VETERAN AFFAIRS OFFICE

VA Coordinator:
Glenda España
Office of the Registrar
Kennesaw Hall

Fax:     770-423-6541
Phone:  770-423-6200
Email: gespana@kennesaw.edu

Kennesaw State University is approved by the State of Georgia as a training facility for veterans applying for VA Educational Benefits. 

The following VA Benefit programs are in place at KSU:

• Montgomery GI Bill/Chapter 30: (active duty or veteran status) must have served in the United States Armed Forces and participated in the GI Bill program.  In most instances, veterans must also have been honorably discharged.
• Montgomery GI Bill/Chapter 1606: (selected guard and reserves) must have completed all initial entry training (IET) and are now assigned to a Reserve and/or a Georgia National Guard Unit. 
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation/Chapter 31: (service-connected disabled veterans) must make application with local VA caseworker to have rehabilitation plan developed indicating a KSU degree plan.
• REAP/Chapter 1607: (reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001).
• Survivors and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program/ Chapter 35 (dependents and spouses of 100% disabled or deceased Veterans).

Specific information on each chapter can be found on the Veteran’s website: www.gibill.va.gov.

The Office of Veterans Affairs is available to assist and provide service to veteran-students in the following areas:

• Processing applications for VA Educational Benefits
• Counseling on VA Educational Benefits
• Certification of Enrollment

Getting started:
After applying for admission to the university, students should contact the VA Coordinator to begin the process of applying for VA benefits.  The following documents should be presented to the VA Coordinator when making application for VA benefits:

• NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility) for the Select Reserves and Georgia National Guards
• DD Form 214
  
• Kicker/Buy Up documentation
  
• College Fund documentation

University Charges:
Students are responsible for paying all university bills.  KSU and the VA do not have an agreement to process tuition/fee waivers; therefore failure of the VA to pay students in a timely manner does not eliminate or delay student’s financial responsibility to the university.  It normally takes the Atlanta VA processing center 6-8 weeks to process new educational claims, so please plan accordingly.

Advance Pay:
KSU Office of Veteran Affairs process VA Advance Pay.  To receive advanced pay, a veteran must have been out at least the previous semester.  The application for advanced pay is to be submitted at least 30 days before the semester begins.

Veteran Students’ Responsibilities:
Veteran students at KSU have ongoing responsibilities to the VA.  The KSU VA Coordinator closely monitors each student’s enrollment status and academic program.  The student’s entitlement is based upon the number of credit hours for which they are enrolled.  Current pay rates can be viewed at:
www.gibill.va.gov.

In assisting the VA Coordinator, veteran students must do the following:

Notify the VA Coordinator if you:
            a. change degree program
            b. change address
            c. are out more than three semesters
            d. when a veteran does not want a semester certified

Chapter 30, 1606, and 1607 Monthly Verification
All students who are receiving Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 benefits must verify their monthly enrollment on the last day of each month or after.  The benefit (monetary award) will not be released by the VA until this is done.  Enrollment verification can be accomplished by using the VA toll-free telephone number 1-877-823-2378 or the WAVE feature found on the VA website www.gibill.va.gov .