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Veterans Services

Veterans Services 

The Veteran Services Office at Palo Verde College helps veterans, their spouses, and dependents access U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits. We serve as your intermediary with the VA — guiding you through eligibility, enrollment certification, and the requirements to keep your benefits flowing. 

Your School Certifying Officials 

A School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Financial Aid Office certifies your enrollment to the VA and answers your benefit questions. Reach out any time: 

Rorie Chambers
School Certifying Official
Phone: 760-921-5559
Email: rchambers@paloverde.edu
Office: Financial Aid Office

Veronica Barcenas
School Certifying Official
Phone: 760-921-5553
Email: vbarcenas@paloverde.edu
Office: Financial Aid Office 

VA Educational Assistance 

Palo Verde College is approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to certify education benefits under Title 38 (Chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, and 35) for veterans and their dependents, and under Title 10 (Chapters 1606 and 1607) for members of the Reserves and National Guard. 

To apply, complete your application online at va.gov/education/how-to-apply. (The old VONAPP system has been retired — all applications now go through VA.gov.) The VA’s initial eligibility determination may take up to 30 days. Common forms include: 

Form 

Purpose 

VA Form 22-1990 

Application for VA Education Benefits (veterans and service members) 

VA Form 22-1990E 

Application to use transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (dependents) 

VA Form 22-5490 

Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits (Chapter 35 / DEA) 

VA Form 22-1995 

Request for Change of Program or Place of Training 

 

Enrollment certification & course limitations

We certify your courses to the VA after you submit a Veteran Statement of Responsibility and any required documents to a School Certifying Official. Certification is limited to courses required for your declared program of study. You may use other resources (such as financial aid or scholarships) for courses outside your program — just let your SCO know your enrollment plans.

Monthly enrollment verification is required (effective January 1, 2026). All VA education beneficiaries — including Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) and Chapter 35 (DEA) students — must verify their enrollment with the VA each month to receive payments. This is separate from the school’s certification each semester. If you miss two months in a row, your payments are paused until you verify.

You can verify your enrollment any of these ways:

  • Text: reply “YES” to the VA’s automated text at the end of each month.
  • Online: sign in at VA.gov and complete the monthly verification.
  • Email: respond to the VA’s monthly verification email.
  • Ask VA: submit a request at ask.va.gov
  • Phone: call the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551

Monthly verification does not apply to students enrolled half-time or less, or those in on-the-job training, apprenticeship, or correspondence programs. Keep your contact info current on VA.gov, and tell your SCO right away if your enrollment changes. 

Benefits & enrollment status

Your benefit is based on your certified enrollment status. In a traditional 18-week semester: 

Enrollment status 

Units (fall/spring) 

Full-time 

12 or more 

Three-quarter-time 

9–11 

Half-time 

6–8 

Less than half-time 

1–5 

Students at half-time or higher may receive a monthly benefit. Rates vary by enrollment status and chapter and are adjusted yearly — see the current pay charts at va.gov/education/benefit-rates. 

Degree plans 

Choose a VA-approved program of study before you register. Each program is approved for a set number of credit hours, and the VA will not certify or fund courses beyond that length or outside your required program. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, the VA can only fund an occupational degree or certificate with its approval. 

Academic standards 
  • Withdrawing from a course (grade of W) may require you to repay the VA back to the start of the term; your last date of attendance is reported to the VA.
  • You must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to stay eligible for certification. Falling below satisfactory academic progress suspends certification until the issue is resolved.
  • A failing grade (F) may also require reporting your last date of attendance, including for students on academic probation or suspension.
  • If military obligations prevent you from finishing a course, the Director of Admissions & Records may issue a Military Withdrawal (MW) — provide your orders. An MW does not affect progress-probation considerations.
  • Veterans may receive 3.0 units of Health Education and 3.0 units of Physical Education credit by providing official documentation of at least one year of military service. Military coursework may also be evaluated for equivalency (ACE recommendations); awarded units appear as Credit (CR). 
Your responsibilities

To stay in good standing with the VA, you must:

  • Complete monthly enrollment verification with the VA.
  • Tell a School Certifying Official immediately about any enrollment change (adds, drops, withdrawals).
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress and a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  • Enroll only in courses required for your VA-approved program.
  • Submit a new Veteran Statement of Responsibility each term.
  • Keep your contact information current on VA.gov. 
Helpful VA contacts 

VA Education Call Center: 1-888-442-4551