Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard
Points of contact
Veterans Education Benefits Office: questions about funding options and student services.
Chrissy Torgeson, Military Billing Specialist: submit your Federal Tuition Assistance vouchers.
Are you on Active Duty, in the Reserves, or a National Guard member with questions about benefits at PCC? We have staff that can help you explore your funding options. PCC welcomes servicemembers and we’re here to help you reach your academic goals.
Funding options
Did you know that there are several programs to help members pay for college? Depending on your service, you may have multiple options – knowing which to use can be complicated. Your first step should be to check with an Education Service Officer in your unit about your options. The cost of attendance page provides an estimate of the cost of attending most PCC programs for one year, including estimates of tuition, books, housing, and other standard expenses. The PCC Veterans Education Benefits Offices (VEBO) can answer additional questions.
Types of funding:
- Federal Tuition Assistance
To use Federal Tuition Assistance at PCC, first work with your unit to access the correct programs and get your courses approved. Once your courses are approved, email the tuition voucher to our Military Billing Specialist, Chrissy Torgeson. - Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance
If you don’t qualify for Federal Tuition Assistance and you are in the Oregon National Guard, you may qualify for Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance. For this program, follow the steps outlined on the OSAC website. If you qualify, PCC will be notified once OSAC has determined you are eligible. - Financial Aid
To see if you qualify for Financial Aid, please start the process with PCC’s Financial Aid Office. PCC has professionals at each campus who can assist you. - VA Education Benefits
For assistance applying for VA Education Benefits, you can talk directly to the VA by calling 888-442-4551.
The PCC Veterans Education Benefits Offices (VEBO) can help answer questions about your options.
What happens if I get called to active duty?
If you have to miss class because you are called to Active Duty, we encourage you to contact your instructors as soon as possible. PCC will attempt to make accommodations to allow you to complete courses.
In the event you cannot successfully complete your courses you have the option to appeal your grade according to the PCC appeal process and to be readmitted to your program in accordance with 34 CFR 668.18. PCC will promptly readmit a service member who cannot attend school due to military service with the same academic status they had when they were last attending. Students must provide notification of military service to the school as early as it is available and must also notify the school of intent to return to school. The student will be promptly readmitted into the same program or similar program at the same enrollment status and academic standing as the student previously had.
For assistance please contact the Veterans Education Benefits Office or a Veterans Resource Center.
PCC’s commitment to servicemembers
PCC complies with the Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding. We have signed on in compliance with a Department of Defense (DoD) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to show we follow DoD guidelines. What that means:
- PCC maintains accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and complies with Federal and State regulations
- PCC has established the Veterans Education Benefits Offices, which can provide students with information and refer students to services like:
- Information about our programs and access to professionals to help with course planning
- Information about cost and funding options, including access to Financial Aid professionals who can assist students in learning about federal or private options. PCC discloses its Cohort Default Rate..
- PCC has a readmission policy that allows servicemembers to readmit to the college in the same status they left if the reason for leaving was because they were called to active duty in accordance with 34 CFR 668.18
- PCC does not practice aggressive recruiting of any students, including servicemembers or veterans.
- PCC does not incentivize any employee based on enrolling students in school or receiving federal aid.
PCC is honored to welcome servicemembers and veterans and provides these services in addition to a Veterans Resource Center at each campus. If you have questions about what is available at PCC, please contact our Veterans Education Benefits Offices.