Veterans Benefits Coordinator (5137C), Office of the Registrar #87646

School Certifying Official for Veterans Educational Benefits

• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of and ensures compliance with all statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures for federal, State, UC, and campus veterans’ educational benefits—particularly those for VA Chapters 30 and 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill), Chapter 31 (Veterans Readiness & Employment), Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill), Chapter 35 (Dependents Educational Assistance), the California College (Cal Vet) Fee Waiver, the DoD Tuition Assistance program, and residency for UC tuition purposes.
• Certifies eligible students for veterans’ educational benefits using the VA’s Enrollment Manager portal both accurately and in a timely manner.
• Amends certifications to reflect changes in tuition and fees, enrollment and financial aid packaging; submits end-of-term reports in compliance with all statutes, regulations, policies, procedures and deadlines.
• Certifies eligibility for the Cal Vet tuition waivers using the Cal Vet College Waiver System. Applies the waivers in accordance with California Department of Veterans Affairs, OR, University and UC policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with colleagues in Financial Aid and Scholarships, Residence Affairs and Student Financials to ensure they are accurately applied and to resolve issues impacting the timely processing of the waivers.
• Liaises with Residence Affairs to verify veterans’ eligibility for in-state tuition under federal guidelines (e.g., Section 702 of the Choice Act), ensuring timely reclassification of resident status or application of nonresident tuition waiver and benefit processing.
• Serves in an advisory role to peers throughout the UC system, particularly in response to VA regulatory updates and compliance interpretations.
• Participates in monthly meetings with UC Office of the President (UCOP) to stay current on the evolving federal and VA benefits landscape, ensuring campus alignment with national directives, UCOP guidance and best practices.
• Serves as the campus subject-matter expert and primary liaison on veterans’ educational benefits, ensuring that students, staff, and administrators have a clear and accurate understanding of how federal and state benefit programs integrate with University systems, financial aid processes, and institutional policies.

Liaison for Veterans Educational Benefits

• Acts as liaison between VA personnel—at the national, regional, state and local levels—and UC Berkeley students eligible for veterans’ educational benefits.
• Collaborates with colleagues across campus, throughout the UC system, and the VA to ensure timely receipt of benefits and to research and resolve related issues—including those associated with overpayments, enrollment changes, deficient grades, cancellations, and withdrawals.
• Collaborates with Financial Aid and Scholarships to ensure that VA educational benefits are accurately reflected in students' financial aid packages, which requires reconciling benefit amounts, identifying overlapping aid, and adhering to Title IV regulations to prevent over-awards.
• Serves in an advisory role to peers throughout the UC system, particularly in response to VA regulatory updates and compliance interpretations.
• Works with Student Information Systems to develop, maintain, improve and better leverage the Veterans’ Benefits suite and related eForms, reports, queries and query-based updates in Berkeley Campus Solutions.

Student Support and Public Engagement

• Provides comprehensive support to prospective, current, and former students, as well as parents and the general public; fostering strong, collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Advises, assists, and guides students, staff, parents, prospective students, and the general public with information and services regarding options for veterans' educational benefits and initiating and receiving benefits seamlessly at UC Berkeley.
• Provides excellent and timely customer service in person, over the telephone and via email and Zoom. Elicits information from each constituent and evaluates or researches thoroughly. Accurately assesses their needs using all available resources. Provides accurate, thorough, and timely advice regarding statutes, regulations, policies, procedures, deadlines, and services. Deals with sensitive student and parent issues calmly and respectfully. Maintains confidentiality of constituent information. Defuses potentially explosive situations.
• Consults with colleagues and managers as needed and make appropriate referrals when warranted.

Veterans Educational Benefits Training and Stakeholder Engagement

• Conducts regular training sessions for colleagues in Financial Aid and Scholarships, Billing and Payment Services, schools and colleges, and other key stakeholders to ensure they remain informed about the constantly evolving landscape of VA educational benefits, including changes in federal legislation, benefit eligibility rules, and institutional compliance requirements.
• Maintains comprehensive training procedures and reference manuals covering topics such as enrollment certification timelines, tuition and fee reporting, VA debt management, and State benefits such as the Cal Vet Fee Waiver. Regularly updates these materials to reflect changes in federal and state regulations, ensuring consistent application of policies, improved interdepartmental collaboration, and streamlined workflows in the administration of veterans’ educational benefits.
• Leads collaborative efforts with the Cal Veteran Services Center, Undergraduate Admissions, and Financial Aid and Scholarships to design, coordinate, and deliver informational sessions and presentations for current and prospective student veterans and their dependents. Represents the University as a subject-matter expert at major outreach and orientation events including Cal Day, Golden Bear Orientation, and Golden Bear Welcome providing guidance on VA educational benefits, eligibility requirements, and the certification process.

Support Student Services

• Provides back-up to other Student Services staff as needed. Assists students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and the general public in person, on the telephone, and via email or Zoom regarding processes, deadlines, and procedures in other functional areas—including Undergraduate Readmission, Residency, Transcripts, Records, Registration & Enrollment; Tuition & Fees; Visitor & Exchange Programs; and Verification of Attendance & Degrees.