| Holly West VA Certifying Official 307.532.8327 1.866.327.8996 Fax: 307.532.8222 |
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Eastern Wyoming College is here to help you (and your dependents) achieve your educational goals and to ease your transition from military to civilian life. We appreciate your service to our country and are proud to have the opportunity to assist you.
EWC is approved to administer the Veterans Education Assistance Programs that include the Montgomery GI Bill® and Post 9/11 GI Bill®. Veterans wishing to use their education benefits must contact Holly West, the EWC VA Certifying Official, at 307-532-8224 or via email at hwest@ewc.wy.edu.
Estimate the amount of benefits you may be eligible to receive with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill® Comparison Tool!
Application Process: As the application and approval process takes time, students are encouraged to apply early for their benefits. To apply, please complete the VA Application for VA Education Benefits (22-1990). This form is available online at www.va.gov/education. For benefits other than those listed above, please contact the Veterans Administration at 1-888-442-4551 or online at the above website.
A copy of your DD214, member copy 4, and a copy of your NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility) letter should be provided to the EWC VA Certifying Official prior to certifying your eligibility of VA Benefits with the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Veterans Information Sources
Veterans Crisis Line/Suicide Hotline
Or text: 838255
Resources for Veterans
GI Bill® Benefits
How to apply for your GI Bill®
If this is your first time using the GI Bill® and you haven’t yet applied for benefits please review the links below.
Select which GI Bill® is best to help you meet your educational goals and provide the greatest financial support during your enrollment. If you have entered the military from Wyoming, there are many other veteran benefits available to you from the State of Wyoming.
- The Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
- Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
- Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (Chapter 30)
- Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) (Chapter 1607)
- Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) (Chapter 32)
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) (Chapter 35)
‘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 Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/
Wyoming Combat Veterans
Wyoming Combat Veterans
Contact the Eastern Wyoming College Financial Aid Office for more information.
Application under Required Veteran Education Benefits Certification Request Forms.
Wyoming Combat Veterans looking to apply for WOCV contact EWC Veterans Service Coordinator Tyler Schiele via email at tschiele@ewc.wy.edu or by phone at 307-532-8289
WOCV Application PDF
Tuition Assistance – Active Duty
Military Tuition Assistance Programs
Military Tuition Assistance is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Congress has given each service the ability to pay up to 100% for the tuition expenses for semester hours costing $250 or less for its members.
Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process’ and restrictions. This money is usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services.
All military and persons who wish to use Tuition Assistance (TA) must first receive approval from a local base Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within the Military Service prior to enrolling.
Eligibility
All four service branches and the U.S. Coast Guard offer financial assistance for voluntary, off-duty education programs in support of service members’ personal and professional goals. The program is open to officers, warrant officers and enlisted active-duty service personnel. In addition, members of the National Guard and Reserve Components may be eligible for TA based on their service eligibility. To be eligible for TA, an enlisted service member must have enough time remaining in service to complete the course for which he or she has applied. After the completion of a course, an officer using TA must fulfill a service obligation that runs parallel with – not in addition to – any existing service obligation.
Coverage amounts and monetary limits
The Tuition Assistance Program may fund up to 100% of your college tuition and certain fees with the following limits
- Not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour or $166 per quarter credit hour
- Not to exceed $4,500 per fiscal year, Oct. 1 through Sept. 30
Tuition Assistance versus the Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits
While the TA program is offered by the services, the Department of Veterans Affairs administers a variety of education benefit programs. Some of the VA programs, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, can work well with the TA program, as it can supplement fees not covered by TA. In addition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® funds are available to you after you leave the military. If your service ended before Jan. 1, 2013, you have 15 years to use this benefit. If your service ended on or after Jan. 1, 2013, the benefit won’t expire. The TA program is a benefit that is available only while you’re in the service.
Tuition Assistance Benefits and Restrictions
Tuition assistance will cover the following expenses:
- Tuition
- Course-specific fees such as laboratory fee or online course fee
NOTE: All fees must directly relate to the specific course enrollment of the service member.
Tuition assistance will not cover the following expenses:
- Books and course materials
- Flight training fees
- Taking the same course twice
- Continuing education units, or CEUs
Keep in mind that TA will not fund your college courses, and you will have to reimburse any funds already paid, if any of the following situations occur:
- Leaving the service before the course ends
- Quitting the course for reasons other than personal illness, military transfer or mission requirements
- Failing the course
Top-up Program
The GI Bill® Top-up program allows funds from the Montgomery GI Bill® — Active Duty or the Post 9/11 GI Bill® – to be used for tuition and fees for high-cost courses that are not fully covered by TA funds.
