Military and Veteran Students

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is committed to honoring and recognizing the incredible sacrifices of our nation’s military veterans, active duty personnel and reservists. We understand the pursuit of higher education can be a challenge for members of the military because of cost and the demanding and uncertain schedules of military life, but NDNU offers a variety of programs to help ease these burdens.

Admissions Overview

Are you:

a veteran who has seen active duty?
a reservist?
a dependent of a veteran, who is deceased or has a service connected disability?

NDNU is approved to certify eligible students who are interested in:

Completing a credential or master’s degree
Completing a master’s degree online

An applicant’s eligibility for benefits is determined by the Department of Veteran Affairs. Questions regarding your eligibility for education benefits? Call the Department of Veteran Affairs toll free at 1-888-442-4551 or visit them on the web at www.gibill.va.gov.

Military Service Credit

In addition to coursework completed at approved colleges and universities, veterans may be eligible to receive additional undergraduate transfer credit for military experience.

Credit is granted for various levels of active service in the United States military as follows:

Basic military service of more than one year = maximum of six semester units lower-division.
Completion of Officers’ Candidate School (one year) = maximum of nine semester units lower-division plus six semester units upper-division.

Students in either of the above categories may also be granted credit for courses taken in military schools according to the recommendations for institutions of higher education in the American Council on Education’s A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. An original Form DD214 is required for all military credit.

Students serving in different branches of the military can request transcripts at the following links:

New Student Checklist

After you have chosen a program of interest, please be sure to submit the necessary admission documents. In addition to your application materials, you will need to submit:

Copy of page 1 of the Certificate of Eligibility (student receives this from the VA after application for benefits is accepted)
Copy of DD-214 (required ONLY if the student is eligible based on his/her own military service. Students receiving Survivor or Dependent or transferred Chapter 33 benefits do not need to submit this document.)

Once admitted to NDNU, please complete and submit the following to the Registrar’s Office:

NDNU Veterans Education Assistance Benefits Registration Form
NDNU VA Privacy Act Release
Copy of registration confirmation from any other institution in which the student will be concurrently enrolled

Apply Online for Military Benefits

Veterans and dependents must begin the process by submitting the appropriate application to the VA. After completion of the online application, print a copy and submit it to NDNU’s School Certifying Official.

Forms

(22-1990) Application for VA Education Benefits
Chapter 30, 1607, or 1606
Chapter 33-Post 9/11 GI Bill
Never collected benefits

(22-1990E) Application for Family Member to use Transferred Benefits
Chapter 30, 1607, or 1606
Chapter 33-Post 9/11 GI Bill
Never collected benefits

(22-5490) Application for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
Chapter 35
Never collected benefits

(22-1995) Request for change of Program or Place of Training
Chapter 30, 1607, or 1606
Collected benefits before

(22-5495) Dependents Request for Change of Program or Place of Training
Chapter 35
Collected benefits before
Educational Objective changes

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon program is designed to fill the gap between the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the cost of tuition at an institution of higher learning. Please see the VA website for more information about Yellow Ribbon Eligibility.

The Yellow Ribbon program is available to those veterans who have a 100% benefit eligibility, and whose yearly tuition and fees exceed the maximum that the VA will pay as part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. NDNU has agreed to award an institutional grant of $500 each to three graduate students as part of the Yellow Ribbon program. These are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Collecting Benefits

Register with the NDNU School Certifying Official

New veterans must meet with the NDNU School Certifying Official once registered for classes to confirm all necessary paperwork is received and filed.

NDNU School Certifying Official
Evelia P. Chacon
Phone: 650-508-3516
Email: veteranservices@ndnu.edu

It is important to update the NDNU School Certifying Official with any changes to program, course load or other questions that may affect military benefit status.

Disbursement of Funds

Amount and payment of funds is based on eligibility of military benefits.

For payment rates, visit the GI Bill website.

