Information for Students Using Veteran Education Benefits
Responsibility for Covered Individuals
As part of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, 38 U.S.C. § 3679, Trident permits any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides Trident with a certificate of eligibility (COE) for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
- The date on which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) provides payment for a course of education to an institution.
- The date that is 90 days after the date on which the educational institution certifies for tuition and fees following receipt of the COE from the student.
Trident will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 31 or 33.
NOTE: A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment, or chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits.
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 https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Documents Required for VA Certification
A Covered Individual may attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to a certificate of eligibility (COE) for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or Chapter 33.
Students eligible to receive VA Education Benefits may have their enrollments reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs by their VA School Certifying Official.
Required Documents:
- A signed VA Student Bill of Rights
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for VA Education Benefits and/or a copy of the VA application confirmation page
- Approved Parent School Letter (if needed)
- All other documents as requested by the VA School Certifying Official
VA Parent School Letter
What is a Parent School Letter?:
A Parent School Letter is a document confirming that the primary school will accept credit transfer from the secondary school given that the student meets the criteria on the form.
Primary (Parent) School:
The primary school is the school that will grant the degree an eligible individual is pursuing. Generally, the eligible individual will be enrolled at the primary school for the majority of the program of education. If you are a degree seeking student at Trident, we are your Parent School.
To request a parent letter:
- All official transcripts must be on file
- Contact your VA School Certifying Official to request the Parent Letter form
- Assistance on which course(s) are best suited for transferability can be discussed with your Student Success Advisor
- Complete the word document and return to your VA School Certifying Official
Processing:
Secondary School:
The Secondary School is the school where you are taking additional courses that will apply to a degree that the student is pursuing elsewhere. If you are a non-degree seeking student at Trident, we are the Secondary School.
Processing:
- Students must submit a copy of their VA application confirmation page and/or their VA Certificate of Eligibility for VA Education Benefits.
- Your Student Success Advisor will better assist you in reviewing which course(s) may be best suited for credit transfer.
- The student’s primary school must fax or email a copy of the approved parent school letter directly to the VA School Certifying Official at Trident.
- Each school will be required to report the enrollment being taken at each individual institution.
VA Rounding Out
A VA student can round out their schedule to obtain full-time enrollment in their last term only. This allows students to receive benefits at the full-time rate in their last term of enrollment, even though fewer credits are required to complete the program. To qualify for rounding out, the course must be degree eligible for a current program at the student’s present degree level. This means courses used to satisfy graduation requirements of a program as specified in the curriculum. This procedure can be done only once per program and previously completed courses cannot be certified. Please contact the Student Finance Department for additional information on VA Rounding Out.