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Office of the Registrar

Veteran's Affairs


Veterans Assistance

The Office of the Registrar is available to assist veterans eligible for any of the educational benefit programs administered by the Veterans Administration. Students who believe that they are eligible for benefits may receive assistance in applying for them through this office. Students requesting VA Benefits should download, complete and forward the VA Benefits Request Form to:

Office of the Registrar
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Blvd. South
Ft. Myers, FL 33965-6565 

    FGCU VA Handbook

Phone: (239) 590-7980 
Fax: (239) 590-7983

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
 
09/03/2009

There is currently a backlog of claims pending at the Regional Processing Offices.  If you are attending for the Fall term, but receive the message, “We do not show any current periods to be verified.”  Your enrollment has probably not yet been processed.  If our current term dates are not reflected, you will not be able to verify for the month of August.  You can look under the “Check Pending Documents” link to confirm your enrollment certification has been received.

Verifications submitted through WAVE are processed the next business day, and it can take WAVE up to 2 days to be completely updated.  Please be assured, your verification has been received and is being processed.


Types of Programs, Eligibility and Benefits:

  • The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.  You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009.
  • Montgomery G.I. Bill (Chapter 30) - First entered active duty July 1, 1985, or later and completed initial obligated period of active duty of 2 years or more or who completed 2 years of active duty and enters the selective reserve for 4 or more years.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)- Must have a service connected disability rated at 20 percent or more which causes a demonstrable employment handicap.
  • Veterans Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32)- Served on active duty for at least 181 continuous days and enlisted for the first time between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1989 inclusive and signed up prior to April 1, 1987.
  • Dependents Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35)- Spouse and/or child of a veteran with permanent and total service connected disability; or whose death was service connected; or who died of any cause while rated as having a permanent and total service connected disability.
  • Educational Assistance for the Selected Reserve (1606)- Enlisted Personnel: enlisted, re-insisted, or extended enlistment for a 6 year period after June 30, 1995. Officer: added 6 years to current obligation after June 30, 1985.
  • REAP - Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607) - This benefit is for Guard/Reservist and Coast Guard who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10 U.S. Code (Reserves), section 502(f) (National Guard) or title 32 U.S.C. (Coast Guard) for a contingency operation and who served at least 90 consecutive days or more. DOD will determine eligibility.
  • Scholarships for Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans or Children of Servicemen Classified as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action - The Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans and Service members (CSDDV) provides scholarships for dependent children or un-remarried spouses of Florida veterans or service members who died as a result of service-connected injuries, diseases, or disabilities sustained while on active duty or who have been verified by the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs as having service-connected 100% permanent and total disability.

Veterans who plan to attend FGCU should apply to the University early and contact the Office of the Registrar early. Students can expect a possible delay of 60 days before receipt of benefits for their first term of enrollment.

Students will also need to contact the Registrar's Office VA Representative when they register each semester if their semester hours change.

The Registrar's Office certifies school attendance to the Veterans Administration office in accordance with the following:

Veteran Attendance

 

Undergraduate

Graduate

Full-time

12 hours or more

9 hours or more

Three-Quarter

9 to 11 hours

6 to 8 hours

Half-time

6 to 8 hours

4 to 5 hours

Less than Half-time

1 to 5 hours

1 to 3 hours

    

VA Work-Study

Recipients of veterans’ benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) and Veterans Educational Assistance Program, who are attending school at least 3/4 time, may be eligible for VA work-study positions. For more information contact the Registrar's Office.

For further information on VA educational benefits, go to the VA website: http://www.gibill.va.gov/


References for Veterans - This is a .pdf document listing a variety of VA websites to be used as a reference.