Veteran's Education Benefits Information

Cañada College is committed to assisting Veterans, their dependents, and reservists in obtaining their VA educational benefits and in achieving their educational and career goals.

Cañada College is approved by the State Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to certify veterans, dependents of deceased veterans, veterans that have a 100% service-connected disability and reservists as students. Once certified, veterans are able to apply for and use their educational benefits. 

Cañada College is approved to offer programs that lead to a certificate, an associate degree and a transfer to a four-year institution.

Federal VA Department Educational Assistance Programs

To receive VA Educational Benefits you must complete the following two steps:

1. Apply for VA benefits from the VA Department
2. Apply and enroll at Cañada College

Step 1 - Apply for VA Education Benefits

Veterans under Chapter 30, 31, 1606 and1067 can apply for benefits online at: www.gibill.va.gov:

The signature page, a copy of your DD-214 and your Notice of basic Eligibility (NOBE) DD-2384 if Chapter 1606 must be submitted to the VA Department to complete the VA application process.

Dependents of Veterans under Chapter 35, need to complete the paper application form #22-5490.  Mail the completed form directly to the VA Department.

For more information and eligibility requirements go to: http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH35/CH35_Pamphlet_General.htm

VA Forms

Complete Online	Form Number	Title of Form	Who Needs It?
	22-1990	Application for VA Education Benefits	• Chapter 30, 1607, or 1606 • Never collected benefits
	22-1995	Request For Change of Program or Place of Training	• Chapter 30, 1607, or 1606 • Collected benefits before • Educational Objective changes
	22-5490	Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance	• Chapter 35 • Never collected benefits
	22-5495	Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance	• Chapter 35 • Collected benefits before • Educational Objective changes

Step 2 - Apply and Enroll at Cañada College

• Submit College application
• Submit  the following documents to the Veteran’s Office (Building 9 room 121)
  • Form DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or DD-2384 for Chapter 1606
  • Transcripts
  • All official transcripts of prior college work and military schools must be submitted as soon as possible. Certification for benefits may be delayed if transcripts have not been received
  • Certificate of eligibility from VA Department
• Placement Testing/Orientation
• Make an appointment with the VA counselor at Cañada College to complete an Education plan. To make an appointment call (650) 306-3452.
• Register for courses via WebSMART 

Military Service Credit

For academic credit purposes, a veteran is defined as an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces who was on active duty for one year or longer. Upon presentation of separation or discharge papers, veterans will receive 6 units of academic credit that will be used to satisfy the Health Science and Physical Education requirements for the AA/AS degree.  Units which cannot be applied in this manner will be considered as elective units.

Certification for Payment of Benefits

To receive benefits, you must:

• Complete an Educational Plan with the VA counselor at Cañada College
• Register at Cañada College
• VA Office at Cañada College must complete the enrollment certification through the VA

Student’s benefit will be based on the number of units completed at the end of each term. 

Semester Unit Load

Full-time	12 or more units	Full benefit
3/4 time	9 to 11.5 units	3/4 benefit
1/2 time	6 to 8.5 units	1/2 benefit
1/4 time	3 to 5.5 units**	1/4 benefit

Keep in mind that the Summer Semester unit value is different than the Fall and Spring terms. For the Summer session, 6 units is considered full-time.  .

Important Notes:

1. Classes will be certified for VA educational benefits under the following conditions:
   
   1. Course is required for the student’s declared educational goal/major
   2. Course is listed on the student’s education plan and is approved by the counselor
2. If the educational goal changes, the student must complete a new education plan and VA form # 22-1995 for veterans or form # 22-5495 for dependents.
3. Veteran Students must notify the VA Office at Cañada College if they make any changes to their program.
4. Eligible veterans have 10 years from the date of separation from active duty to use their educational benefits.
5. Financial aid is available for eligible students.  All veteran students are encouraged to apply for financial aid by filing the FAFSA.  Please contact the Cañada College Financial Aid Office for assistance and additional information.

Liability

Veteran students have complete liability for any overpayments of educational benefits. The payment of educational benefits is determined by the number of units in which the student is enrolled.  Students must notify the VA within a few days of any increase or decrease in the number of units in which they are enrolled.   

Students may be required to reimburse the VA for money received for a final grade of F, No Credit (NC) or a Withdrawal (W) unless there are mitigating circumstances.  Chapter 30 (Active Duty) and Chapter 1606 (Selected Reserve) must verify enrollment with the VA on the last day of each month.

According to VA policy; students receiving VA educational benefits (veterans, reservists and dependents) must maintain satisfactory academic progress, a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and a 51% completion rate. Students, who are receiving VA benefits and have a GPA below a 2.0, will be placed on academic probation. If unsatisfactory progress continues for two consecutive semesters, the student’s benefit will be suspended until the GPA reaches 2.0 or higher.

Cañada College Contact Information:

Cañada College Contact Information

Edith Flores VA Certification Official Building 9-122 (650) 306-3492 flores@smccd.edu
Ruth Miller Assistant Registrar Building 9-121A miller@smccd.edu
Byron Ramey Counselor Building 9-140 To make an appointment: (650) 306-3452 rameyb@smccd.edu

VA Department Contact Information:

Department of Veterans Affairs
1-888-442-4551
http://www.gibill.va.gov/

VA Regional Office
P.O. Box 8888
Muskogee, OK 74402
(800) 827-1000
www.va.gov

California Department of Veterans Affairs
1227 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(800) 952-5626
www.cdva.ca.gov

VA Regional Office - Oakland
(12 floor, North Tower, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612)
1-800-827-1000

National Personnel Records Center
To obtain copies of your military records (DD-214)
www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html or www.archives.gov/

Information for Servicepersons
Veterans & Dependents:         www.military.com

Order Military Transcripts:
SMART, Navy & Marine Corps transcripts    https://smart.navy.mil
AARTS, Army https://aartstranscript.army.mil
CCAF, Community College of the Air Force http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/
CGI, Coast Guard Institute     http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/

Additional Links

VA Palo Alto Health Care System
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Seamless Transition Home
Request Copies of Military Personnel Records
Disabled American Veterans
U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
California Department of Rehabilitation
California Directory of Veteran Services
California Employment Development Department Veterans Programs & Services

Veterans Helping Veterans The Veterans Employment Committee of San Mateo County, California, produces this series of videos of interest to veterans of the armed forces of the United States.