Oct 06, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
  
2024-2025 Catalog

Veteran and Military Benefits


Veteran Students  

Western welcomes veterans and assists them in planning their academic programs and in securing financial aid under the provisions of the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966, the War Orphans Educational Assistance Act of 1956, and the Disabled Veterans Act. 

Military Service Credit

Students who have had military service may be granted credit in physical education (2 hours) in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experiences. These credits may be counted toward the credit requirements for graduation. Appropriate military documentation is required. Western Wyoming Community College may award credit, as the American Council on Education recommends, for formal military service school courses and USAFI courses.

This institution will inquire about each veteran or veteran benefits eligible person’s previous education and training and request transcripts from all prior institutions, including military training, traditional college coursework, and vocational training. Previous transcripts will be evaluated, and credit will be granted as appropriate. The student will be made aware of the final decision.

Servicemembers Opportunity College

Western Wyoming Community College is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges. As a SOC member, we are committed to easing the transfer of relevant course credits, providing flexible academic residency requirements, and crediting learning from appropriate military training and work experiences. SOC cooperates with fifteen national higher education associations, the Department of Defense, and Active and Reserve Components of the military Services.

Veterans’ Benefits

Applications for veterans’ educational assistance should be filed two months before enrollment to avoid any delay in payment. Information and forms can be obtained from Mustang Central at Western Wyoming Community College.  Students must provide the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class. 

By Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Western Wyoming Community College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill ® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from V.A.

G.I. Bill ® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

Western will not prevent student enrollment, assess a late penalty fee, require students to secure alternative or additional funding, or deny access to resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

To qualify for the provisions listed above, such students must produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class, provide a written request to be certified, and provide additional information to certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies properly.

General information on VA Educational Loans, Tutorial Assistance, Group Life Insurance, and home loans or specific questions on any VA program can be answered by contacting the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs at 1-888-442-4551.

Veterans’ Satisfactory Progress Guidelines

All students who are veterans receiving educational benefits at Western Wyoming Community College are required to adhere to satisfactory progress guidelines.

  1. Students receiving Chapters 30, 1606, and 1607 must verify their enrollment monthly by Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by Interactive Voice Response (IVR). The monthly enrollment verification has not been added for Chapter 33 and Chapter 35, with one exception. Chapter 35 NCD students are mailed a monthly verification form (VA Form 22-8979). WAVE allows students to verify their enrollment on the internet. WAVE is on the Education Service website at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do.
  2. They must advise the VA Representative in Mustang Central of any course changes (drops/adds) within ten days of the changes. Failure to provide certification of the VA enrollment form or not advising the VA Representative of course changes could result in non-certification of a student’s courses with the Veterans’ Administration.

Mustang Central will maintain appropriate veteran files, which will include progress and attendance records. Veterans will be informed of their responsibilities during registration about the standards of progress guidelines.

Military Tuition Assistance

Western Wyoming Community College ensures eligible Service Members receive approval from the Educational Services Office (ESO) military counselor or Service within the Military Service before enrolling.

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student, assuming that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the total amount of TA funds initially awarded.

To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, Western Wyoming Community College will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through at least 60% of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during enrollment, with unearned funds returned based on when a student stops attending. These funds are returned to the Military Service branch.

When a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the educational institution will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

Schedule for returning unearned Military Tuition Assistance (TA) to the government:

16-week Course Withdraw submitted
Before or during weeks 1-2               100% return
During weeks 3-4 75% return
During weeks 5-8 50% return
During weeks 9 40% return (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 10-16 0% return
8-week Course Withdraw submitted
Before or during week 1                    100% return
During week 2  75% return
During weeks 3-4 50% return
During week 5 40% return (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 6-8 0% return
8-week Online classes
  • 100% of Tuition Assistance (TA) received will be returned if the student withdraws within the first week of class but before submission of the first assignment. The student’s request will be processed as a drop to return TA funds only, not for Financial Aid attendance or recalculating of aid.
  • 75% of the TA received will be returned if the student withdraws after submitting the first assignment and through the end of the second week of classes.
  • 50% of the TA received will be returned if the student withdraws after the second week of classes but before the end of the fourth week.
  • 25% of the TA received will be returned if the student withdraws after the fourth week of classes but before the end of the sixth week of classes. (60% of course is completed)
  • No TA received will be returned if the student withdraws after the sixth week of classes.