Office of Veterans Affairs

In addition to college work-study, are there any work-study programs designed to assist veterans?

Students may be eligible for Veteran’s Work-Study benefits. In order to be eligible, students must be receiving full-time veterans’ benefits. Such students can work up to 750 hours per year at a rate of at least the federal minimum wage. Your Veterans Affairs representative will arrange your work-study if you are eligible.

Who do I see on my campus about resources for students who are veterans?

Each CUNY college has appointed a veteran’s affairs representative to address the needs of veterans on campus. For additional information regarding York College’s veteran’s liaison or certifying official, please contact the Office of Veterans Affairs at 718-262-5298.

What happens if I drop a course during the semester?

If you drop a course and the adjustment changes your training time you must notify your college’s veterans affairs representative so that this official can then inform the VA of a change in training time. This must be done even if you have already notified the VA on the WAVE system. A change in training time will affect your rate of payment, and failure to notify your college’s veterans affairs representative in a timely manner could result in an overpayment.

What happens if I am activated during the semester?

If you are activated during a semester, you have a number of options open to you depending upon the length of the deployment. You should first discuss this situation with your advisor and instructors to help you decide upon a course of action. The options available to you would range from special arrangements for make-up work, to an incomplete grade, to withdrawal from a course or semester. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would pay you educational assistance benefits up to the date you withdraw or resign from a course or semester. For more information see Returning or Leaving for Active Duty.

Is it possible to attain college credit for military service?

Veterans who are matriculating students may earn up to 18 credits in United States Armed Forces Institute courses, in which they have passed final exams, and for other military education and training. The decision regarding the granting of credit for these courses reside with the individual colleges. Students proposing unique or interdisciplinary majors through CUNY’s individualized degree program, CUNY Baccalaureate, may be eligible to receive up to 30 credits for documented military course work or training.

Are there any academic support services available to students who are veterans?

Some veterans are eligible for tutorial benefits. In order to be eligible for tutorial benefits, veterans must be receiving monthly veteran’s benefits on at least a half-time basis. Such veteran students are entitled to a total of 12 months of tutorial benefits to a maximum of $100.00 per month. Contact your veteran’s affairs representative for additional information.

Are all dependents of veterans eligible to receive educational benefits?

Yes. Survivors’ and Dependent’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain Veterans.

Active Military members may transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) to Spouses and Dependents

The transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows Service members to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The request to transfer unused GI Bill benefits to eligible dependents must be completed while serving as an active member of the Armed Forces.  The Department of Defense (DoD) determines whether or not you can transfer benefits to your family. Once the DoD approves benefits for transfer, the new beneficiaries apply for them at the VA.

Are any services available to veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities?

Vocational Rehabilitation services are available through the VA for veterans with disabilities. Vocational Rehabilitation Services are available to full- and part-time students who have at least a 20% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These services include payment for tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend. In addition, reasonable accommodations and support services are available to veterans with disabilities through your college’s Office of Disability Services.

Since I receive educational benefits do I have to verify my enrollment each month?

Yes! Anyone receiving educational benefits must verify their enrollment each month to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in order to receive payment for that month. Your enrollment can be verified on the last calendar day of the month by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) system or by calling the toll free, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone line, at 1-888-442-4551 or 1-877-823-2378.