Veterans Benefits Office

LBCC's Commitment to Service Members

• LBCC complies with the Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding. We have signed on, in compliance with a Department of Defense (DoD) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to show we follow DoD guidelines. What that means:
  • LBCC maintains accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and complies with Federal and State regulations
  • LBCC has established the Veterans Benefits Office, which can provide students with information and refer students to services:
    • Information about our programs and access to professionals to help with course planning
    • Information about cost and funding options, including access to Financial Aid professionals who can assist students in learning about federal or private options
    • LBCC discloses its Cohort Default Rate
• LBCC has a readmission policy that allows Service members to readmit to the college in the same status they left if the reason for leaving was because they were called to active duty in accordance with 34 CFR 668.18.
• LBCC does not practice aggressive recruiting of any students, including Service members or Veterans.
• LBCC does not incentivize any employee based on enrolling students in school or receiving federal aid.
• LBCC is honored to welcome Service Members and Veterans and provides these services in addition to a Veterans Resource Center located on the Albany Campus in the Forum, Room F-109. If you have questions about what is available at LBCC, please contact our Veterans Benefits Specialist.

To Apply for Veterans Educational Benefits

• Submit an online application at: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
• The online application process will walk students through a series of questions to help determine eligibility.
• It may take between 3-4 weeks for the VA to process an application.
• You will receive either an approval or denial letter from the VA. The VA makes the determination about your percentage of entitlement and length of time.
• If approved, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility. Complete the VA and Military Benefits form and upload your Certificate of Eligibility through the process.

Student Responsibilities

• Complete the admission process for LBCC.
• Bring your VA Certificate of Eligibility and DD 214 to the LBCC Veterans Benefits Office to begin receiving benefits.
• Complete and submit the LBCC Veterans Benefits Office entrance forms to get your file started. Forms are available online or at the LBCC Veterans Benefits Office.
• Submit all transcripts from previous schools and military service.
• Any Veteran receiving GI Bill® benefits while attending LBCC is required to obtain official transcripts from all previously attended schools and submit them to the school for review of prior credit.
• Submit the Enrollment Verification Form every term. This form lists the classes the student is claiming for Educational Benefits. This form can be submitted by email or in person at the LBCC Veterans Benefits Office as soon as the student is registered for classes.
• A new form should be submitted if there are any changes to the student’s schedule.
• Student’s must be in a VA Approved degree program and must match what they have declared with the college. A ‘Change of Place or Program’ form must be submitted to the LBCC Veterans Benefits Office if the student changes majors.

LBCC Veterans Office Responsibilities

• Verify that the classes the student is enrolled in apply to the completion of their declared degree program.
• Submit the student’s enrollment certification to the VA.
• Notify the student when the classes they are enrolled in are ineligible to be certified.
• Report dropped classes and failing grades to the VA.
• Follow the Satisfactory Academic Policy standards established by LBCC Veterans Benefits Office.
• Notify and report students on Veterans Academic Probation and Suspension who fall below LBCC Academic Standards.

Transfer of Credit

All Veterans and dependants receiving GI Bill® benefits while attending Linn-Benton Community College are required to obtain transcripts from all previously attended schools and submit them to the LBCC Admissions Office for review of prior credit, including military transcripts.

Credit for Military Service and Education

Military Transcripts for Army, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard can be requested through the JST System. The Joint Services Transcript (JST) site allows Veterans to access their military transcripts and have them electronically sent to the school of their choice. 

JST Transcripts can be requested at: jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do

Air Force transcripts can be requested through the Air University: www.au.af.mil/au/barnes/ccaf/transcripts.asp.

Veterans will be awarded three PE 185 Activity credits for submitting their military transcripts or their DD-214 Member-4 form with Character of Service.

Military transcripts or DD-214 copies can be submitted to either the LBCC Veterans Benefits Office or the Transcript Office.

Satisfactory Academic Standards and Progress

The law requires that educational assistance benefits to Veterans and other eligible persons be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory progress toward completion of their training objective.

The Veterans Benefits Office will evaluate the student’s classes each term to verify they apply toward the completion of the student’s declared program. Any classes that do not qualify toward the completion of a degree will not be certified with the VA and will be the student’s responsibility to cover those tuition expenses.

Veterans Academic Probation

At the end of each term, the student Veteran’s grades will be evaluated. Those students who fall below a 2.0 GPA or the 70% completion rate will be placed on Academic Probation. Students will be notified by email. This is a warning and does not affect their benefits for the next term. They have the following term to clear the probation and move back into good standing or drop down into Academic Suspension. To clear Academic Probation, the student veteran must complete 100% of their enrolled classes with a 2.0 GPA or better.

Veterans Academic Suspension

A student Veteran on Academic Probation who does not succeed the following term is placed in Academic Suspension and will be notified by email. Veterans have the option to complete the appeal process but they will not be certified to receive benefits until it is approved. If the appeal is not approved or the student has already received an appeal before, they will need to complete a term on their own. After a successful term without benefits, they may request an evaluation to be reinstated.