The Department of Veterans Affairs has an informative GI Bill™ How to Apply web page that you can use to determine your benefit eligibility, compare programs, calculate your benefit and apply online. The VA can take at least 45 days to approve your benefits and often will take longer
Complete the steps for admission and enroll at Columbia. Steps include submitting your online application, completing the online orientation, meeting with a counselor to create an education plan and to be placed in math and English and applying for financial aid.
Email the following military documents to the Columbia Veteran Certifying Official Lesley Brunner, brunnerl@yosemite.edu
During your first counseling meeting, you will develop an Education Plan in Starfish with one of the VA education counselors, Rebekah Rogers or Katie Marquez.
Your plan will be accessed when your units are reported to the VA. Units that are not on your education plan cannot be certified.
Additionally, you must declare a major by your second semester. After deciding your major, you may need to make another counseling appointment to create a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan if you haven't done so.
Certification is not automatic. To have your certification submitted to the VA, you must register for classes, complete the electronic, fillable Certification/Decertification Form and email your certification form to the School Certifying Official, Lesley Brunner. brunnerl@yosemite.edu
Please fill your form out electronically using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software program on your computer or the free Adobe Fill & Sign app to your phone. You don't need to print the form to complete it.
Read the red box below to learn about the monthly enrollment verification requirement the VA requires.