Resources

Department of Veteran Affairs

Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 8888
Muskogee, OK 74402-8888
1 (888) 442-4551

Peninsula Vet Center
2946 Broadway St.
Redwood City, CA 94062

Dustin Noll
Readjustment Counseling Technician
Dustin.Noll@va.gov
Phone: 650-299-0672
Cell: 650-333-4450
Fax: 650-299-0677

Section 108 of Public Law 116-315

Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, adds new requirements for educational institutions participating in the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These new provisions became effective June 15, 2021 and applies to Institutions of Higher Learning and Non-College Degree institutions beginning August 1, 2021. Many of the requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Principles of Excellence, currently in Executive Order 13607; however, there are requirements in addition to those embodied in the Principles of Excellence which schools must also satisfy to maintain approval for GI Bill® participation.

If you are certified as eligible for Veteran’s Affairs education benefits, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@ndnu.edu to request an additional disclosure for VA students displaying certain information such as the estimated total cost of your program (including an estimation of both direct and indirect costs), the resources for information such as cost covered by VA education benefits, graduation rates and transfer credit policies. This information, combined with what is included on the College Financing Plan (federal/state/institutional aids), is provided in accordance with Public Law 1160315, Section 1018.

Active Duty

When Called to Active Duty:
If a student is called to active military duty after the Drop/Add period, they are entitled to a military withdrawal and a full refund of tuition and fees. Service members should provide copies of their military orders to the Office of the Registrar. (registrar@ndnu.edu)

Notre Dame de Namur University is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, NDNU will make employment decisions irrespective of the staff member’s race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (a cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the NDNU will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities if they are otherwise qualified to perform all essential functions safely and do it without undue hardship to the NDNU. Inquiries regarding the College’s equal opportunity policies should be directed to the Human Resources Department via email at hr@ndnu.edu. NDNU admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

Mark Dee

Magellan Solutions USA launched under the visionary leadership of Mark A. K. Dee, Chief Executive Officer – a consultant and service provider for healthcare administrative support, IT development, energy, call center, and business process outsourcing. Mark has served in various multi-level management positions in his 21 years of service in the United States Air Force (USAF). He performed as Immunology and Microbiology department manager, Medical Laboratory Assistant Director, Facility and Security Manager, and finally retiring in the military in 2008 as Superintendent/Assistant Chief of Operations of 330 personnel Medical Group. Mark has experiences in the services industries since he retired, including running a restaurant chain as the CEO. He has also developed other businesses in the Martials Arts studio and 3d-printing industries. He has a BS in Health Sciences and Hospital Administration, Board Certified in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Graduated in the Senior Executive Leadership School from the USAF, Master’s in Business Administration, and a Master’s of Science in Systems Management at Notre Dame De Namur University.

Chosen Cheng

Chosen Cheng is owner of CMC Group, a privately held engineering and marketing consultancy for small business startup ventures. He currently works with project teams developing patented award-winning solar roofing systems and patent pending drone-based augmented reality geological and thermal mapping solutions. He was formerly a Silicon Valley marketing and innovative corporate training manager. As an avocation and a way to “pay it forward” he enjoys teaching and career coaching college and graduate MBA students many of whom are pioneering first generation college students from underserved communities. He and his wife, a Notre Dame alum, celebrated their wedding reception at the Ralston Mansion in the 70’s and have two stupendously successful, married adult children who between them have four stupendously adorable grandchildren.

Arthur Chait

Entrepreneur, Executive, Engineer, Investor, Professor, Mentor. Founder & CEO EoPlex Inc. ($31 million VC funded startup acquired by ASTI Singapore). President Stanford Research Institute (SRI) Consulting Division (800 staff worldwide). SVP Flextronics (responsible for $8 Billion in global accounts). President Zitel Software. Principal Booz Allen. R&D Director Halliburton. Adjunct Professor Menlo College, Visiting Professor Universidad Francisco Marroquin (Guatemala), Mentor Draper University, Judge Startup Chile. BS Engineering Rutgers, MBA Strategy University Pittsburgh.

Kelly Cansler

Kelly completed both her BS (Finance/Economics) and MBA from NDNU. She utilized her business education to launch an insurance agency in 2008 with Farmers Insurance. It’s grown into multi-million-dollar agency, organically and through acquisition. She has been recognized by Farmers Insurance being ranked within the top 10% of agents nationwide, but also as a speaker, trainer, and mentor within the Farmers Insurance Community. Kelly is extremely connected with local businessowners through several networking channels.

