Veterans: Steps to Apply to HFCC

Thank you for choosing HFCC to continue your education! We look forward to working with you! Listed below is information to help you get started on the enrollment and certification process for students eligible for Veterans Educational Benefits.  If you have additional questions, please contact:

Crystal Napier

Manager, Registration and Records Office & Veteran’s Certifying Official

313.845.9894 or cnapier@hfcc.edu.

Welcome Center, 1st Floor

Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Thursday: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

  1. Applying for Admission to Henry Ford Community College

    1. If you have not already done so, please complete the HFCC Admission Application online at www.hfcc.edu/admissions. Please allow at least 3 business days for processing of your application
    2. If this is your first time enrolling in college, you will need to complete the COMPASS placement test in our Assessment Center. Be sure to bring your picture ID (driver's license and military ID card are acceptable) with you to the Assessment Center. You will need approximately 2 hours to complete the test. Assessment Center hours are Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (closed on Friday's during the spring and summer semesters).
    3. After you complete your placement testing schedule an appointment to meet with an HFCC Counselor. Be sure to bring a copy of your program plan of study (program evaluation) to the Veterans Certifying Official in the Registration and Records Office after you meet with a Counselor.
    4. Arrange to have your official transcripts sent to HFCC. If this is your first time enrolling in college, you will need to request that your high school send your final transcript to the college.
    5. Register for classes according to your degree program evaluation. You can register online using WebAdvisor at www.hfcc.edu/webadvisor. If you need registration assistance please visit the Registration and Records Office Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (closed on Friday's during the spring and summer semesters).
    6. TRANSFER STUDENTS: If you have previously enrolled at another college(s) you will need to request that your official transcripts be mailed to HFCC for evaluation. You may use unofficial transcripts for your initial term of registration. Depending on the courses you completed previously you may or may not need to complete the COMPASS placement test. Also, inform the VA Certifying Official if you have used your benefits at another institution.

  2. Applying for Veterans Educational Benefits

    1. You can complete the application process to the Department of Veterans Affairs while you are completing the admission and enrollment process at the college.
    2. Determine which VA benefit you may be eligible under:

      Chapter 30 - Montgomery G.I. Bill. Must have entered active duty on or after July 1, 1985, and must have made monthly contributions while on active duty.

      Chapter 31 - VetSuccess Program is for disabled veterans as determined by the Veterans Administration. To be considered for the VetSuccess/Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program a Veteran must have received or eventually receive an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge, have a VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or more, and apply for vocational rehabilitation services.

      Chapter 33 — Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. Served at least 90 days of active duty service on or after September 11, 2001 and received an honorable discharge.

      Chapter 35 - Spouses and dependent children of Veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled or who died while serving on active duty.

      Chapter 1606 - Selected Reservist or National Guard Members. Must have entered or extended their enlistment for at least six years on or after July 1, 1985.

      Chapter 1607 - REAP (Reserve Education Assistance Program). You must have served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under Title 10 US Code for a contingency operation and served at least 90 consecutive days or more.

    3. Complete the online application for VA benefits:
      1. When applying for benefits for the first time, you will need to complete VA Form 22-1990 electronically using the VonApp. You can complete the VonApp online at www.gibill.va.gov. This should be done as soon as possible. You should allow at least six weeks for processing by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
      2. Bring a copy of your submitted VonApp to the Veteran's Certifying Official in the Registration and Records Office.
      3. Submit a copy of your separation papers, Form DD 214 (Member page 4) to the Veteran's Certifying Official in the Registration and Records Office (Chapter 35 students do not need to submit this paper).
      4. Chapter 1606 students must submit a copy of their Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE Form DD 2384) to the Veteran's Certifying Official in the Registration and Records Office.
      5. If you have military training that you would like to have evaluated for college credit, request and submit your AARTS/SMART transcript to the Registration and Records Office. For additional information on Military Transcript Evaluation visit ACE | Military Programs.

Request Certification of Enrollment

Submit the HFCC VA Certification Request Form after you register for classes. Click here to access the VA Certification Form on the Registration and Records Office homepage. This form is to be returned to the Registration and Records Office. This form must be submitted every semester that you register and would like to be certified with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In Order to Comply with Department of Veterans Affairs Regulations:

  1. You must report any reduction or increase in training time or changes in your schedule to the Veteran's Certifying Official as soon as the changes are made to avoid possible overpayments made to you and/or the college. Failure to report drops could result in the loss of benefits dating back to the first day of the term and possibly money that you will need to return to the Department of Veterans Affairs due to overpayment. You must report ALL changes in your enrollment as they occur.
  2. If you are dismissed from the college due to un-satisfactory academic progress (academic dismissal), this information will be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Once you are permitted to return to the college approval will have to be granted by the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue enrollment certification for educational benefits.
  3. Grades such as I, U, DR, NA, and E (if the E grade is issued due to non-attendance or stopped attendance prior to the end of the semester) will be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs. This could result in a reduction of benefits for that semester dating back to the first date of the semester.
  4. The Department of Veterans Affairs regulations prohibit payment for repeated classes (A through D grades) or for classes that are not required for your degree. If a student earns a grade in a class that does not meet the prerequisite requirement for enrollment in the next course level required for their degree or program, that course can be repeated and submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs for certification. If a student is requesting certification for an elective course, the elective course must be listed on the program evaluation as a required pre-requisite, program admission requirement, or elective course needed to earn the total number of credits required for an Associate's Degree.

Note:

You must complete and return the HFCC VA Certification Request Form to the Registration and Records Office (LRC 013, LRC Building lower level) each semester you would like to receive your educational benefits. In addition, if you change your program of study you must inform the VA Certifying Official prior to enrollment certification and submit an updated program evaluation signed by a Counselor. If you have questions regarding program requirements or require advising assistance for course selection, please contact the Counseling Office at 313-845-9611 or 9612 to schedule an appointment with an HFCC Counselor or Advisor.

Enrollment Status

The Department of Veterans Affairs reviews the start and end date of your classes to determine your benefit eligibility for each semester. Online course enrollment is reported and used to determine benefit eligibility. If you are taking a class that is 100% online or that is partially online (classroom/web course) this may impact your monthly benefit amount, depending on the number of credits you are enrolled in that meet on campus for the duration of the semester.

Full-Time 12 or more credit hours
Three-Quarter Time 9–11 credit hours
Half-Time 6–8 credit hours
Less than Half-Time 1–5 credit hours

Additional Resources:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Military Tuition Assistance - Tuition Assistance through the Department of Defense may available to some Veterans. Please visit the Tuition Assistance website for additional information. All TA (Tuition Assistance) paperwork must be submitted to the Cashier’s Office for processing.

GI Bill Transferability - Veterans enrolled in the Post 9/11 (Ch 33) GI Bill program who would like to transfer educational benefits to a spouse or dependent, can visit the Department of Defense website for additional information on transferability of unused educational benefits.

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