Veterans Application

A student who is a veteran, active duty military or a dependent of a veteran seeking to utilize a VA Educational Entitlement (GI Bill) or Active Duty Military Tuition Assistance.

As a veteran student, you will have access to support from the Veteran Services office, with dedicated staff to help you discover opportunities.

Eligible Programs and Courses 

- All of RRCC’s degree and certificate programs are eligible for VA Education Benefits. 

- The following classes are not eligible: 

• OUT 2002 – Open Water Diver; OUT 2003 – Adv Open Water Diver; OUT 2005 – Divemaster; OUT 2007 – Open Water Scuba Instructor; OUT 2300 – Rescue Diver; FST 1000 – Firefighter I Academy; FST 1007 – Hazmat Operations (Level 1), OUT 2220 – Outdoor Education Leadership 
• RRCC is required to confirm that program and course offerings meet VA’s rules. Eligible programs and classes are subject to change. DegreeCheck is the best tool for doing this and can be accessed on the Dashboard of The Rock.

STEP 1:  Apply to RRCC

• Get started by completing the free online application. Use the Create Account option on the Welcome page and continue to complete the full application.

STEP 2: Apply for your Education Benefits

• If it’s your first-time using benefits, you need to apply at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. 

STEP 3: Review and Verify Your Information

• To keep your account safe and protect you from identity theft, we’ve added this extra step to our process. We really appreciate you taking the time to verify your information. During this step, we'll also review your account and go over next steps.
• You can complete this process in one of two ways:
• In person at the Lakewood or Arvada campus:
  Please bring a government-issued photo ID or your high school ID—this is required to remove the hold from your account.
• Over Zoom:
  Please have your camera on and a government-issued photo ID or your high school ID ready. It’s also helpful to have your student ID number on hand. Click here to join the Zoom room You can join a Zoom session Monday – Thursday 10am-2pm and 4pm-6pm and Friday 11am – 4pm.

STEP 4: Complete the Required College Overview (Online)

Online: Learn at your own pace by completing the Required College Overview! Follow the steps below for instructions on how to access the online information:

• Log on to The Rock with your S#
  • Your temporary password is Student followed by your date of birth: StudentMMDDYYYY
• Click on “Required College Overview” at the bottom of the page

Need help? We are here to support you! Learn how to schedule an appointment with an Admissions Counselor by Watching this Video or following these Step-by-step instructions.

STEP 5: Apply for and Authorize the College Opportunity Fund (COF)

• COF is required for CH 31 VR&E and most beneficial for CH 30, 35 & 1606 to lower your tuition bill.

STEP 6: Potential Free Money - Grants and Scholarships (optional but recommended)

In most cases, you are able to collect Financial Aid, Grants and VA education benefits at the same time.

1. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.  This form determines your eligibility for Federal financial aid.  Click here for more information about financial aid. RRCC School Code - 009543
2. Check out scholarship opportunities

STEP 7: Transcript Evaluation

VA Education Benefits REQUIRE that your previous education be evaluated for transfer credit.
Joint Services Transcripts (JSTs) will be automatically evaluated, if applicable. This evaluation will happen during your first semester at RRCC (effective Fall 2023).
College Transcripts including Community College of the Air Force
1. Order an official copy of your transcript(s) sent to RRCC at:
       Student Records, Box 8 

      Red Rocks Community College 

      13300 W 6th Ave Lakewood, CO 80228-1255 

      student.records@rrcc.edu

2. Verify that your declared program is correct by checking your account in Navigate or DegreeCheck on The Rock Dashboard.
3. Complete the Transfer Credit Evaluation Request form .  The transcript evaluation process can take up to 4 weeks once    everything is received. It’s important to start this process early. If you need to request a prerequisite override before your official transcripts are evaluated, Submit your Prerequisite Override Request  

STEP 8: Complete your Self-Assessments

• You must justify the need for developmental English or Math classes (start with a “0”; example: MAT 0300) when using VA/DoD education benefits. The only way to justify these classes is to complete the placement tests. RRCC has two options for completing this requirement: 
• Accuplacer Test or a self-assessment.
• English self-guided assessment
  College Algebra self-guided assessment
  Liberal Arts Math self-guided assessment
  Reminder: for VA benefits, developmental courses must be 100% on-campus. Check for “Classroom Based” sections when registering.

STEP 9: Meet with your Pathway Advisor

• Meeting with your Pathway Advisor is recommended prior to registration. An Advisor will help you select courses, identify course prerequisites, obtain program information, evaluate placement results, assist with transfer planning to a four-year college or university, and prepare you for graduation.
• Log into Navigate or call the Advising Front Desk at (303) 914-6275 to schedule an appointment.
•  Watch this short video on how to schedule an appointment in Navigate or Click here for step-by-step instructions.
• Accessibility Services works with students who have disabilities and learning differences to provide access to courses, programs and activities through accommodations and supports.  

STEP 10: Register for classes

• Use Navigate to plan out your entire time at RRCC! Explore academic programs with Major Explorer, find important to-do’s, and drag and drop courses into different semesters to see your exact path to graduation. 
• Watch this short video on how to register for classes in Navigate.
• Keep in mind that VA will only pay for classes required for your declared program. DegreeCheck is the best tool for doing this and can be accessed on the Dashboard of The Rock.
• Once registered, visit the bookstore. Click Textbooks at the top of the page to see what books you may need for your specific classes. You can also call the bookstore for more information and price matching at 303-914-6232. 

STEP 11: Request Certification

• Once you have settled your class schedule, you will need to request certification by completing the Certification Request form on the Military Benefits tab of The Rock. This must be done EVERY semester. You can submit it immediately after registering for classes, but it’s best if you wait until you’ve settled your class selections. More detailed instructions on how to complete this form can be found at www.rrcc.edu/veteran-services/va-certification.
• NOTE: RRCC does not require a copy of your Certification of Eligibility (COE) or DD214 except under rare circumstances.

STEP 12: Attend New Student Orientation 

New Student Orientation (NSO) is your official introduction to our college community. This essential program is designed to help you transition smoothly into college life, providing you with all the tools, resources, and connections you need to start your academic journey on the right foot.  

Register for an upcoming New Student Orientation

STEP 13: Check your Student Email Regularly 

• Your student email is activated after registering for classes and can be accessed on The Rock. It is essential that you check your student email account regularly or have it forwarded to an account that you do check often. Forwarding options are under the settings area of your student email.
• Your student email account is the primary means of communication from the school to you. Forgetting to check your student email is not a valid excuse for missing important information.

STEP 14: Get your RRCC student ID card (if all of your courses are online, you will not be issued a student ID card.)

• Get your student ID from the Student Life offices at both the Lakewood and Arvada Campuses: Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Appointments are encouraged and walk-ins may be accommodated. For evening hours, please make an appointment request through Navigate.
• Watch this short video on how to schedule an appointment in Navigate 

Accessibility Services
The role of Accessibility Services is to remove barriers for students with disabilities by providing support and accommodations. Disabilities can be physical, psychological, developmental, related to learning or health related.
Contact Accessibility Services to schedule an intake appointment. More information is available at www.rrcc.edu/accessibility-services.

*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 website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

RRCC is an approved member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).

Go to https://www.nc-sara.org/ for more information. Information for professional licensure can be found here.