OCC is committed to helping you succeed with our Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC). The VMRC provides social, educational, recreational, mentoring, advocacy, leadership, and academic support services designed to ensure your well-being, success, retention, and graduation.
You’ll find a dedicated office and staff that works exclusively with military and veteran-affiliated students to achieve their goals at the V.M.R.C. Additionally, many of our faculty and staff members are veterans, so you can be confident that we know what it takes to help you succeed.
Questions? Please contact the VMRC.
Available now at the VMRC: Walk-in tutoring hours
Monday:
Thursday:
Additionally, tutoring is available to all students in the Tutoring Center, on the 2nd Floor of the Instructional Building. Students can stop by or make an appointment.
Veterans Crisis Line – 988, Confidential Chat at: VeteransCrisisLine.net or text 838255
Veterans and service members experiencing difficulties in daily life or in distress can reach out to Check-In and trust that an advocate will find a licensed professional who can help.
| Checklist for Starting College | Contact Information / Forms |
| Visit the VMRC team to begin the enrollment process. Take a tour and learn about all OCC has to offer including scholarships and more! We look forward to working with you throughout your educational journey! | Veterans Program: BLDG #8 – 2nd Floor – Room 221 732.255.0400 ext. 2080 veterans@ocean.edu |
| Complete the OCC application for Admission | Contact the HUB: BLDG #9 – 732.255.0482 hub@ocean.edu |
| Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA) Apply for Veterans benefits through the V.A. (if utilizing benefits). Complete the Military and Veteran Required Forms. For Veteran Administration (VA) education benefit and compensation certification, inquire further to Ocean County College Certifying Official. | Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); VA – New Student Intake Form VA – Refund Policy and Enrollment Agreement Military and Veteran Educational Benefits Enrollment Certification Form VA – Support Document Upload Form |
| For assistance or questions concerning these forms, please contact the VMRC at: veterans@ocean.edu or call, 732-255-0400 ext. 2080 | Receive assistance from the following departments: Academic Advising, Student Enrollment Services, Registration and Financial Aid |
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.
The Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC) provides Green Zone Training across the campus for faculty, staff, and students as well as custom sessions for community organizations. Green Zone Training provides a general overview of military culture, structure, and norms that govern those who serve and impact their transition from the military to college and the civilian sector. Upon completion, participants will have a better understanding of the unique needs of military-affiliated students and be able to better assist them to identify and connect with appropriate resources.
For more information on how to sign up for this free training, contact the VMRC at veterans@ocean.edu.
The Military Friendly® School designation recognizes a college’s commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community.
The Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges 2023 designation is based on policies related to military and veteran students, academic outcomes, military-supportive cultures, costs, and financial aid.
All military and veteran affiliated students are welcome to use the services and resources at the center, including spouses and dependents.
Yes, you can join the Student Veterans Organization and our chapter of the Student Veterans of America Foundation.
OCC also offers a variety of other clubs and organizations you may want to join. Visit the Student Life page to learn more!
Yes, we offer a chapter of the S.A.L.U.T.E. Honor Society for Military and Veteran students.
To inquire about VA Educational Benefits, go to https://www.va.gov/education/
Point of Contact for VA Ed. Benefits: 1-888-442-4551
Any Chapter 31 Recipient or Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) need to work directly with their VA counselor.
The chapter recipient is responsible to retrieve their Certification of Eligibility letter from the VA and/or VA Education Counselors. This information must be submitted to Financial Aid, to have their benefits Certified and receive their benefits compensation.
If a Military Affiliated student drops or withdraws from a class, he/she may not be eligible to receive full funding from tuition assistance. Military Affiliated students will follow the refund schedule outlined in Policy# 5144.
| Drop/Withdrawal Date | Refund Amount |
|---|---|
| Prior to first day of class | 100% |
| Up to and including Census Date | 50% |
| After Census Date | 0% |
| 60% completion | 0% |
NJ Deployment and Mobilization Policy Information – Ocean County College is committed to supporting our students who are called to active duty service. If you are activated, please e-mail your orders to the School Certifying Official, Veteran Coordinator, and Veteran Advisor to assist in your transition from OCC to active duty.
