Transforming Military Experience to College Success

California State University, Fresno has a veteran service office dedicated to helping veterans and active-duty personnel take advantage of the university’s incredible opportunities, and to make full use of their benefits.

• All active-duty military personnel stationed in California and their dependents are eligible for waiver of non-resident fees while attending as an undergraduate, and for one year while attending graduate studies at California State University, Fresno.
• Servicemembers who remain in California after discharge from active duty may also be eligible for a waiver of non-resident fees.
• Servicemembers who have a California “home of record” are eligible to pay California resident fees regardless of current duty station or assignment.
• Dependents of service-connected disabled veterans may be eligible for waiver of systemwide fees while attending California State University, Fresno.
• Veterans and active-duty students may use their Montgomery GI Bill benefits while attending California State University, Fresno.
• Active-duty servicemembers may use DOD tuition assistance and other educational benefits at California State University, Fresno.

Students planning to attend Fresno State should contact the Veterans Services Office a couple months prior to the beginning of their first semester to learn how to file for benefits. Students that miss the application deadline due to circumstances beyond their control (i.e. serving in the military active duty) should contact the Veterans Services Office or Office of Admissions for information regarding petition appeal process.

At Fresno State we offer:
Educational benefits to veterans and dependents under:

• Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty)
• Chapter 31: Service connected disabled veteran with a disability status of 20% or more. (Vocational Rehabilitation)
• Chapter 1606: National Guard or Reserve (Montgomery GI Bill – Reservists)
• Chapter 1607: For certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001.(Reserve Educational Assistance Program)
• Chapter 35: Dependents, widows, and widowers. (Dependents Educational Assistance)
• California Veterans Fee Waiver Program (Dependents of Veterans with a Service-Connected Disability)

The California Veterans Fee Waiver Program is offered through California Veterans Certification Offices, located in counties throughout California. Information on this program (eligibility information, application form, instructions on how to apply, locations for County Veterans Certification Office) can be found at: http://www.cacvso.org.

The link to the College Tuition Fee Waiver Application can be found at: http://www.cdva.ca.gov/VetService/DocsAndImages/dvs40.pdf.

To identify the eligibility requirements and benefits, go to : http://www.csufresno.edu/are/registrar/veterans/benefits.shtml

Please note that in order for a student to use their benefits while attending California State University, Fresno the student must be a regularly matriculated student and all classes taken must be required for the educational objective selected.

Priority Registration
In recognition of the men and women that serve us and our country, SB 272 (Runner) was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 9, 2007. The bill grants priority college registration to veterans attending public colleges and universities. Veterans may use priority registration beginning Summer 2008. This means you will have the opportunity to register for classes before all other students.

Veterans Receiving Educational Benefits
If you are eligible for VA Educational Benefits (Chapters 30, 31, 32, 1606, 1607), please call (559) 278-7030 and make an appointment to see Robyn Gutierrez to register. Robyn Gutierrez is the Veterans Benefits Coordination for California State University, Fresno.

Veterans must:

• Submit a copy of their DD Form 214 (Member-4 copy) to the Admissions & Records Office.
• Make a registration appointment with a counselor at (559) 278-7030 one week after submitting DD Form 214 to the Admissions & Records Office.

Veterans NOT Receiving Educational Benefits
Veterans who are not eligible for VA Educational Benefits are also entitled to priority registration.

California State University, Fresno values its veterans, active duty military and dependent students. We will do everything in our ability to aid you in your transition from servicemember to student.

Credit for Military Experience
California State University, Fresno is guided by the recommendations of the American Council on Education in granting undergraduate credit toward the bachelor's degree for military service. Post-graduate credit is not granted.

To obtain credit for military service, you must be fully matriculated, be enrolled at the university, and submit a SMARTS or AARTS transcript, Form DD-214 or DD-295 to:

California State University, Fresno
Admissions & Records Office
5150 N. Maple M/S JA57
Fresno, CA 93740

Contact information:
Fresno State Veterans Services: (559) 278-7030.

Am I eligible for Veteran Benefits?

