non-resident status may have been assigned based on incorrect information on your admissions application. If you are a veteran and your home of record is California or you separated in California, submit a copy of your DD214 Member 4 to the Residency Clerk in the Enrollment Center.
• If you are an active service member stationed in California, submit your orders to the Residency Clerk to see if you qualify for an exemption.
• If you are a non-resident using Post 9/11(Chapter 33), MGIB (Chapter 30), VRE (Chapter 31) or DEA (Chapter 35) educational benefits, you may qualify for a waiver under Section 702 of the federal Veterans Choice Act of 2014 and Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (VACA). Contact the School Certifying Official in Veterans Enrollment Services for more information.

2. Order Transcripts

Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges, universities, and training institutes must be sent to the Golden West College Enrollment Center. Transcripts must be evaluated before meeting with a counselor for a Student Education Plan (SEP).

Most colleges are able to send transcripts directly to Golden West College. Transcripts should be mailed to the following address:

Golden West College ATTN: ENROLLMENT CENTER 15744 Goldenwest Street Huntington Beach CA 92647-3103

Transcripts can also be sent electronically to gwctranscripts@gwc.cccd.edu. Please note that the transcript must come directly from a trusted transcript provider, not the student.

Students may also deliver transcripts to the Student Services Center as long as they are sealed, official transcripts. Please write your student ID number on the envelope before turning it in.

3. Math and English Placement

State law AB 705 took effect on January 1, 2018, which eliminated requiring students to take placement tests at all California community colleges. The intent of this law is to ensure that students are not placed in remedial courses that may delay or deter their educational progress. AB 705 requires that a community college maximizes the probability that a student will enter and complete transfer-level coursework in English and Math within a one-year timeframe and use, in the placement of students into English and Math courses, one or more of the following measures: high school coursework, high school grades, and/or high school grade point average. For more information, visit this web page https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/map/placement/index.html 

4. Meet with a GWC Counselor

A Student Education Plan (SEP) is required for VA certification purposes.

Veterans and service members who are currently attending GWC can schedule a SEP appointment by calling Counseling at (714) 895-8119. Be sure to identify yourself as a veteran when making the appointment.

Veterans who are not currently attending GWC must contact Veteran Enrollment Services before contacting Counseling.

5. Eligibility for priority registration

All students are subject to the provisions of SB 1456. New and returning students who have completed college orientation, assessment and developed education plans, as well as continuing students in good academic standing who have not exceeded 100 units (not including units in basic English, math or English as a Second Language), have enrollment priority over students who do not meet these criteria. Priority registration will be determined as follows:

• 1st Priority Active duty military, veteran students, and current and former foster youth
• 2nd Priority Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS), Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS), and CalWORKs recipients.
• 3rd Priority Continuing students in good standing and new students

Under the provisions of California Education Code Section 66025.8

(a) GWC will grant priority registration to any member or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States, who is a resident of California, and who has received an honorable discharge, a general discharge, or an other than honorable discharge, and to any member or former member of the State Military Reserve, for any academic term attended for four academic years after he or she has left state or federal active duty, which he or she shall use within 15 years of leaving state or federal active duty.

(b) A former member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the State Military Reserve who received a dishonorable discharge or a bad conduct discharge is not eligible for priority registration for enrollment pursuant to this section.

In order to receive priority registration, students must present their DD214 or Military ID to the School Certifying Official. Veterans who cannot locate their DD-214 may order a new copy from the National Archives.

6. Register and Pay for Classes

To register for classes, login to your MyGWC account with your username and password. Instructions for using the online registration system are available at GWC Help Desk.

All fees are due at the time of registration. Failure to pay all fees may result in being dropped from classes for nonpayment. If you receive financial aid after paying your fees, you will be reimbursed.

Students who are using the Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) or VRE (Chapter 31) are not required to pay fees at the time of registration. To avoid being dropped for nonpayment, submit the Request for Certification as soon as your enrollment is finalized.

7. Request To Be Certified

If you plan to use any VA educational benefits, you must request to be certified. Complete the Request for Certification online.

Certifications are submitted in the order in which they are received. To prevent delays in receiving benefits, students are advised to complete their paperwork as soon as possible.

Documents required to complete the certification will depend on the benefit you are using.

Joint Services Transcripts (JST) can be ordered online. https://jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do

Forms

New Students: All students using VA education benefits with Golden West College as their Primary Institution are required to complete the Veteran Education Benefits New Student Form. 

New students who have used VA education benefits at another school must also submit the Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Form with the VA. The required form can be completed online at this website https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. 

Returning Students: Please submit the Request for Certification form for each enrollment term/semester. 

Both New and Returning Students: All students attending Golden West College while using VA educational benefits, must submit a Request for Certification form each semester if they wish to be certified. If you make a change to your schedule after you have been certified, submit the Add/Drop Certified Class form. 

For GWC students taking a class at another college: Students who want to use VA education benefit at a school outside of the Coast College District, must submit the Primary School Letter Request form. If you are taking a course within the Coast College District, you only need to submit the Request for Certification form. 

Guest Students: Please contact your Primary School and request they send GWC a Primary School Letter. You will also need to submit the Veteran Education Guest Student Form.

For students who are considered non-residents: There are many reasons why a new student may be considered as a California non-resident. If you are eligible for one of the follow VA Education Benefits, Post-9/11 (Chapter 33), MGIB (Chapter 30), VRE (Chapter 31) or DEA (Chapter 35) you may qualify for in-state tuition under the Veterans Accountability and Choice Act. You must complete the VACA form [PDF] and submit it to the Veteran Services office along with a copy of your DD214-member-4 and your Certificate of Eligibility. If you have questions about residency, call (714) 895-8179.

To apply for VA education benefits, complete the application online. https://www.vets.gov/education/apply/

In order to claim benefits, the student must have, as an educational objective, one of the following

1. Associate Degree
2. Certificate Program

VA requires schools to evaluate credits from all colleges and universities attended previously. Official (sealed) transcripts must be submitted as soon as possible after applying for admission. Students can then meet with a counselor to create a Student Education Plan (SEP).

Failure to submit transcripts or meet with a counselor for a SEP may delay certification for benefits.

Only courses directly applicable to an education program can be certified for VA education benefits. Transfer courses that are not required for a degree at Golden West College cannot be certified for benefits.

1. In order to ensure continuity of benefits, satisfactory progress must be made toward the stated major.
2. Regular and prompt attendance in all class and laboratory sessions is expected of every student.
3. Students using benefits must notify School Certifying Official of any changes in schedule immediately. To avoid overpayments, changes must be reported to the VA Processing Office promptly. If an overpayment occurs, the student will receive notice of a debt to the VA and/or GWC.