Located in the Student Services Complex, Room S-1027

Transitioning from military life to campus life can be difficult for many veterans. Veterans can find it challenging to readjust while balancing other responsibilities, coping with military related challenges, or finding peers on campus. The Veterans Freedom Center provides a one-stop location with trained staff prepared to provide a combination of services stressing academics, camaraderie, and wellness. We empathize with veterans many struggles; and strive to help veterans help themselves achieve success. You can contact the VFC via phone (408)223-6789, or email evcvet@evc.edu

Amenities
The VFC is a dedicated space for Veterans that includes a lounge/study area, computer lab with free printing services, and kitchenette. It is a great place to socialize and gather with like-minded students. 

Staff
A dedicated Veteran Counselor provides opportunities to clarify students’ personal, academic, and career values and goals. These services are available to both Veterans and their dependent family members whether they plan to utilize VA educational benefits or not.  Prior to your appointment, students must have at least an unofficial copy of transcripts from all previously attended colleges to present to the Veteran Counselor during their counseling appointment.  Official transcripts must be submitted directly to Admissions and Records.  Students planning to use their veterans’ education benefits are required to schedule an appointment each semester with a veterans’ counselor to complete your education plan. Per Veterans Administration Policy, all Veteran students and dependents applying for benefits are required to have an approved Education Plan.  You may call (408)223-6789 for an appointment or email evcvet@evc.edu.

Our Veterans Program Specialist is the Veterans/Dependents liaison that can assist students in navigating through their educational journey at EVC and provides veterans community resources. Whenever possible we connect you with the resource that can best serve your needs such career, internship or scholarship opportunities. Resources provided may also relate to student wellness, VA medical resources or mental health resources. A few of the many resources are the VA Medical Team visits our veterans at the campus monthly, VA employment specialists, and University application counseling. The VFC also hosts veteran related events during the school year that promote the value of a veteran.         

Veterans Priority Registration:
Per California SB 272 & SB 361, priority registration will be granted to any current member or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has received an honorable discharge, a general discharge, or an other than honorable discharge within the last 2 years.  Priority registration is not an automatic process.  You must request for priority registration prior to the start of the registration period by submitting a copy of your DD-214 or military ID (CAC card) to the Veterans Freedom Center  EVCVet@evc.edu

Veterans Educational Benefits

We are dedicated to helping veterans and their families’ access the many educational benefit programs offered under the Veterans Administration Educational Benefits Program.  These benefits include a monthly educational allowance. Most, but not all, of the courses at Evergreen Valley College are approved for payment of VA benefits. Interested veterans and/or eligible dependents must meet with the Veterans' counselor (preferably before you register for courses), register for only approved courses , and complete a Class Certification Form for each enrollment period (Semester) in which they wish to receive educational benefits, which must match your Education Plan. To receive Veterans Benefits, all Veteran Students are required to have an Educational Plan (Ed Plan) created and approved by a Veterans Counselor. Visit the Veterans Freedom Center or email us at EVCVet@evc.edu to initiate your benefits processing.

Veterans collecting educational benefits are subject to the following academic standards of the Veterans Administration for continuing eligibility: 1. Must maintain a minimum of at least a 2.0 (C) cumulative grade point average in course work attempted. 2. Veterans falling below a 2.0 (C) cumulative grade point average are given a maximum of two (2) semesters to correct the academic deficiency and bring their cumulative grade point average to at least the 2.0 (C) minimum requirements. 3. Veterans may be reinstated when the student’s progress is satisfactory i.e. cumulative grade point of 2.0 (C) or higher.

To receive the minimum basic allowance for housing (BAH) for Post 9/11 GI Bill®* and Other Military Education Benefits your units must total minimally 51%.  For example, for a student looking to take the minimum of units to get their BAH during a regular semester.  A regular semester is 12 units full time, so you would need to be enrolled in 7 units to receive BAH. VA requirements may change, so please refer to the VA website to confirm current policies. https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

* 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 website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Effective August 1, 2009, students whose enrollment was exclusively distance learning training (online) were not eligible for the full monthly housing allowance (MAH). In order to obtain the full monthly housing allowance, students must do the following: 

• Register for the full-time course load each term (unit amounts for full-time status vary per semester) 
• Take at least one in-person class or hybrid course (hybrid courses are a combination of online learning and scheduled in-person, on-campus class meetings)

* 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 website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Title 38 of the United States Code (U.S.C) §3679(e) effective August 1, 2019

In accordance to Title 38 of the United States Code (U.S.C) §3679(e), Evergreen Valley College has updated its current policy regarding the enrollment of covered individuals in terms of charging tuition and penalties related to the delay in the payment from the VA.

Waiver of Non-Resident Tuition for Covered Individual

A student who lives in California and is eligible for education benefits under Chapter 30, 31 or 33 are granted a waiver of non- resident tuition regardless of his/her formal State of residence. A cover individual is defined as:

• A veteran who enrolls in school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more, or
• A spouse or dependent child using transferred benefits who enrolls within three years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more, or
• Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship; or
• A spouse or dependent child using transferred benefits and the transferor is serving on active duty effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning after July 1, 2017; or
• An individual using educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) (regardless of their formal State of residence) effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning March 1, 2019.

A student who initially qualifies under the applicable requirements above will maintain “covered individual” status as long as they remain continuously enrolled.

To request the waiver, student must submit the California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request for Military/Veteran/Dependent form together with supporting documents (Certificate of Eligible for Chapter 30, 33; or VAF 28-1905 authorization form for chapter 31).

Delay in the payment from the VA

A student who provides a copy DD-214-Honorable Discharge with the Application for the GI Bill® * a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility, or VAF 28-1905 authorization form will:

• Be exempted from tuition payment.  No late fee will be charged to student’s account.
• Not be denied access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have paid off their balance or set up payment plan.
• Not required to borrow additional funding to cover tuition and fees while waiting for the payment.

Note:

• Student must request enrollment to be submitted each semester to receive the benefit.
• Students that are using Chapter 30, 31, 33 or 35 and are not eligible for 100% of their benefits are encouraged to apply to Financial Aid to receive assistance in paying any tuition fees not covered by the VA educational benefits. For any more questions, please contact the Certifying Official at the Admissions and Records office. 
• Students who do not want to receive the benefit must pay off the balance prior to enrolling in the next semester or by the end of the current semester. No late fee will be charged to student’s account if student does not pay off the balance.