Veterans Benefits Office

LBCC's Commitment to Military Connected Students

LBCC supports Spouses and Dependents of Veterans by certifying Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents') through the VA.

LBCC complies with Oregon's ORS 350.285 waiver of tuition for family members of deceased or disabled veterans or children of Purple Heart recipients.

Students must meet qualifying criteria as determined by the State of Oregon including:

• An Oregon Resident at the time of application
• Dependent 23 years old or younger at the time of initial application or Spouse of Veteran rated at 100% Disability through the VA
• Fully admitted student and enrolled in a Certificate program or Associate's Degree
• Student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards
• NOT receiving the marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

Students must provide the following documentation in order to receive the State of Oregon tuition waiver:

• VA Certified death certificate of service member, or
• VA letter stating Veteran's disability rating, or
• Veteran's DD 214 that states receipt of Purple Heart in 2001 or thereafter

Please note the following restrictions mandated by the State of Oregon regarding tuition waivers:

• Tuition waived only for courses that may lead to a degree
• Waiver covers tuition charges but does not cover course fees
• The State of Oregon tuition waiver is a last dollar paid waiver and the amount of the waiver will be reduced by the amount of federal aid scholarships or grants, awards from the Oregon Opportunity Grant program, or any other aid from LBCC received

Tuition Waiver Applications are available on the Veterans Office website.

LBCC's Commitment to Service Members

LBCC complies with the Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), demonstrating that 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 ensures that members of the Armed Forces, including the reserve components and the National Guard, who enroll in a course of education are accommodated during short absences by reason of serving in the Armed Forces in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 3679(g) as amended.

• 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 Industrial Arts Building A, Room IA-232. If you have questions about what is available at LBCC, please contact our Veterans Benefits Specialist.

To Apply for Veterans Educational Benefits Through the VA

• 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 (COE). You will need to submit your (COE) and DD 214 as well as complete LBCC's VA and Military Benefits Entrance form prior to receiving benefits at LBCC.

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 VA and Military Benefits form 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 via the online form, 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.
• Students attending another institution and using VA benefits who want to use these benefits at LBCC must have their parent school provide a Parent School Letter prior to certification of courses.

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 Office.
• Notify and report students on Veterans Academic Probation and Suspension who fall below LBCC Academic Standards.

Transfer of Credit

All Veterans and eligible dependents 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

Air Force transcripts can be requested through the Air University: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/Display/Article/803247/community-college-of-the-air-force-transcripts/

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 Office or the Transcript Office.

Satisfactory Academic Standards and Progress for Veterans Benefits

The law requires that educational assistance benefits for 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.

Any courses receiving a punitive grade due to the student not completing the course must be reported to the VA, which may result in charges due to overpayment of benefits.

Veterans Benefits Warning & 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 in Warning status. Students will be notified by email. This warning does not affect benefits for the next term. Students have the following term to clear the Warning and move back into good standing or drop down into Probation Status. To clear Academic Probation, the student veteran must complete 100% of their enrolled classes with a 2.0 GPA or better.

Suspension of Veteran Benefits

A student Veteran on Academic Probation who does not succeed the following term is placed in Suspension of Veteran Benefits Status 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.