Veterans’ Benefits

We would like to thank you for your interest in River Parishes Community College! The College provides services for Veterans within our Office of Student Services/Financial Aid Office. The Office of Financial Aid has been trained to assist you in accessing your benefits. These benefits may include: assisting you in applying for your GI Bill® benefits, certifying your enrollment to the Veteran’s Administration for payment each semester, and resolving any issues with payment. The information below highlights some of the benefits provided by River Parishes Community College, but may not be inclusive of all veteran’s educational benefits programs. For more information or a complete list, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at http://www.gibill.va.gov/ or 1-888-442-4551.

Admission to the College

All applicants must complete an online application to River Parishes Community College (RPCC). Apply Now Please note that some degree programs require additional application and/or application materials.

Veterans’ Education Benefits Program

VA educational benefits may be authorized for veterans and qualified dependents under the specific chapters of Title 38, U.S. Code (USC). Each VA education program has distinct eligibility requirements. RPCC cannot determine your eligibility for any of these programs. In order to apply for a VA benefit, you can obtain an application at http://www.gibill.va.gov/. On the back of the application, you will find the various VA chapters and the general eligibility requirements for each. Specific questions regarding the application or eligibility should be directed to 1-888-442-4551. RPCC’s VA representative can be contacted at [email protected]. VA students are encouraged to contact RPCC’s VA representative prior to enrollment to review students’ rights and responsibilities in regards to VA funds.

Credit for Prior Training and Experience

If you receive Veterans educational assistance, you are required by law (38 U.S.C., 1775 and 1776) to provide official transcripts of prior education, training, and experience at the time you enroll.  An evaluation of your prior education and training will be conducted. Approved credit will appear on your official RPCC transcript.

All military training and education are documented on the Joint Services Transcript (JST), which is available online. Service members can obtain a copy of their JST by visiting the JST website.

Who JST Serve: Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy: Active Duty, Reserve, and Veterans.

Follow these steps to obtain and access your JST:

1. Register for a JST account.
2. Click on the ‘Transcripts’ tab at the top of the page, then click the ‘Official Transcript Request’ tab.
3. Type in the institute name or any part of the name and click ‘search’ or hit the enter key.
4. Verify online delivery method. (RPCC only accepts transcripts online directly from JST)

Approved Programs

The DVA will pay eligible student education benefits for an approved program of education or training. An approved program is a course of study which the appropriate state approving agency has determined meets the legal requirements for payment of DVA educational assistance. All RPCC approved programs can be found in a Department of Veteran Affairs online database and all RPCC Accreditations can be found on the RPCC Accreditation and Compliance webpage.

Change in Student Status

It is the responsibility of the student to notify your VA representative if you reduce the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled. This includes if you withdraw from a course, terminate enrollment, or make any other changes that impact your payment status. Failure to notify your VA representative of the changes in enrollment may result in an overpayment of your benefits. If this occurs the DVA will collect all overpayments from the student.

Change of Address

The student must notify RPCC and the VA representative of any change of address.

Repeating Subjects

The DVA will not pay for a student to repeat a course if you have received a passing grade for the course previously. The DVA will pay for a course to be repeated if: you receive a grade of an “F” in the course and it is required for graduation or if you receive a “D” in a course for which a minimum grade of “C” is required.

Students Called to Active Duty

RPCC follows Louisiana Board of Regents Uniformed Services Mobilization policy, Academic Affairs policy 2.21. If you are called to active duty (National Guard, Reservist, Discharged Veteran), you must submit a copy of your orders to [email protected] to initiate the Uniformed Services Mobilization policy.

Yellow Ribbon Program

RPCC does not currently participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

New Veteran Student Checklist

• Printable GI Bill® Checklist for new students
• Submit an online application and declare a major.
• Submit a “Certificate of Eligibility” to the VA Representative.
• Apply for financial aid.
• Submit transcripts of all previous education, training, or experience.
• Submit immunization records.
• Register for classes.
• Submit the RPCC VA EDUCATION ENROLLMENT FORM to your School Certifying Official or the Financial Aid Office.
• The VA Representative will complete your enrollment verification each semester. Please email [email protected]  regarding any questions or concerns you may have.

*In compliance with the Department of Defence Instruction (DoDI) 1322.25, RPCC provides academic and student services and does not participate in the use of unfair, deceptive, and abusive recruiting practices. RPCC adheres to Department of Education (DoE) guidelines in relation to incentive compensation.