Cliff Burnette

Cliff is the senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Rambus, a global chip and IP provider that advances data center connectivity and solves the bottleneck between memory and processing. Cliff has over 20 years of experience leading global human resources operations for publicly traded companies with expertise in employee relations, organizational development, and compensation strategy. Prior to Rambus, Cliff worked for several other high-tech companies in the semiconductor and medical device space and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from Texas State University and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Organization Development from the University of Texas at Austin.

Memo Morantes

Memo Morantes has been a San Mateo County resident for more than 45 years. He has been a three-term San Mateo County Board of Education incumbent, a Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce board member, a Sequoia Hospital Foundation member, a co-chair of the Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo, and a civic/community activist.

Sheryl Young

Sheryl serves as a director for Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, which provides $10M each year for innovative teachers and social entrepreneurs throughout the Bay Area. Prior Sheryl served as CEO of Community Gatepath and AbilityPath.org. She has over 30 years of managerial experience in operations, finance, and marketing. Young is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders, earned an M.A. of Public Health from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in Special Education from Ball State University and a B.A. in Political Science from Purdue University.

Brian Schumacker

Brian manages South San Francisco-San Bruno’s wastewater treatment plant and with a dedicated staff of over 40 professionals who safeguard community health and protect the fragile San Francisco Bay ecosystem. Brian holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration, both from Notre Dame de Namur University. Brian has also earned the highest levels of professional certifications in wastewater treatment.

Mario Rendon

Mario Rendon serves as District Director for State Assemblymember Kevin Mullin. He develops the communications, public relations and constituent service strategy for the office and supervises a small team that represents Mr. Mullin in the 22nd Assembly District within San Mateo County. He has over twenty year’s experience working with elected officials at the local, state and federal level developing public policy.

Jerry Hill

Jerry’s public service started with his local neighborhood association that progressed to the California State Assembly and Senate where he authored legislation resulting in laws on issues related to consumer protection, utility safety, coastal protection, public health, education and the environment. Jerry was born and raised in San Francisco, receiving his BA from the University of California, Berkeley and a Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University.

Magda Gonzalez

Magda was most recently the City Manager for the City of Half Moon Bay, California. Prior she was the City Manager of East Palo Alto, California and Assistant City Manager, Redwood City. Magda was President of Cal-ICMA, representing the Local Government Hispanic Network and serves on the Board of Directors for the San Mateo Credit Union and the Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo County. Magda is also a member of ICMA and the State Bar of California and received several awards and recognitions, including Career Excellence Award (WLG) and the Ethical Hero Award from Cal-ICMA.

Jeremy Dennis

Jeremy currently serves as Portola Valley Town Manager. Previously, he’s worked for elected officials at all governance levels, including twice as District Director for local assemblymembers. He worked as the Palo Alto Long Range Planning Director, and for San Mateo County in management roles. Jeremy has a Masters in Urban Planning from the London School of Economics, and graduated from UC Davis studying US History/Political Science.

Kate Comfort-Harr

Kate is Executive Director of HIP Housing, a nonprofit specializing in creative affordable housing solutions throughout San Mateo County. Kate is a frequent speaker on a wide array of affordable housing topics and is passionate about the cultivation of collaborations between the private, public and social sectors. She serves on the Board of Directors for the San Mateo Credit Union and was awarded the Chamber San Mateo County’s 2020 Business Woman of the Year Award.

Jeff Cox

Program Director for Master of Public Administration

Jerome Nadel

Jerome Nadel is Internationally experienced design-led marketing executive (CMO and GM) with a track record of improved market position, revenue growth, and M&A. He is an advance degreed psychologist and user experience product/service design expert, board member and advisor. Jerome recently retired from Rambus as where he was CMO and GM of the security software division that he led the sale to Visa. He has had a variety of chief marketing officer and chief user experience officer roles at companies including Human Factors International, SLP InfoWare, Gemplus, and Sagem. He started his career in the IBM Human Factors Labs. He is also an avid cyclist with National and multiple California State Champion titles.