Veterans Programs & Connections

With Kish

To give Kishwaukee College authorization to certify your benefits, you must fill out the Kishwaukee College Veterans Enrollment Certification Request Form  and return to the Financial Aid Office each semester you are enrolled and want to use benefits. This form must be sent via your Kish email, with a photo ID, when emailed. This is to protect the privacy and benefits of our students using veterans' benefits.

WITH THE VA

Access to United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and services depends on your eligibility. Eligibility is determined using different factors contingent on the benefit. For complete information, read Getting Started with the VA (Education, Employment, Health Care, and other benefits).

• Instructions on verifying with the VA
• VA Wave website
• VA Wave by phone: 1-877-823-2378
• Check your benefits at EBenefits.va.gov

Federal Veterans Benefits

VA Education Benefits Comparison Tool/Payment Rates

• Chapter 33 — Post 9/11 GI Bill®
• Chapter 33 — Post 9/11 GI Bill® (transfer to a dependent/spouse)
• Chapter 30 — Montgomery GI Bill®- Active Duty
• Chapter 31 — VR&E Veteran Readiness and Employment Service
• Chapter 35 — Survivor's and Dependent's Educational Assistance
• Chapter 1606 — Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve
• Fry Scholarship

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available on the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

State Veterans Benefits

• Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)
• Illinois National Guard Grant (ING)
• MIA/POW Scholarship

Military Tuition Assistance

Tuition assistance is available to qualified individuals through the U.S. Department of Defense. Rules may vary by branch and depend on whether the unit is active, Reserve or National Guard. Service members can use Federal VA benefits in combination with tuition assistance. Contact your Educational Services Officer (ESO) or Education office within your unit for approval before enrolling at Kishwaukee College. For additional information, please visit your branch's benefits page below.

• Army
• Marines
• Navy
• Air Force
• Coast Guard

Kishwaukee College VA Academic Requirements

Students using VA benefits must meet certain academic requirements to continue using their benefits each semester. Please review the above link for more information.

VA Withdrawal Policy

If you do not plan to attend the courses you register for, you must officially withdraw from those courses. To withdraw from your courses, please visit the Student Services Office (C2100) and complete a withdrawal form. Once you have withdrawn, please update your VA Certification Request Form with the Financial Aid Office.

**All withdrawals are reported to the VA for students using Federal VA Benefits. Depending on the time frame of your  withdrawal, you could owe money back to the VA. If you have withdrawn from courses and you feel you have extenuating circumstances, please stop by the Financial Aid Office. The VA will take this into consideration when they adjust your payment and process your withdrawal. This may prevent you from owing an overpayment to the VA for your federal benefits.

VA Pending Payment Compliance Policy

Kishwaukee College will not take any of the following actions towards any student using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch33) or Veteran Readiness and Employment Service (Ch. 31) benefits, while the payment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is pending to the educational institution:

• Prevent their enrollment
• Assess a late penalty fee to
• Require they secure alternative or additional funding
• Deny their access to any resources (classes, libraries or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution

In order to qualify for this provision, students must:

• Produce the VA’s Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class
• Provide written request to be certified
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies (see our VA School Certifying Official for all requirements)

Policy for individuals who are called up for Active Duty

If an individual using VA benefits gets called to active duty, they must contact their instructors and the Financial Aid Office before leaving for duty. For more information, see the above link to our handbook.

• Financial Aid Policies and Procedures
• Student Code of Conduct
• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
• Students Right to Know/Consumer Information

Readmissions Policy

A returning student will be permitted to re-enroll in the next semester scheduled in the same academic program unless the student requests a later date of re-enrollment or agrees to a different program.

A returning student will be readmitted into the same academic program the student was enrolled in prior to the military service or the student requests admission to a different program. If the college determines that a returning student is not prepared to resume the program or is unable to complete the program, the university must make reasonable efforts to enable the student to resume or complete the program at no additional cost to the student. If such efforts are unsuccessful or place an undue hardship on the college, the college is not required to readmit the student.

In accordance with federal regulations, returning students who receive a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) are not eligible to participate in the DoD TA or VA benefits under this policy. However, service members who receive dishonorable or bad conduct discharge may remain eligible for readmission even though they will not be entitled to the benefits outlined in this policy.

Recruiting Policy

Kishwaukee College prohibits the use of commissions, bonuses or other incentive payment programs to any employees or contractors for the purpose of securing enrollments.

Kishwaukee College prohibits the practice of high-pressure recruitment tactics for the purpose of securing enrollments. These practices include, but are not limited to, making unsolicited contacts (three or more), including contacts by phone, email or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for purposes of securing enrollments.

VA Resources

General Resources

• Department of Veteran Affairs
• Student Veterans of America
• Military.com
• The American Legion
• VFW

LOCAL AND STATE RESOURCEs

• DeKalb County VA Commission
• Ogle County VA Commission
• Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs
• AmVets Illinois
• Illinois Joining Forces

GI BILL® RESOURCES

• GI Bill® Ask a Question, about your eligibility, payments, and more.
• Veteran Hotline 1-888-442-4551

VARIOUS ASSISTANCE RESOURCES

• Service members Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
• Vet Center
• VeteranAid.org
• Military One Source
• National Resource Directory

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

• VA Community Clinic Directory
• VA Caregiver Support
• National Center for PTSD
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
• Military Health System Website

Resources for College

• Folds of Honor
• The American Legion Scholarships
• Veterans & Military Family Scholarship
• National Military Family Association
• Scholarship Foundation of Fisher House Program
• Tillman Foundation Scholarship
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• College Scorecard
• College Navigator
• CFPB — Paying for College

Career Resources

• VA Careers
• Feds Hire Vets
• USA Jobs
• GI Jobs.com
• ACP Veteran Mentoring Program