Veterans' Educational Benefits

BMCC’s certifying official for veterans’ affairs is located in the Office of Student Financial Assistance Office in Morrow Hall on the Pendleton campus.

General Information about Applying:In order to receive Veterans Administration (VA) educational benefits veterans must:

  • Take the BMCC placement test to determine proper course placement before enrollment
  • Be assigned an academic advisor
  • Be pursuing a BMCC degree or certificate
If you qualify as a veteran or as a survivor or dependent of a veteran, you must follow the appropriate procedure outlined below in order to begin receiving educational benefits.
 
(Chapter 30)—Discharged from Active Duty
Apply for education benefits (Form 1990) online at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
 
Once you have completed the online application, you must provide the office with all of the following completed documents:
  • Copy of your DD-214
  • BMCC enrollment certification information form
  • BMCC veteran’s student rights and responsibilities form
(Chapter 1606)—Reserves
Apply for education benefits (Form 1990) online at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
 
Once you have completed the online application, you must provide the office with all of the following completed documents:
  • Copy of the Veteran’s Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE)
  • BMCC enrollment certification information form
  • BMCC veteran’s student rights and responsibilities form
(Chapter 35)—Dependents’ Education Assistance
Survivors and dependents education benefits (Form 5490) online at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
 
Once you have completed the online application, you must provide the office with all of the following completed documents:
  • BMCC enrollment certification information form (to include the VA file number of the veteran)
  • BMCC veteran’s student rights and responsibilities form 
The BMCC enrollment certification information and BMCC veteran’s student rights and responsibilities forms can be found on the Financial Assistance page of BMCC’s Website.
 
Note: other documentation may be required depending on the VA chapter. The veterans’ clerk may certify a veteran’s enrollment for up to one academic year. A new enrollment certification form must be completed each year. Contact the veterans’ clerk at 541-278-5790 or email finaid@bluecc.edu for more information.
 
Send completed information to the veterans’ clerk at BMCC, P.O. Box 100, 2411 NW Carden, Pendleton, OR 97801. Please allow two to three weeks for processing and certification of your enrollment to the VA. Upon receipt of the certification, the VA may take additional time to process your payments. Typically, students are paid monthly for the prior month’s enrollment. For example, you will receive payment in the month of October for September class days, and in November you will receive payment for October. Tuition will be due before you receive your first VA payment. If you are unable to pay your tuition in full by the due date, you may set up a tuition installment plan with the BMCC Business Office on or before the due date. If you cannot make any payments, late fees will be added to the cost of your tuition if you do not drop the courses by the specified date. Tuition due dates are posted on our Website, in the student handbook, and at various locations at the Pendleton campus and the college locations.
 
Additional Information About Veterans’ Benefits:
The following rules apply to non-punitive grades. Benefits will not be paid for a grade of audit (AU). If a grade of incomplete (INC) is given, the veteran has one year from that date to complete the class and receive a letter grade.
 
Program Changes: If you will be changing your degree program you must contact the veterans’ clerk immediately and complete a Change of Program form. The veteran’s clerk will submit the change to the VA.
 
Transfer Students: Students must provide official grade transcripts from allcolleges or postsecondary schools previously attended. Transcripts should be sent to: Blue Mountain Community College, Office of Enrollment Management, P.O. Box 100, 2411 NW Carden, Pendleton, OR 97801.
 
It is the responsibility of the veteran to request a transcript evaluation from the Office of the Registrar at the Pendleton campus. In addition, a Change of Program form must be completed and returned to the veterans’ clerk. The veterans’ clerk will forward all changes to the VA. The veterans’ clerk may certify up to one term in a pending status while awaiting completion of the transcript evaluation. If the evaluation has not been completed by the end of that term, the veterans’ clerk will make no further certification until he/she has received the completed evaluation.
 
Advance Pay Request: Veterans who need financial aid to begin classes may request advance pay for the first term. Requests must be made four to six weeks before the beginning of the term. With advance pay, veterans are paid for the first two months of the term; however, the VA pays based on the number of days that the veteran was enrolled for a given month. For example, if fall term begins the last week of September, the advance paycheck would be for part of September and all of October. The advance check is sent directly to the BMCC Business Office.
 
Certification Periods: The VA clerk will certify enrollment based on BMCC’s official academic calendar. Some courses vary in length. The VA clerk will certify enrollment according to each course’s beginning and ending dates, which may affect the rate of pay. If you have questions, please contact the VA clerk.
 
Pay Table: Rates of pay depend on the veteran’s chapter and his or her enrollment level. BMCC will inform the VA of any changes during the term, which may result in adjustments to the monthly allowance. It is the veteran’s responsibility to report any changes to the veterans’ clerk.
Pay rates are updated each year, usually in October. Veterans may be eligible for additional tuition assistance, or “kickers.” The VA can provide information regarding eligibility. Additional information and the current pay table are available at www.gibill.va.gov or at the Veterans Administration by calling 1-888-442-4551.
 
Other Assistance to Veterans:
In addition to certifying standard veterans’ benefits, BMCC offers the following benefits to veterans and their spouses:
 
Returning Veterans Enrollment Incentive: This benefit is available to any member of the armed services currently on active duty or honorably discharged within the last eighteen months. Veterans who qualify will have the first year of tuition for credited classes discounted by fifty percent. This benefit does not cover books, supplies, and fees, unless they are funded by the Montgomery GI Bill or tuition assistance.
 
Tuition Waiver for Spouses of Deployed Military Personnel: This benefit pertains to military spouses and dependents of military personnel deployed with units of Army/Air National Guard and other military services. Applicants need to provide orders or other verification from the branch of service of eligibility to BMCC’s veterans’ clerk. The Oregon State Military Education Department can assist in the process of verifying deployment orders and dependency issues. Qualifying students are charged tuition of 50% for each credit up to 12 credits, with a minimum class load of 6 credits. For any credits taken above 12, the student pays full tuition. Credit will not apply to non-credit classes.
 
For additional information, please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at 541-278-5790 or by email at finaid@bluecc.edu.
 
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