Veterans’ Services Policies & Procedures

The Porterville College Veterans Resource Center offers services to assist Veterans’ students and their dependents.

Eligibility of education benefits is determined through an application process by the Veterans Administration (VA). Students are responsible for applying for their benefits and reporting the correct benefits to the college. Benefits payable through the VA are determined by your term of services in the military. The Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB), [Chapter 30] and the Post 9/11 GI Bill® [Post 9/11] are currently offered for veterans. Vocational Rehabilitation [Chapter 31 Voc. Rehab] is available to disabled veterans and requires a referral from a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor. Dependents of veterans who are deceased or are 100% disabled, as determined the VA, may be eligible for educational benefits under the dependents Education Act [DEA Chapter 35]. Students in reserve status [Chapter 1606/1607] may qualify for reimbursement for a portion of their educational costs.

All veteran students and student dependents of veterans who wish to receive education benefits through the Veteran’s Administration must complete these steps:

1. Fill out the application for federal VA benefits at https://www.gibill.va.gov/. The VA may require first-time applicants to send a copy of their DD214 form to Muskogee, OK (VA Regional Office, P. O. BOX 8888, Muskogee, OK 74402-8888) before their application can be processed.

2. Contact our VA college counselor to establish an appropriate education objective and initiate a Student Education Plan (SEP). The VA requires a Program Approval and the SEP updated to be completed with a counselor for every semester that the student receives benefits. Contact the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) at (559) 791-2222.

3. Order official transcripts from any previously attended regionally accredited institution, including military transcripts. Admissions with previously earned credits will be granted upon official transcripts showing satisfactory scholarship and honorable dismissal from the institution previously attended. Admissions staff evaluates and applies appropriate credit upon submission of a Transcript Evaluation Form. The inclusion of accepted, accredited units from submitted official transcripts, including military transcripts, is required on the SEP by the second semester of attendance. Please have official transcripts mailed to:

Porterville College

Office of Admissions and Records

100 E College Ave

Porterville, CA 93257

(559) 791-2220

NOTE: These steps are in addition to the steps necessary to becoming a Porterville College student.

Additional Policies and Practices

Porterville College of approved under Title 38 of the United States Code and admissions, registration, and course offering are consistent with Title 38 U.S.C. €3679(e) as follows:

For Purpose of this section, a covered individual is:

a. A veteran who was discharged or released from a period of not fewer than 90 days of services in the active military, naval or air serviced less than three years before the date of enrollment in the course concerned.

b. An individual who is entitled to assistance under:

1. Section 3311(b)(9) of this title; or
2. Section 3319 of this title by virtue of the individual’s relationship to:
   1. a veteran described in subparagraph (a); or
   2. a member of the uniformed services described in section 3319(b) of the title who is serving on active duty.
      1. An individual who is entitled to rehabilitation under section 3102(a) of this title.
      2. Any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of this title.

Beginning on August 1, 2019 Porterville College has policies that:

a. Permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of this title and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which the Secretary provides payment for such course of education to such institution.
2. The date that is 90 days after the date on which the education institution certifies for tuition and fees following receipt from the student such certificate of eligibility.
   1. Ensure that the education institution will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligation to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33 of this title.
      
      Porterville College also requests that a covered individual will complete the following: Submit a certificate of eligibility of entitlement to education assistance no later than the first day of a course of education for which the individual has indicated the individual wishes to use the individual’s entitlement of educational assistance.
   2. Submit a written request to use such entitlement.
   3. Provide additional information necessary to the proper certification of enrollment by the educational institution.