About Military & Veterans Services
CCAC's Military & Veterans Services provides personalized and caring support to CCAC student veterans during their transition from military service to college life. We help our veterans navigate CCAC and provide assistance with VA educational benefits, as well as give them the tools to succeed academically and personally. We value the skills, assets and experiences veterans bring to the CCAC community, and are committed to helping them achieve their educational goals. Veterans Services also increases campus awareness of student veteran issues, advises the student veterans club, and fosters a sense of camaraderie, community and well-being for all student veterans on campus.
Services offered include, but are not limited to:
- Providing information on VA benefits specific to a student's situation
- Referring students to appropriate campus or community resources
- Helping students navigate the campus and all the various departments
- Sending out invitations to social events and workshops throughout the year
- Connecting students with other student veterans at CCAC
- Helping students make the transition from military to student life at CCAC
If you need assistance, please contact the Office of Military and Veterans Services at 412.237.4604 or veteransservices@ccac.edu.
Using Your VA Educational Benefits
Step 1
Determine your eligibility by contacting the VA at 1.888.442.4551, or visit the Vets.gov website for benefit comparison information.
Consider all chapter benefit options before making a decision on which benefit to apply for. If you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and another chapter benefit, make sure you understand the implications of applying for one or the other. Your Military & Veterans Services facilitator can provide basic benefit information but cannot make the decision for you.
Step 2
If you have not used your benefits, apply for Veterans Education Benefits by completing the online Department of Veterans Affairs application at Vets.gov.
- Under the Education section, click on "Apply for education benefits."
- Scroll down to "How do I apply?" and click on the green box to determine the benefit form needed.
Step 1
If you have previously used your benefits at another school or for another training program, use these forms through Vets.gov
- Under Education Section; click on "Apply for education benefits."
- Scroll down to "How do I apply?" and click on the green box to determine the benefit form needed.
Step 2
Complete the admissions process for CCAC.
Step 3
Request that your official high school and prior military and/or college transcripts be forwarded directly to CCAC.
Step 4
If you would like CCAC to request your Official Joint Service Transcript, please complete the Joint Service Transcript (JST) Request Form.
Step 5
Complete the CCAC Placement Test process, if applicable.
Step 6
Apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).All veterans and dependents should apply for financial aid. Veterans education benefits are no longer considered when calculating financial aid.
Step 7
You will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or a Benefits Award Letter from the VA via mail after 4–6 weeks. Provide a copy of your COE or Proof of Entitlement (eBenefits) to the OMVS facilitator immediately. You do not need the COE to register for classes.
When your benefits are approved, you can obtain a Statement of Benefits from Vets.gov and provide it in place of a COE to your OMVS facilitator for certification.
Your facilitator can certify your benefits without a COE or Statement of Benefits only if your benefits have been approved by the VA and can be confirmed.
Step 1
After you have registered and confirmed that all of your courses satisfy current degree requirements, complete the CCAC Military and Veterans Services Enrollment Certification Form every semester.
Step 2
If you are using Chapter 1606 or dependent benefits, verify your attendance monthly on WAVE the last calendar day of each month, holidays included. (Not required for Chapters 33 and 31.)
Step 1
After you have registered and confirmed that all of your courses satisfy current degree requirements, complete the CCAC Military and Veterans Services Enrollment Certification Form every semester.
Step 2
Re-apply for financial aid using the FAFSA. All Veterans, service members and dependents should apply for financial aid. Veterans education benefits are no longer considered when calculating financial aid.
Each semester, you must complete the CCAC Veterans Enrollment Certification Request Form for your education benefits to be processed. If you have questions about the form, you can stop by any Office of Military & Veterans Services location. The form is completely electronic and can be submitted on any device with internet capabilities.
Before submitting your Veterans Enrollment Certification Request Form, you must review your current CCAC degree plan and make sure that all your scheduled courses are required for graduation. Under VA policy, we are only able to certify courses that satisfy a requirement for completing your credential. This includes remedial courses (which can only be taken in an In-person, on-campus format) and prerequisite courses as well. If you register for courses that are not part of your degree plan requirements, you will be responsible for the tuition and fees.
