Rowan College at Burlington County is approved under Title 38, U.S. Code, for veterans' education.
The college is a designated Servicemembers Opportunity College.
Military Education and Veteran Services
The Military Education and Veteran Services Office serves as the focal point of contact for student veterans. The office offers assistance to military affiliated students attending RCBC (Active, Guard and Reserve, Veteran, and military dependents). While primary emphasis is placed on education, information and assistance is provided to students and community residents for veteran, military and military dependent state and federal educational benefits. The staff is sensitive to the needs of veterans and their families. RCBC strives to assure each a successful academic experience.
Application for Benefits
Veterans must be enrolled in a degree-seeking or career training program to be eligible for benefits. First-time RCBC students who believe they are eligible for veterans’ educational assistance should apply for benefits at the Military Education and Veteran Services Department. Veterans must submit proper documentation with their application.
It may take approximately six to ten weeks to receive the first payment following submission of the application package
and certification of enrollment.
Change in Status
It is essential that every person using Veteran Education benefits contact the Military Education and Veteran Services Department each semester to report their registration, and to make sure they have been certified for that semester. Veterans must also report any course changes during the semester to keep their file updated and to avoid any unnecessary conflict in their pay status.
Veteran Affairs Work-Study Program
Veteran students can participate in the VA work study program. The work-study veterans add an important personal touch to the services provided by the Military Education and Veteran Services Department. These student veterans assist new applicants in the initial process of enrolling in the college and applying for educational benefits, as well as performing Veterans’ Office duties. Student veterans are paid with funds provided by the VA work-study program. This program enables them to supplement their income while providing a valuable service to fellow veterans.
Disabled Veterans – Chapter 31
Any veteran with a disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs of 10% or more is entitled to apply for Vocational Rehabilitation. Voc Rehab provides payment of tuition, fees, books, and required supplies along with a monthly subsistence allowance. Those veterans who believe they are eligible for Chapter 31 benefits should contact the Military Education and Veteran Services Department for more information.
General Information
Information is available from the Military Education and Veteran Services Department. The number is (856) 222-9311, ext. 1299.
Veteran Absenteeism
Excessive absenteeism can result in benefits being decreased or terminated. The Military Education and Veteran Services Department is kept informed of attendance records and will take appropriate action to prevent overpayments by VA. Reported changes sent to VA are based on the student veteran’s date of last attendance.
According to VA, the date of last attendance is defined as one of the following:
1. Date officially withdrawn. A drop/add form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
2. Date that the veteran failed to demonstrate satisfactory progress, as defined by the institution’s Standards of Academic Progress.
3. Definite date of last attendance from instructor’s records.
4. For classes where attendance is not mandatory, the date is determined from the last activity date reflected in the instructor’s records; either the last paper submitted or the last examination completed.
VA does not pay for non-punitive grades such as auditing of a course (AU), or for courses that will not fulfill criteria for graduation in the chosen major. If student veterans anticipate being absent from classes, they should notify their instructors and VA certifying official to discuss the situation with them, which may prevent an excessive absence report.
Note: Coordinate with the instructor and Military Education and Veteran Services if unique military circumstances are preventing you from completing the course. Your instructor may approve an “Incomplete” grade. An “I” is a better option than a failing grade resulting in paying back Tuition Assistance and having to retake the course.
In-County Tuition for Military, Veterans and their Eligible Dependents
Military members, veterans and their dependent family members are eligible to receive in-county tuition regardless of their residence. Members and dependents will be asked to substantiate their military affiliation and dependent status.
Spouses and domestic partners of active duty and activated Guard and Reserve members are eligible for a tuition scholarship. Spouses must follow the RCBC process to receive benefits including mandatory completion of FAFSA and RCBC Scholarship application as well as providing proof of eligibility, and comply with registration deadlines. Registration timelines are limited, and the most current information is available on the website: rcbc.edu/vets.
The Military Spouse Tuition Waiver Program
The Military Spouse Tuition Waiver Program is available to spouses of Active Duty military members who have completed their Federal Financial Aid Application (FAFSA) in its entirety, and received a final status notification. Any necessary appeals or other requirements as determined by Financial Aid must also be completed. If a student is ineligible for grants, tuition will be waived and the student is eligible to register for any open course (excluding culinary) four days prior to the start of every term.
Deployment During a Class
If you receive Military Orders and you have completed more than half of any course, you may be entitled to receive a grade for the completed work. Please discuss the situation with the instructor and coordinate with the Office of Military Education & Veteran Services to determine eligibility. Orders must be provided.
Benefits for Members of the Selected Reserve – Chapter 1606
Effective July 1, 1985, members of the selected reserve of the U.S. Armed Forces may be eligible for Chapter 1606 educational assistance. The Unit Commander will provide a “Notice of Basic Eligibility” (NOBE). Veterans must bring this NOBE in and fill out an application for GI Bill benefits online at gibill.VA.gov. These will be submitted to the DVA with a certification of enrollment at RCBC. Veterans are entitled to 36 months of training under Chapter 1606, and it must used within ten years of the date of eligibility on the NOBE.
Dependents of Military Personnel and Veterans – Chapter 35
Children and spouses of veterans who died or are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability are eligible for benefits under Chapter 35 of the Montgomery GI Bill.
Children must be between 18 and 26 years of age. Spouses must use the benefit within ten years of becoming eligible.
New Jersey Educational Benefits Veterans Tuition Credit Program
New Jersey offers a stipend to certain veterans who are or were eligible for GI Bill benefits, who served on active duty between December 31, 1960 and May 7, 1975, and who were legal residents of New Jersey at the time of induction, the time of discharge, or for one year prior to application for this benefit.
National Guard Tuition-Free Program
Available to members of the New Jersey National Guard, use of this program requires the student to produce a Commanders Certificate each semester, and file for all available state and federal financial aid for each academic year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA application can be completed online at fafsa.ed.gov.
Post 9/11 – Chapter 33
Eligibility is for individuals with at least
90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001 or individuals discharged with a service connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the post-9/11. The post-9/11 will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. Qualifying active duty includes:
• full-time duty in the armed forces, other than active duty for training;
• a call order to active duty under Title 10.
For more information please contact the Military Education and Veteran Services Department at (856) 222-9311, ext. 1299, email vets@rcbc.edu or visit rcbc.edu/vets for the most current information.
VetCenter Outreach for Veteran Counseling
RCBC recognizes the unique experiences of military personnel, and their family members and works with the Trenton Vet Center to conduct on-sight counseling for eligible veterans and their family members. The counselor may be reached through the RCBC website (rcbc.edu/vets) or contact the Military Education and Veteran Services Department for the next campus visit. Services are offered free of charge and are completely confidential.
Air Force GEM (General Education Mobile)
RCBC is one of the first colleges to support the GEM (General Education Mobile) program and consistently offers one or more of the core courses online in every general education area required for all CCAF degrees. Many courses are also offered in seven-week military terms on Joint Base MDL in addition to our extensive online offerings that meet all GEM requirements. Please visit rcbc.edu/gem for specific course offerings and enrollment information.
Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC)
Rowan College at Burlington County has been designated as an institutional member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a group of over 400 colleges and universities providing voluntary postsecondary education to members of the military throughout the world. As an SOC member, Rowan College at Burlington County recognizes the unique nature of the military lifestyle and has committed itself to easing the transfer of relevant course credits, providing flexible academic residency requirements and crediting learning from appropriate military training and experiences. SOC has been developed jointly by educational representatives of each of the Armed Services, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and a consortium of 13 leading national higher education associations. It is sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).