**IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR SPRING 2023 VA BENEFICIARIES**
The PennWest - Cal Office of Military & Veterans Success has been informed by the (federal) @Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that our current processing platform, VA-ONCE, will sunset after January 13, 2023.
We are told that the new platform, Enrollment Manager, will become active at the end of January. Due to this change, if you will be using education benefits this spring, we HIGHLY encourage/recommend that you to submit your
Application for Enrollment' form to us as soon as possible. I anticipate that by us processing as many enrollment certifications (VA 1999s) now, it will reduce the chance of a delay in your January stipend benefits (the funds paid to you). My office never has and never will guarantee the timing of VA payments such as tuition/fees or BAH and book stipends. Processing your enrollment now is the best course of action that we have in an attempt to mitigate all of this. Additionally, our office will be closed during the Christmas break from December 26 - 30. I will have limited access to e-mails during this time.
Thank you to those who have already submitted their Spring 2023 'Application for Enrollment' forms to us.
We will continue to work with each student individually, with Student Accounts to ensure there are no late fees, and work with each student over the holiday break, to ensure as much as a seamless transition that we can possibly hope for. Thank you for your understanding, patience and cooperation as we work with the Department of Veterans Affairs and their migration to a better operating system.
*NOTE* this "should not" have any impact on the winter 2022 certifications sent to the VA. This change to Enrollment Manger is impacting colleges/universities and other trade schools across the globe.
Mr. Robert Prah, '06 & '10 Director, Office of Military & Veterans Affairs prah@pennwest.edu
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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.