Veterans Administration Education Programs

Wharton County Junior College (WCJC) is approved by the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits for veterans and children and spouses of veterans (Chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, and 1606, 1607 Title 38, U.S. Code).

Follow the link for more information on each chapter.

Chapter 30	Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program
Chapter 31	Vocational Rehabilitation
Chapter 32	Post-Vietnam Era Veteran's Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Chapter 33	Post 9/11® Veteran's Educational Assistance Act of 2008
Chapter 35	Dependent's Educational Assistance Program
Chapter 1606	Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program
Chapter 1607	Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

 

Veterans receive monthly payments for their entitlement based on the course work for which they enroll. Students should register for classes with caution, making certain that each course undertaken meets the requirements for payment. The following are requirements for courses to be eligible for payment:

• Each course must be a requirement for graduation in a degree program at WCJC. No course may be taken for audit. No course may be a repeat of a course for which credit has already been received (A, B, C, & D are passing grades). Each course must be completed and assigned a grade that is used to compute grade point average (GPA) and progress toward degree.
• Withdrawals without mitigating circumstances that culminate with no credit being awarded or no punitive grade being assigned result in benefits being terminated from the beginning date of the semester, thus creating an over-award and possible student responsibility for repayment to the Veterans Administration.
• Academic Requirements: To remain in good standing (not on probation); a student must earn a 2.0 GPA each semester. To ensure satisfactory academic progress (SAP), transcripts of Veterans are monitored at the end of each semester. Should a Veteran complete a semester with a GPA below 2.0, he or she is issued a warning notice. The notice states that the Veteran is not maintaining SAP and may find it impossible to earn the required 2.0 GPA for graduation. Students who receive this notice are encouraged to re-examine their educational objectives, course load, etc. to improve their academic record. If a Veteran should fail to earn a 2.0 GPA in the following semester, certification is terminated until the Veteran raises his or her cumulative GPA to 2.0 or the Veterans Administration Regional Office authorizes re-certification.

Students may receive assistance in applying for VA benefits and should contact the Financial Aid office at least 30 days prior to the first class day of each term to complete all necessary paper work for that period of study. Students will need to send the forms listed below to the Certifying Official in the Financial Aid office. Incomplete applications are not reviewed or approved.

New Students 

Document requirements for New Veterans

     Veterans using Chapter 30, 32, 33, 1606, 1607

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Letter, dated less than 6 months and old listing WCJC. Must submit VA Form 22-1990 at eBenefits to receive COE.
• DD214
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended
• Official Military transcripts (AARTS, SMARTS, CCAF)
• Degree evaluation
• VA students co-enrolled at another institution must inform the WCJC VA Certifying Official of their co-enrollment status and provide a Parent Institution Letter.
• Chapter 1606 and 1607 applicants: Signed Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE Form 2384) is required.
• VA Form 22-1995 (www.va.gov) if transferring to WCJC or changing majors
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

     Veterans using Chapter 31

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Letter, dated less than 6 months old and listing WCJC. Must submit VA Form 22-1990 at eBenefits to receive COE.
• DD214
• VA Form 28-1905
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended 
• Official Military transcripts (AARTS, SMARTS, CCAF)
• Degree evaluation
• VA Form 22-1995 (www.va.gov) if transferring to WCJC or changing majors
• Proof of registration (fee slip; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

     Dependent Child or Spouse using Chapter 35

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Letter, dated less than 6 months old and listing WCJC. Must submit VA Form 22-5495 at eBenefits to receive COE.
• DD214 for the Veteran
• Degree evaluation
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended 
• VA Form 22-5495 if transferring to WCJC or changing majors
• Birth certificate and/or marriage certificate (Step-children of veterans will need both birth certificate and parent/step-parents' marriage certificate.)
• Proof of registration (fee slip; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

Continuing Students

Document requirements for Returning Veterans

      Veterans using Chapter 30, 32, 33, 35

• VA Form 22-1995 (www.va.gov) if veteran changing majors; VA Form 22-5495 if DEA changing majors
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

     Veterans using Chapter 31

• VA Form 22-1905 (www.va.gov) if changing veteran changing majors
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

Veterans using Chapter 1606 or 1607

• VA Form 22-1905 (www.va.gov) if changing veteran changing majors
• Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) or Certificate of Eligibility
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

Visit the Veterans Services Page to obtain academic credit for military experience.

