Veterans Education Assistance
Vernon College recognizes the significant value that service members and veterans bring to our college. We believe it is important that they receive the best possible educational experience. We are committed to the practices set forth in the Principles of Excellence and The 8 Keys to Veterans’ Success.
Principles of Excellence
• Provide students with a personalized Financial Aid Shopping Sheet covering the total cost of an education program.
• Inform students who are eligible to receive Veterans education benefits of the availability and potential eligibility of Federal financial aid before packaging or arranging private student loans or alternative financing programs.
• Avoid fraudulent and unduly aggressive recruiting techniques as well a misrepresentations, payment of incentive compensation, and failure to meet State authorization requirements.
• Obtain the approval of the institution’s accrediting agency for new courses or program offerings prior to enrolling students.
• Accommodate service members and reservists to be readmitted to a program if they are temporarily unable to attend class or have to suspend their studies due to service requirements.
• Align institutional refund policies with those under Title IV, which governs the administration of Federal student financial aid programs.
• Provide educational plans for all military and Veteran education beneficiaries.
• Designate a point of contact to provide academic and financial advising.
The 8 Keys to Veterans’ Success
1. Create a culture of trust and connectedness across the campus community to promote well-being and success for veterans.
2. Ensure consistent and sustained support for veterans from campus leadership.
3. Implement an early alert system to ensure all veterans receive academic, career, and financial advice before challenges become overwhelming.
4. Coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans, together with the creation of a designated space (even if limited in size).
5. Collaborate with local communities and organizations, including government agencies, to align and coordinate various services for veterans.
6. Utilize a uniform set of data tools to collect and track information on veterans, including demographics, retention and degree completion.
7. Provide comprehensive professional development for faculty and staff on issues and challenges unique to veterans.
8. Develop systems that ensure sustainability of effective practices for veterans.
Vernon College is an approved training institution for VA education benefits.
The Veterans Services Office at Vernon College assists eligible service persons, veterans and their dependents in obtaining assistance and information on educational benefits while attending our institution.
The programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs include:
- Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI® Bill Active Duty Educational Assistance Program
- Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation Program
- Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill®
- Chapter 35 - Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program
- Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill® for Selected Reserve
Information on education benefits for veterans and dependents is available on the Vernon College Veterans Services website at www.vernoncollege.edu, including links to the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Texas Veterans Commission. Applications should be submitted directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs, preferably electronically.
Additional Information regarding the use of VA benefits at Vernon College is available in the Vernon College Handbook for Veterans. This document is available on the Vernon College website as well.
Hazlewood Benefits
The exemptions under the Hazlewood programs are available to students who are attending public colleges and universities in the State of Texas. Information is available at www.tvc.texas.gov/Hazlewood-Act.aspx as well as from the Vernon College Veterans Services webpage at www.vernoncollege.edu
The Hazlewood Exemption provides education benefits to honorably discharged or separated Texas veterans and to eligible dependent children and spouses of certain deceased/disabled Texas veterans. The Hazlewood Legacy Act allows eligible veterans to assign their unused Hazlewood benefits to their child (only one child at a time may use these benefits).
In order to receive any benefits under any of the Hazlewood programs, the student must complete the appropriate form each semester. These are available on the web site mentioned above. The student must also create a Hazlewood login at the referenced web site and submit a current printout of their record of usage from that web site each semester. Additional documents may be required, including DD214’s, residency documentation, etc. The required Hazlewood paperwork must be submitted as a complete packet prior to the last date of the semester. Incomplete packets will not be accepted. Information on Hazlewood benefits and a checklist of required documentation is available at the Vernon College Veterans Services Office web page.
Eligible students must be meeting the minimum GPA requirements as defined by the Financial Aid policy.