- Eligibility. To use Top-up, your service branch must approve you for TA. You also must be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill® or the Montgomery GI Bill® — Active Duty.
- Application. First apply for TA in accordance with procedures of your service branch. After you have applied for TA, you will need to complete VA Form 22-1990 to apply for Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits. The form is available online from the VA. Make sure you specify “Top-up” on the application and mail it to one of the education processing offices listed on the form.
Application Process
Each military branch has its own TA application form and procedures. To find out how to get started, visit your local installation education center, go online to a virtual education center or click on the following links for each service branch:
Tuition Assistance – Guard and Reserve
Tuition Assistance – Guard and Reserve
The Wyoming National Guard Education Assistance Program will help finance your college tuition. If you’re already a member of the Wyoming Army National Guard or the Wyoming Air National Guard, or if you are thinking about joining, you can take advantage of the program.
As long as you have spent at least six years in the Wyoming Guard, or are currently serving under your first six-year enlistment period, you are eligible to participate. Every Guard member using the plan must agree to serve two years in the Wyoming Guard after the last academic term for which they receive assistance.
Please abide by these few, simple requirements each semester you want to use your benefits:
- Service members should follow the requirements and procedures for APPLYING as a degree seeking student to EWC.
- Complete the Online Wyoming National Guard Educational Assistance Application Process.
- Complete and sign the Agreement to Terms and Conditions.
- Complete and submit the VA/Military Education- Certification Request online.
- Ask your unit Commander or his/her representative to complete and sign the Certificate of Eligibility.
To maintain eligibility of education benefits;
- Maintaining a “C” average
- Keeping up with Guard standards for drill attendance.
- Adhering to Guard fitness requirements.
- Making sure you serve in the Guard at least two years after you graduate or stop using the Plan.
Wyoming National Guard
The Wyoming National Guard Educational Assistance Plan is available subject to state funding. All current members of the Wyoming Army or Air National Guard are eligible to have full in-state tuition and fees paid. Complete the application online.
Be sure to follow the instructions given in the user guide. The basic steps are listed below:
If you have an account, login at: wyngedassist.wyo.gov, OR
- Register for a new account (may use any email – .edu email is NOT recommended).
- Click on the EA Agreement link and open in Adobe/Acrobat Reader. Digitally sign and submit by email.
- Complete the Application fill-in form.
- “Save” application and attach “UNOFFICIAL” transcript.
- Click “Complete” on the Application “INDEX” page.
Please note: Should you get an error screen stating, “There is a problem with this website’s security certificate,” please click on “Continue to this website” and you will be directed to the application.
Be advised you MUST complete the application each semester and submit it to the EWC VA Certifying Official. Please contact 307-532-8224 with questions. You MUST complete an application each semester you wish to receive EAP funds.
Wyoming Educational Assistance for Veterans and Survivors
The State of Wyoming passed legislation to assist veterans, and dependents of deceased veterans, with tuition and fees at any eligible Wyoming College. (Wyoming Statute 19-14-106). This program is designed to help Vietnam Veterans, and the surviving dependents with tuition and fee assistance.
Other resources
In addition to VA benefits, veteran students should pursue educational assistance under the federal financial aid programs, institutional employment opportunities and scholarships. Please visit EWC’s Financial Aid pages and find out other aid programs for which you may be eligible. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 307.532.8224 or 833.327.8996 with questions.
EWC is committed to all its veteran and military students and their academic success. We have signed and are a participant in the Department of Defense’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and are fully committed to Executive Order 13607, establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions serving service members, veterans, spouses and other family members. Specifically – EWC refrains from providing commission, bonus, or any other type of incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including the funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance. Additionally, EWC refrains from high pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, or engage in same day recruitment and registration for the purposes of securing service member enrollments.
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 Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/
Joint Service Transcripts
Send your Joint Service Transcripts to Eastern Wyoming College for us to evaluate and award any credit resulting from your service. JST’s can be sent from https://jst.doded.mil/
*This is required if you are using VA Benefits as a Veteran.