If you require additional assistance, the Veteran and Military Resource Center is available and can be reached via email at veterans@ocean.edu
Any refund payable to a student who is a financial aid recipient shall be subject to the applicable State and federal regulations regarding refunds.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:62-4.2, a student at OCC who is unable to complete a course because the student is called to partial or full mobilization for State or federal active duty as a member of the National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be entitled to the options set forth in this policy with respect to the student’s grade for the course and the availability of refunds.
A student who has completed at least eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to:
Receive a letter grade; or
Receive a grade of pass or fail; or
Receive a grade of incomplete; or
Withdraw from the course.
A student who has completed less than eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to:
Receive a grade of incomplete; or
Withdraw from the course.
A letter grade or a grade of pass shall only be awarded if, in the opinion of the faculty member teaching the course, the student has
completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade.
A grade of incomplete shall remain valid for a period of one year after the student returns to OCC.
A student who chooses to accept a grade of pass or fail may, within one year after returning to OCC, receive a letter grade for the course by
completing the work required for the course, in which case the letter grade shall replace the pass or fail grade as the student’s grade for the
course.
A student who chooses to withdraw from a course shall receive a full refund of tuition and fees attributable to that course.
Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 – Signed into law on January 5, 2021, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L.116-315) provides for the improvement and/or expansion of various GI Bill programs. This includes Provision 1005, Requirements for In-State Tuition:
Veteran College Financing Plan
The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 requires educational institutions to make certain disclosures to students using federal military and/or VA educational benefits. You can access a personalized data sheet using the Net Price Calculator and additional financial information can be found at the NCES College Navigator site.
The Veteran College Financing Plan is a tool that students and parents can use to make comparisons of costs and aid offers from different institutions. Using a basic format, the plan presents information about your available financial aid, net costs, and how much you should expect to pay out-of-pocket. This information should be used to help you compare financial aid packages offered by different institutions. The financing plan generates figures that are estimates only and all tuition rates and fees are subject to change. It is intended to help you compare aid offers from different schools based on your “Estimated Net Cost” after grants/scholarships per academic year. Please understand that the College Financing Plan is not a bill.
All Military affiliated and Veteran students are encouraged to view their individual College Financing Plans with the understanding that the costs are being estimated and they may access this information located in their Self-Service account. Please be mindful that if you are viewing your individual financing plan the VA educational benefits will only appear if you have turned in all required documents.
The Ocean County College Office of Financial Aid will make information that is reported on the College Financing Plan available to all Military affiliated and Veteran students as direct costs a student will incur. A student’s Cost of Attendance (COA) total will always be much higher than a student’s direct cost to the institution because the COA consists of indirect cost items such as personal allowance, travel expenses, books and supplies. Therefore, when a student is making cost comparisons they only will need to compare the direct costs. After you are accepted, have identified yourself as Military affiliated or a Veteran, and Ocean County College has received the results of your FAFSA and certified your tuition and fees with the VA, you will have access to a personalized College Financing Plan.
For further assistance please contact the School Certifying Official in the Office of Financial Aid at 732-255-0310 or email kwilson-wylie@ocean.edu
Additional Information regarding OCC’s Veteran and Military Affiliated Students Tuition and Fees can be reviewed under Policy #5335.
[AT1] Requirements per NJ State Law
Tuition Payment Plans – Ocean County College offers a payment plan that divides the tuition and fee payments into equal installments, after pending aid and scholarships are considered and the initial deposit. View more information regarding an affordable Payment Plan today!
Telephone: 732.255.0400, Ext. 2080
Email: veterans@ocean.edu
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Student Center (Bldg 8) Room 221
Please email the Veterans Department at veterans@ocean.edu for all program initiatives and events, on or off campus, resources in non-profits, scholarships and engagements.
Christina Hernandez
Assistant Director
christina_hernandez1@ocean.edu
Jessica Richardson
VMRC Coordinator
jrichardson@ocean.edu
Students can estimate their individual cost of attending OCC using our Net Price Calculator tool.
Answer a few simple questions and receive an estimate instantly!