Veterans Services

Southwestern Community College (SWCC) is proud to support all veteran and military affiliate students. The veterans services department is located in the student services area of the Administration Center on the Creston campus. Veterans services is responsible for the certification of enrollment to the Veterans Administration for SWCC students who are receiving VA educational benefits. The SWCC veterans coordinator may also assist students who have questions regarding other benefit programs.

Steps to receiving veterans benefits:

1. Apply for VA educational benefits through the VA - Apply for VA educational benefits as a service member, or qualified family members. Once approved, the VA will Send a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
2. Receive Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA - Once the student's VA educational benefits application is received, reviewed, and approved by the VA, the student will receive a COE. The student should provide a copy of his/her/their COE to Southwestern's veterans coordinator.
3. Southwestern School Certifying Official (SCO) certifies student's enrollment to the VA - Once SWCC's SCO receives the COE, SWCC staff will certify the student's enrollment based on the credit hours enrolled for a term.

School Certifying Officials (SCO):

Sharon Swanson, Assistant Registrar/Veterans Coordinator
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641.782.1326

Deb Pantini, director of student development 
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641.782.1458

Monthly Enrollment Verification

Required for Chapters 33 and 1606 - Students will verify their enrollment on the last day of the month or after. For more information on enrollment verification, please visit the following website: https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/isaksonroe/verification_of_enrollment.asp.

Financial Aid Related Information

Veterans who receive Title IV funding will receive a College Financing Plan in their financial aid offer. The College Financing Plan provides prospective students with specific information regarding their eligible financial aid awards. 

Questions regarding the SWCC College Financing Plan (or to request a paper copy of the plan), please contact Kylee Klommhaus, SWCC director of financial aid, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 641.782.1455.

Cost estimate

Veterans may request a personalized shopping sheet estimating the total cost of their educational programs by emailing the SWCC financial aid department: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Registration information for veterans

The veterans coordinator assists veterans, spouses, and dependents in utilizing their educational benefits. SWCC's veterans coordinator, Sharon Swanson, is responsible for processing completed paperwork, answering questions concerning applying for benefits, and academic program requirements. Veterans should report any changes of address to the SWCC veterans coordinator. Questions regarding eligibility need to be directed to the Veterans Administration at 888.GI.BILL or 888.442.4551.

Veterans who receive Title IV funding will receive a Shopping Sheet in their financial aid award packets. The Shopping Sheet provides prospective students with specific information regarding their eligible financial aid awards. The institutional metrics defined on the Shopping Sheet include graduation rate, loan default rate, and median borrowing figures. For questions regarding the SWCC Shopping Sheet, or to request a paper copy of the SWCC Shopping Sheet, please contact Kylee Klommhaus, SWCC director of financial aid.

Southwestern's veterans coordinator will maintain all files for veterans enrolled at the college. To remain eligible for benefits, it is required that veterans and reservists at Southwestern keep their grade point averages in satisfactory standing according to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements of the financial aid department.

• Change in Schedule: The college is required to notify the Veterans Administration if students adjust their schedules that change their enrollment status. If students should change their original class schedules, they should notify the SWCC veterans coordinator.
• Classes Not Completed: The Veterans Administration may require return of benefits received for classes dropped.
• Classes Already Completed: The Veterans Administration will not pay for students to retake a course for which they have received a passing grade, nor will they pay for any advance credit students have received from prior education.
• Delayed/Incomplete Grades: Grades must be removed by the end of the next semester, or they will be changed to grades of "F."
• Degree-Seeking: The student must be pursuing a degree to receive benefits.

Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at http://www.va.gov/ or check updates to pay increases at the VA Office's Education Benefit Payment Rates Page.

Military call-up policy

For actively enrolled students/reservists who are called up for active duty by the National Guard or United States Armed Forces, or for the spouse of a member if the member has a dependent child, students will be required to produce or mail call-up orders to the SWCC student services department. Upon receipt of the call-up orders, a withdrawal form will be completed to execute a 100 percent refund of tuition and mandatory fees. In the event a student has completed a sufficient and significant portion of the coursework (as determined by the course instructor), a grade may be assigned. In this circumstance, the 100 percent refund and withdrawal will not be used.

Additional Veteran Resources

• U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs - 888.442.4551
• Iowa Department of Veteran Affairs - 515.252.4698 or 800.838.4692
• Des Moines Regional Veterans Affairs - 515.323.7464 or 800.827.1000