To determine your benefits consult the ESO on your base or contact one of the following:

• Your local Veteran Affairs Office
• VA Education phone number 888-442-4551 or you can go to http://www.gibill.va.gov

How do I apply for education benefits?
How you apply for benefits depends on whether or not you’ve decided on your program.
If You've Decided on a Program

1. Find out if the program is approved for VA benefits. To do this, you can check the GI Bill web site or contact VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1. If the program has been approved for VA benefits, check in with the school Veteran Affairs Office who certifies enrollments for VA benefits. VA will review your application and let you know whether they need anything else. The certifying official isn’t a VA employee, and can’t make decisions about your eligibility for VA benefits.
2. Go to www.gibill.va.gov under ‘Education Benefits’ click on ‘How to apply for benefits’. You can fill out the VA Form 22-1990 online or obtain a hard copy application from the Veteran Affairs Office. Submit your signature form (for online applications) to the Regional Processing Office in Muskogee, Oklahoma. If you submit your VA Form 22-1990 online, bring in a copy to the Veterans Affairs Office at the school you are applying to.

If You Haven’t Decided on a Program

1. If you haven’t decided on a program, or simply want a determination of your eligibility for education benefits, just submit the application to the VA regional office in Muskogee, Oklahoma. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a Certificate of Eligibility showing how long you’re eligible and how many months of benefits you can receive.

Transitioning from Service Member to Student

How to Apply and Transition Successfully into Fresno State:

1 . Speak with and Outreach Counselor to see if you meet the regular requirements for admissions at (559) 278-2048 or http://gotofresnostate.com

2. Complete an online application via http:///www.csumentor.edu during the application filing period.

3. On the application, mark that you will be paying the $55.00 application fee by check. Do not send payment. Veteran students are waived from having to pay the $55.00 application fee. After submitting your online application, please e-mail rgutierrez@csufresno.edu or call (559) 278-7030 to request a waiver of the application fee.

4. Order official transcripts to account for all credits completed:Request high school and college transcripts from institutions attended.

• CLEP/DANTES score reports: http://www.collegeboard.com
• AP score reports: http://www.ets.org
• Air Force: http://www.au/af/mil/au/ccaf
• Army: http://aarts.army.mil/Order.htm

5. Send high school transcripts (if less than 60 semester units of transferable college credit), college transcripts, and SATI/ACT score reports to the following address:

California State University, Fresno
Admissions & Records Office
5150 N. Maple M/S JA57
Fresno, CA 93740

6. Be sure to adhere to all admission deadlines, especially the final document deadline.

7. Send DD214 (if discharged) or DD295 (if still enlisted) to the Office of Admissions.


8. Contact Fresno State Veteran Services Coordinator, in the Veteran Services Office, regarding benefits information at (559) 278-7030. Discuss the submittal of benefits paperwork, based off of given deadlines, to the appropriate offices.

9. If needed, apply for financial aid using the FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and speak with a Financial Aid Counselor at (559) 278-2182 regarding how G.I. benefits may affect your potential Financial Aid Award.

10. Check email for User Id and Password by logging into http://my.csfresno.edu Use the http://my.csfresno.edu website to check ‘admission status,’ ‘to do list,’ and to view ‘messages.’

11. If admitted, attend Dog Day New Student Orientation. Contact Academic Advising at (559) 278-4885 to sign up for Dog Days.

Depending on your level of education upon entry to Fresno State, placement exams may be required prior to registering for classes.

Certification of Coursework

All veterans, spouses or dependents must have classes they are enrolled in certified every semester.

• All enrolled coursework should pertain to declared major.
• Once registered in all your classes, fill out the Enrollment Card.
• The completed Enrollment Card should be turned in to Veterans' Services.
• Veterans representatives will review coursework and determine continued eligibility.
• Any changes to enrollment (adds or drops) must be reported to Veterans' Services immediately.

It is each student's responsibility (chapters 30, 1606 & 1607) to process their monthly enrollment verification (either by phone at (877) 823-2378 or online at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave)