What's New
Check back on a regular basis for info on new programs, benefits, news, and events. You can also sign up for the vets email list to keep up to date with whats going on by sending and email to stevensk@sunyocc.edu.
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:
- Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
- Are unemployed on the date of application
- Received an other than dishonorable discharge
- Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
- Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
- Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
The program is limited to 45,000 participants from July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012, and 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. Participants must attend full-time in order to receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program ($1,564 effective October 1, 2012).
http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm
Recent Changes to Veterans Benefits
Effective 8/1/2011, “Interim pay” (payments between semesters) has been
discontinued. Students attending Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 will only
receive partial payments for the months of December and January.
Effective
8/1/2011, Vocational Rehabilitation participants who are eligible and
who have applied for Post 9/11 benefits may now elect the higher housing
allowance offered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Effective 8/1/2009
but not payable until 10/1/2011. Certain National Guard members
mobilized under Title 32 orders may now be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI
Bill.
Effective 10/1/2011, Post 9/11 recipients who are not
full –time will have their housing allowance pro-rated accordingly.
Previously, if attending over half-time you received the full housing
allowance, but this has been discontinued.
Effective 10/1/2011,
the Post 9/11 Housing Allowance is now available to Post 9/11 recipients
enrolled solely in distance learning (on-line) classes. The housing
allowance will be one-half the national average BAH (approximately
$673/month).
Effective 10/1/2011, the Post 9/11 book stipend is now payable to active duty members.
Student Veteran and College Employee Surveys/Focus Groups
During the summer and fall of 2009, Onondaga faculty, staff and student-veterans were invited to participate in surveys and focus groups designed to provide input that would assist the Office of Veterans' Affairs to increase services to veterans and improve the campus climate for returning Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans. The results are posted below: