VA Educational Benefits
To establish eligibility for Veteran Affairs Educational benefits, students must submit an Application for VA Education Benefits and to the Department of Veteran Affairs. Students can apply online through VONAPP, which can be found at https://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/
Once the Department of Veteran Affairs has approved receipt of benefits, students must provide the Office of the Registrar with the Certificate of Eligibility and Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty form (DD-214) in order for their enrollment verification to be processed.
Students who have received benefits at another educational institution must complete and submit a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training form to the Department of Veteran Affairs to establish eligibility of benefits while attending Medical College.
Contact Veteran Affairs
Office of the Registrar
Phone (615)327-6466
Email: recordsdepartment@mmc.edu
Jocelyn Cordell, MS
Records Manager,
School Certifying Official
Phone: (615) 327 – 6467
Fax: (615) 963-3167
Email: jcordell@mmc.edu
Stephanie Ricks, MA
Administrative Coordinator,
School Certifying Official
Phone: (615) 327 – 6805
Fax: (615) 963-3167
Email: sricks@mmc.edu
Department of Veteran Affairs
1.800.827.1000
https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/
Current Students
Students receiving veteran’s educational benefits must maintain satisfactory attendance and satisfactory academic progress. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress are not eligible for veteran’s education benefits. Once you have registered for your classes, complete this MMC Veteran Affairs Certification Form.
How to Start Receiving Benefits
Once you have officially registered for each academic semester, a VA School Certifying Official in the Office of the Registrar will submit your information online through VA-Once within 2-3 business days. Voc-Rehab Students should notify their counselor prior to submitting documents online.
Changes in Your Academic Schedule
If there are any changes in your academic schedule, or you stop attending for any reason, please notify the MMC School Certifying Officials as soon as possible. This will ensure that processes are completed timely.
Maintaining Benefits
In order for VA students to receive benefits from Meharry Medical College, the student must maintain satisfactory academic progress. VA can discontinue benefits if the student does not maintain satisfactory attendance and progress. Attendance is unsatisfactory if the student does not meet the requirements according to the policy and procedures of each school.
Policies & Procedures by School:
First-Time VA Benefits
New Applicants
Once you have registered for your classes, complete the VA-1 Form found on CollegeNet (Provide the link)
Students are encouraged to apply for benefits online through Veterans Online Application (VONAPP) at https://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp Submit a copy of the application to MMC office of the Registrar.
If you do not have the capability to apply online, you can call 1.888.GI.BILL.1 (1-888-442-4551) to have a copy mailed to you. Or, you can request a paper application from the Office of the Registrar.
Documents to submit to the Office of the Registrar
- VA-1 Form (Submitted through CollegeNet)
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty for most recent period of active duty (DD-214)
- Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits (22-1990E) (If applicable)
- Change of Program or Place of Training (22-1995) (If applicable)
How to Start Receiving Benefits
Once you have officially registered for each academic semester, a VA School Certifying Official in the Office of the Registrar will submit your information online through VA-Once within 24 hours.
Voc-Rehab Students should notify their counselor prior to submitting documents online.
Changes in Your Academic Schedule
If there are any changes in your academic schedule, or you stop attending for any reason, please notify MMC School Certifying Officials in advance. This will ensure that processes are completed timely.
Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 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 GI Bill.
https://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/index.html
Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30)
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.
https://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH30/CH30_Pamphlet.pdf
Montgomery GI-Bill – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances.
https://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH1606/CH1606_Pamphlet.pdf
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP, Chapter 1607)
REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
https://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH1607/CH1607_Pamphlet.pdf
Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP, Chapter 32)
VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985. It is also available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available. Benefit entitlement is 1 to 36 months depending on the number of monthly contributions. You have 10 years from your release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. If there is entitlement not used after the 10-year period, your portion remaining in the fund will be automatically refunded.
https://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH32/CH32_Pamphlet.pdf
Survivors & Dependents Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)
DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
https://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/other_programs/dea.html
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (Chapter 31)
The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program is authorized by Congress under Title 38, USC, Chapter 31 and Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21. It is sometimes referred to as the Chapter 31 program. This program assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For Veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, this program offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.
If you are receiving, Chapter 30, 31 (Vocational Rehab), 33, 35, 1606 or 1607 benefits, payment for your tuition and fees will be electronically transferred to the Business Office. Meharry Medical College has elected to no longer process paper student refunds. All credit balances will be disbursed through the Direct Deposit process. All students should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to set up the appropriate Direct Deposit forms.
FOR POST 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill program is comprised of multiple payments. All payments and maximum amounts listed, https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/resources/benefits_resources/rates/CH33/Ch33rates080113.asp#TUITION, are applicable to individuals eligible for the full benefit (100% eligibility tier). If you are not eligible for the full benefit, the payment and maximum amounts listed will be prorated based on your eligibility percentage.
HOW TO CHANGE DIRECT DEPOSIT
For all direct deposit changes at Meharry Medical College, you will need to contact the office of Student Financial Aid to make the necessary changes at (615) 327-6826 or via e-mail at finaid@mmc.edu.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Should your address change during the academic year, please make the necessary change in Banner Self Service and notify the VA via phone: 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GIBILL1).
SUBMIT A QUESTION TO THE VA
https://gibill.custhelp.com/app/utils/login_form/redirect/ask (Please allow one week for a reply)
VETERANS CRISIS LINE
www.veteranscrisisline.net/chat
1-800-273-8255
Text 838255 (Deaf and Hard of Hearing)