Veterans Affairs

The Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA) provides assistance to the veteran population at ECC. The office is located on the fourth level of the megastructure as part of Enrollment Services and provides enrollment certification services for qualifying veterans and eligible dependents. Eligibility determination is made by the Veterans Administration. ECC complies with Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other Family Members, which were developed to strengthen consumer protection for our service-members, veterans, and their families, as well as ensure access to information needed to make informed decisions concerning use of their educational benefits.

Service-members who served after Sept. 10, 2001 are eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill© (Chapter 33) Educational Benefits. The Post-9/11 GI Bill© provides up to 36 months of education benefits. Some service-members may also transfer unused GI Bill© benefits to their dependents. If a service-member was released from active duty before January 1, 2013, there is a 15-year time limitation for use of benefits. For individuals whose last discharge date is on or after January 1, 2013, the time limitation has been removed. The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) is available for children and spouses of service-members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. The Montgomery GI Bill© (MGIB) is available to those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces.

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There are two main programs: (1) Montgomery GI Bill© Active Duty (MGIB-AD) (Chapter 30) Benefits are generally payable for 10 years following release from honorable active service; and, (2) Montgomery GI Bill© Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) (Chapter 1606) For Reservists with a 6-year obligation in the Selected Reserve who are actively drilling; eligibility normally ends the day the individual leaves the Selected Reserve. ECC permits any member of the New Jersey National Guard to enroll and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free provided that member completed all requirements. ECC complies with N.J. Statutes § 18A:62-4.2 - Tuition Benefits for Members of N.J. National Guard; State Payment. Any member of the N.J. National Guard whose enrollment on a tuition-free basis is interrupted by deployment to active duty shall be permitted to receive the free tuition benefit after discharge from service under conditions other than dishonorable. A veteran may be eligible for Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) benefits if he/she is or will be discharged under other than dishonorable conditions and incurred or aggravated a service-connected disability which entitles him/her to VA disability compensation. 

Nov 11, 2022

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program (Chapter 35) offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. Based on PL 115-407 an Enrollment Certificate for Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 will be submitted to the VA on or before 1st day of class as long as eligible students submit the following: (1) Certificate of Eligibility or its equivalents; and, (2) Provide written request to be certified. They may not withdraw from the College without notification to the Certifying Veterans Officer. The date of withdrawal will be the determining date for benefits. ECC degree and certificate programs are approved by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, The State Approving Agency under Title 38, U.S. Code, Section 1775, for veterans training. Students receiving VA educational benefits are charged in-state tuition. 

Vets Day Flag Raising