SJCL is approved by CSAAVE to certify students for all chapters under a waiver from the Dept of Veteran’s Affairs through September 13, 2025. Any students enrolled by this date can utilize educational benefits as long as they are continuously enrolled in the program. For more information contact the school’s certifying official, Lisa Nilmeier.

SJCL is committed to helping our veteran students apply for and receive educational benefits, including Post 9/11, Vocational Readiness & Employment (VR&E), and Dependents’ Educational Assistance. To determine eligibility and apply for these benefits, go to the VA website at https://www.va.gov/education/. You may also call the VA regional office in Oklahoma (for California schools) at 888-442-4552 for further information and assistance. The SJCL VA Certifying Official is located in the Financial Aid Office. Veterans who have been approved for educational benefits must provide a copy of their DD214 (if applicable) and letter of eligibility to this office. You may contact the Financial Aid Office for further information and/or guidance.

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, 33 or 35.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), San Joaquin College of Law permits any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to SJCL a certificate of eligibility (COE) for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31, 33, or 35 and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

  1. The date on which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) provides payment for a course of education to an institution
  2. The date that is 90 days after the date on which the educational institution certifies for tuition and fees following receipt of the COE from the student

Additionally, San Joaquin College of Law will not:

  • Prevent the student’s enrollment
  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student due to delayed payment from the DVA
  • 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

GI BILL® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)