This information has been given to you to assist you in applying for your Survivors' and Dependents' educational assistance benefits at Sierra College. You can obtain VA education benefits for the AA/AS degrees offered by Sierra College, or you may declare & Transfer Major for a BA/BS degree (see Veterans Office staff for more information as there are specific limitations for declaring a Transfer Major at a two-year community college!). VA requires that all students complete the matriculation process.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT VA WILL ONLY PAY FOR REQUIRED COURSES BASED ON YOUR MAJOR, BEGINNING WITH YOUR INITIAL ENROLLMENT.
To initiate your benefits for the first semester, please complete the following steps and turn all documents in to the Sierra College Veterans Educational Services Office:
- COMPLETE VA FORM 22-5490. Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance benefits. (If you are transferring here from another school at which you used VA Education Benefits, you must complete VA FORM 22-5495 instead). You may pick up a hard copy of the VA application in J8, or you can apply online at the VA website.
- COMPLETE THE SIERRA COLLEGE VETERANS ENROLLMENT CARD -both sides and sign. Also bring a copy of your class schedule/receipt to this office once you have registered AND all fees are paid.
- TAKE THE ASSESSMENT TESTS for Math, English, and Reading. If you took these tens at another school, you must have the results sent to our Assessment Office.
- PROVIDE THIS OFFICE WITH OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS OF ALL OTHER COLLEGES ATTENDED. Official transcripts must be in officially sealed, unopened, school envelopes.
- A STUDENT EDUCATION PLAN (SEP) must be done by our academic counselor before your second semester benefits will be certified to VA. This education plan is based on your VA approved program of study and will list out each class you need to take in order for you to receive your AA/AS degree or to transfer to a 4-year college. Before this office will make an SEP appointment, you must have completed all of the previous steps listed above. Please call the Sierra College Veterans Educational Services Office to schedule this SEP appointment!
Once your enrollment is certified by this office to VA, it will take approximately 6-8 weeks before you receive an Award Letter from VA. Your first check should arrive shortly thereafter. NOTE: If you do not receive any correspondence from VA within 45 days, call VA to check on the status of your claim.
You are required to maintain specific standards of progress as listed in the Sierra College Catalog each year. Please familiarize yourself with the Academic Regulations at Sierra College by reading your catalog. Direct any questions to the Veterans Affairs Office.