Veterans Resource Center

We Are Glad That You Are Here! 

The Veterans Resource Center at Luna Community College is a place where veterans and their dependents can seek information about educational opportunities.

We Can Help With:

• VA education benefits
• Luna VA Forms
  • VA Certification of Understanding
  • VA Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Form
  • VA Request for Certification
• Academic and career advisement
• Peer-to-peer mentoring
• Counseling
• Surrounding area and community resources
• Information regarding upcoming workshops
• Pending Payment Compliance

Allowing Veterans to Attend or Participate in Courses Pending VA Payment

Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 115-407, ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018,’ amends Title 38 US Code 3679 by adding a new subsection (e) that requires disapproval of courses of education, beginning August 1, 2019, at any educational institution that does not have a policy in place that will allow an individual to attend or participate in a course of education, pending VA payment, providing the individual submits a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Luna Community College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-⁹⁄₁₁ G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Veteran Readiness & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA, for up to 90 days. Luna Community College will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
• Provide a written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies

Veterans

Veterans receiving U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits are eligible for in-state tuition through the Veterans In-State Tuition Act by submitting a “Resident Tuition Application for Active Military, Veterans and Dependents of the U.S. Armed Forces” waiver.

Veteran students enrolled under the following programs are responsible for their tuition and fees in the same manner as a nonveteran student:

• Montgomery GI Bill®-Active Duty (CH 30)
• Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (CH 35)
• Montgomery GI Bill®-Selected Reserve (CH 1606)

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 https://www.va.gov/education/

Dependents Receiving VA Educational Benefits

Per NM 2015 HB 427:

A spouse or child of a veteran of the armed forces is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for New Mexico residents; provided that the spouse or child is eligible for benefits pursuant to the federal Post-⁹⁄₁₁ Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or any other federal law authorizing educational benefits for a veteran and the dependents of a veteran. Please contact VRC for the required documents needed to complete the waiver application.