In addition, you must report all changes, including a change in credits, withdrawing from a course, incomplete grades, change of major and change of address, to OMVS.
To avoid delays, schedule your classes and turn your enrollment certification request in early for each term you are enrolled. Certification is not automatic, so it is important to complete this form in a timely manner to ensure your benefits are not delayed. Our processing time during nonpeak time is up to two weeks upon receiving your request. Avoid peak time, which runs the last full month of each term through the end of the next term's first full month. Peak time takes our office up to four weeks to process due to the increase in traffic volume and time sensitive reports due at the end of each term. Please note that CCAC and VA process in the order of date received. VA's standard time frame for processing is four to six weeks.
For those receiving tuition payment from their benefits, if you have not brought in your enrollment certification in time for us to process your benefits before the tuition payment date on your registration, the college may assess late fees, which you are responsible for paying.
In-State, In-County Rates for All Veterans/Dependents
The Community College of Allegheny County provides in-state, in-county rates and priority registration to all eligible veterans of the U.S. armed forces, military service members and their spouses/dependents through coordination with the Office of Military & Veterans Services.
Act 46 of 2014 requires public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to provide Veteran students, as defined in the Act, with preference in course scheduling. Non-compliance may be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by submitting the Higher Education Student Complaint Form found at education.pa.gov.
Per Act 46 of 2014, CCAC will offer priority registration and scheduling preference to Veterans, current military service members, and dependents (military-connected students) who can provide proof of military connection.
Course schedule preference means that military-connected students are able to start registering for courses sooner than students with the same class standing.
Students who are afforded priority registration will receive a notification via email that specifies their priority registration date. Students can register on the date listed on the notice or any day prior to the first class meeting.
To be eligible for in-county tuition rates and/or priority registration, an active service member or Veteran student and their spouses / dependents must meet the following criteria:
- Can provide proof of past or current service in the United States Armed Forces, including a Reserve component or National Guard. This also includes Reserve or National Guard members who completed their obligated service but were never deployed to active duty.
- If discharged, discharge or released from service must be under conditions other than dishonorable.
To be eligible for in-county tuition rates and/or priority registration, an active service member or Veteran student must provide the following documentation:
- Currently using GI Bill® Education Benefits through the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- OR Currently serving on Active Duty, National Guard, or Reserves.
To be eligible for in-county tuition rates and/or priority registration, a Veteran spouse/dependent student must meet the following criteria:
- Currently using GI Bill® Education Benefits through the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- OR Can provide Veteran Sponsor's DD-214 and copy of marriage license or birth certificate.
- OR Can provide a Dependent ID Card.
To verify eligibility for in-county tuition rates and/or priority registration, students must provide one of the following documents:
-
Active Duty -
- Current Military ID
- OR Active Duty Orders
-
Veteran -
- Current Department of Defense Retiree Military ID
- OR DD-214 Discharge Document (Member Copy 4)
- OR Discharge papers from National Guard or reserves
-
Spouses/Dependents -
- Veteran Sponsor's DD-214 (Member Copy 4)
- AND Marriage License OR Birth Certificate
To obtain in-county tuition rates:
You can attach copies of the appropriate documentation within the Priority Registration/In-State Tuition Rate Form or present in person to staff at one of the Offices Military and Veterans Services on campus.
Scholarship Opportunities for Military-Affiliated Students
- American Legion
- AM Vets
- Army Scholarship Foundation
- Freedom Alliance
- Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
- Marine Corps League Foundation
- Military Order of the Purple Heart
- Navy/Marine Relief Society
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
- Veterans United Foundation
- Women Marine Association
- CCAC Educational Foundation Scholarships
Meet Your Military and Veterans Services Staff
Contact the Office of Military and Veterans Services
Join a Military & Veterans Chat
Our online chat offerings provide you with an opportunity to ask and receive answers to questions you have about starting or using your Military & Veterans educational benefits. You will be able to obtain guidance and assistance in navigating CCAC’s enrollment steps and the VA certification that is required each semester. Simply click on the link below to join:
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.