Veterans Programs
The Office of Student Financial Assistance is committed to helping veterans obtain educational benefits through a variety of programs offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). Programs for veterans include the Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG), Illinois National Guard Scholarship (ING), Illinois MIA/POW Scholarship, and the Montgomery GI Bill.

Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)
The IVG pays tuition and certain fees for either undergraduate or graduate study at any Illinois public college and university. Recipients may use their grant assistance up to maximum of 120 eligibility units. For details regarding IVG, check the College Zone Web site. Applications may be downloaded from the Web site, however Oakton's Office of Student Financial Assistance must receive your ISAC notification of eligibility for IVG before the end of the term for which assistance is requested in order to receive IVG benefits for that term.

Illinois National Guard Scholarship (ING)
Enlisted officers or company grade officers of Illinois National Guard units with one or more years of service may be eligible for payment of tuition and certain fees at state universities and colleges in Illinois. The eligibility for the Illinois National Guard educational assistance has to be renewed each academic year.
Please check the College Zone Web site. Applications may be downloaded from the Web site.

Illinois MIA/POW Scholarship
General Program and Eligibility Information
Contact the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Web site or call at 217-782-3564 for more information.

GI Bill Web Site
Download an Application for VA Education Benefits

Policies and Procedures
Various government regulations require the Office of Student Financial Assistance to follow a STRICT set of procedures. To ensure that an educational benefits claim is processed in a timely manner, please SUBMIT ALL REQUESTED INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME.

To continue receiving veterans benefits at Oakton, students must complete the Veteran Benefit Sign-Up Sheet each semester after registering.

COPIES OF THE DD-214'S MEMBER 4 COPY MUST ACCOMPANY THE APPLICATIONS of students applying for veterans benefits the first time.

Educational claims are processed through the Department of Veterans Affairs office in St. Louis, Missouri. The DVA notifies students of their benefit entitlement in approximately six to eight weeks. Students should begin to receive GI Bill benefits approximately eight to 10 weeks after classes begin.

Benefit entitlement is approved only for courses required to complete a degree. Every 30 days, enrollment is checked, and any changes impacting the student's eligibility for benefits are reported to the DVA.

Students changing their programs of study are required to complete VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Study.

Students are advised to contact the financial aid advisor before making any changes to their schedules or programs. The DVA requires that all academic programs be approved before students can receive any VA benefits.

 

Contact Information and Office Hours

Department of Veterans Affairs toll-free numbers:
Main 1-888 GI Bill 1
Direct Deposit (set up) 1-877-838-2778
Self-Certification 1-877-823-2378
www.gibill.va.gov

Central Region VA Regional Office
P.O. Box 66830
St. Louis, MO 63166-6830
1-888-442-4551

Department of Veterans Affairs/VRE Division
2122 W. Taylor Street
Room 128
Chicago, Illinois 60612
312-980-4458

Oakton Community College Veterans Representative
Janina Czarniecka
Voice: 847-635-2623
Fax: 847-635-1706
e-mail: jczarnie@oakton.edu
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) College Zone
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
800-899-ISAC (4722)
www.collegezone.com

 

Transfer Students/Prior Military Credits

The Oakton Office of Registration and Records must receive sealed transcripts from any other college and/or military training. Students can obtain their transcripts by contacting the following branches of service:

Navy
Phone: 877-253-7122

Army
AARTS Office, 415 McPherson Ave., Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027-1373

Air Force
Phone: 334-953-2794

Marine
No contact given; call the Education Office at former base.

Additional Information Needed for GI Bill

CH 30 Montgomery GI Bill - Active duty after 7-1-85

1. A copy of "Member 4" copy of DD214 from each enlistment with VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Educational Benefits, if benefits have not been used before at Oakton Community College or another school.
2. A copy of VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Study, if benefits have been used before at another school or if student did not attend Oakton the previous semester.
3. Official transcript from any previous college and/or military training sent directly to Registration and Records Office and evaluated by the authorized credential analyst by the end of the second semester of the student's enrollment at Oakton.

CH 1606 Montgomery GI Bill for Reservists

1. VA Form DD-2384, Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE), with VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Educational Benefits, if the Chapter 1606 GI Bill Reservists benefits have not been used before at Oakton or at any other school.
2. A copy of VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Study, if benefits have been used before at another school or if student did not attend Oakton the previous semester.
3. Official transcripts from any previous college and/or military training sent directly to Registration and Records to be evaluated by the second semester of the student's enrollment at Oakton.

CH 32 VEAP Active duty from 1-1-77 until 6-30-85

1. A copy of "Member 4" copy of DD214 from each enlistment with VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Educational Benefits, if student has not used the Chapter 1606 GI Bill Reservists benefits before at Oakton or at any other school.
2. A copy of VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Study, if benefits have been used before at another school or if student did not attend Oakton the previous semester.
3. Official transcripts from any previous college and/or military training sent directly to Registration and Records to be evaluated by the second semester of student's enrollment at Oakton.

CH 35 Dependent spouse/surviving spouse, son or daughter

The dependent eligible for Chapter 35 benefits must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Central Region VA Regional Office in St. Louis, Missouri.

The certificate copy, together with the Veteran Benefit Sign-Up Sheet, must be submitted at the beginning of the student's enrollment at Oakton.

CH 31 Vocational Rehabilitation Program

Veterans must contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Program Counselor at the Department of Veterans Affairs/VRE Division to get authorization to use this program. The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will mail authorization for payments to Oakton Community College.

Students who are expecting to use book vouchers at Oakton to purchase required books and supplies should verify that authorization has been received before the beginning of the semester during which they will be using their benefits.

Military/Army Tuition Assistance

Students must contact their educational officer to obtain a new authorization for every semester. The students must submit the authorization for tuition benefits payment to the Financial Aid Office at the time of enrollment to have their tuition and fees deferred until the actual payment is processed through the Oakton Accounting Office. Students are responsible for paying the part of tuition and fees not reimbursed by tuition assistance.

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