 

The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas. This does not include living expenses, books, or supply fees. A Veteran must, at the time of entry into active duty of the U.S. Armed Forces, have designated Texas as Home of Record; or entered the service in Texas; or was a Texas resident.

Students should read the Hazlewood Act Administrative Rules and Statutes.

Students eligible for this benefit should contact Financial Aid prior to enrolling for classes. Students will need to send the required forms to the Certifying Official in the Financial Aid office. Students should submit documents 30 days prior to the first day of class for processing. Incomplete applications are not reviewed or approved.

New Students

     Veteran

• Texas Hazlewood Act Application
• DD214
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended.
• Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill® benefits (Chapter 30, 33) by requesting an education benefits letter from the VA at eBenefits. 
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. Veterans must register and provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

     Dependent Child (Legacy) 

• Texas Hazlewood Act Application
• DD214 for the Veteran
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended.
• Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill® benefits (Chapter 30, 33) by requesting an education benefits letter from the VA at eBenefits.
• Relationship Documentation: child's birth certificate listing Veteran as parent or most recent tax return of Veteran listing dependent child. A death certificate for the Veteran is required if death was not related to service.
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. Both the Veteran and the student must register and provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

Dependent Child or Spouse of a Veteran who is rated 100% disabled for the purpose of employability, KIA or MIA. There is no age limit for the dependent.  

• Texas Hazlewood Act Application
• DD214 for the Veteran
• Academic transcripts from each school previously attended.
• Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill® benefits (Chapter 30, 33) by requesting an education benefits letter from the VA at eBenefits.
• Relationship Documentation: child's birth certificate listing Veteran as parent or most recent tax return of Veteran listing dependent child. A marriage license is required for a spouse. A death certificate for the Veteran is required if death was not related to service.
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. The dependent child or spouse must register and provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• 100% Disabled: VA disability letter stating Veteran is 100% disabled.
• KIA or MIA: VA Form DD1300
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

Continuing Students

     Veteran

• Continued Enrollment Hazlewood Application
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. Veteran must provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

     Dependent Child (Legacy)

• Continued Enrollment Hazlewood Application
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. Both the Veteran and the student must provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

Dependent Child or Spouse of a Veteran who is rated 100% disabled for the purpose of employability, KIA or MIA. There is no age limit for the dependent. 

• Continued Enrollment Hazlewood Application
• Hazlewood Online Database Registration. The dependent child or spouse must provide a printout of Hazlewood hours used.
• Proof of registration -- fee slip (You must register for classes first; contact businessoffice@wcjc.edu to obtain a fee slip.)
• WCJC Request for Veteran Certification (electronic version) OR Request for VA Certification (print version)

 The WCJC Financial Aid Office accepts documents in the following ways:

• Fax 979-532-6937
• Attached to an email finaid@wcjc.edu.
• Delivered in person at any campus
• Mailed to WCJC Financial Aid Office, 911 Boling Hwy, Wharton, TX 77488

Student's name and WCJC ID number should be on all documents submitted.

In compliance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, section 3679(e) of Title 38, United States Code, Wharton County Junior College conforms to the following policy for “covered individuals,” defined as any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Benefits. 

• Any covered individual may attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to Wharton County Junior College a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
  • 1. The date on which payment from VA is made to Wharton County Junior College.
  • 2. 90 days after the date Wharton County Junior College certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.
• Wharton County Junior College will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to Wharton County Junior College due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

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