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Welcome Veterans! The Veteran Benefit Services unit of the Office of the Registrar is committed to providing the best possible services and programs to the veterans and their dependents who attend Oklahoma State University. The transition to student life can be challenging. The staff of the Veteran Benefit Services office is grateful to you and your family members for your service to our country and is dedicated to providing the services you need to successfully navigate the transition from military to civilian life. The Veteran Benefit Services office deals primarily with processing education benefits offered through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We look forward to meeting you soon. Please call or e-mail us with questions or concerns, or to schedule an appointment to find out more about veteran benefits and resources.
Veteran’s Education Benefits Certification Requirements for all Education Chapters To receive education benefits, you must be “certified,” to be eligible for the benefits by a veteran’s benefits certification specialist in the Registrar’s office. The certification process can take up to a month or more, so it is best to begin this process early. *Initial Certification *Continued benefit certification Chapter 30, 1607 and 1606 recipients: Once you are certified for your benefits, you must verify your enrollment with the VA at the end of each calendar month before you will receive you payment for that month. To verify enrollment, go to the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do or call 1-877-823-2378. Credit Hour Requirements (applies to Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 and 1607) Undergraduate Students Summer Graduate Students Summer Students enrolled less than half-time qualify to receive a lump sum payment (excluding Chapter 30 students). Students enrolled quarter-time or less are eligible for a reimbursement of tuition and fees (not including books and supplies) not to exceed ¼ of the full-time rate. Chapter 30 students are not issued lump-sum payments. Monthly checks are based on the prorated monthly rate of payment and training time pursued. Class Attendance Dropping classes and changes in original enrollment schedules can also affect payments received for education benefits. Before making any schedule changes, it is important to first consult the Veterans Benefits Services office in order to avoid/lessen the potential financial impact. If challenges arise in classes that could impact final grades received, contact the Veterans Benefit Services office regarding possible tutoring options and other available resources. Non-Standard Enrollment Periods Non-degree Status Advance Payment Eligibility criteria and benefits vary for veterans’ education benefit programs from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Monthly stipends, eligibility periods, and documentation required are described in the links below.
Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) GI Bill In July of 2008 the Post-9/11 GI Bill was signed into law, creating a new robust education benefits program rivaling the WWII Era GI Bill of Rights. The new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which went into effect on August 1, 2009, will provide education benefits for service members who have served on active duty for 90 or more days since September 10, 2001. These benefits are tiered based on the number of days served on active duty, creating a benefit package that gives current and previously activated National Guard and Reserve members the same benefits as active duty service members. The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Once the VA has received your application they will determine your eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and issue you a Certificate of Eligibility. You can apply using the VA Form 22-1990. The form includes the instructions needed to begin the process. The New Post-9/11 GI Bill offers a new set of benefits for service members and veterans attending education and training programs taken at an accredited college or university. Post-9/11 benefit payments are tiered based on the amount creditable active-duty service you have. Tuition and Fees details Other benefits for Post-9/11 GI Bill • Monthly Housing Allowance (Basic Allowance for Housing) NOTE: Service members currently on active duty and veterans (and eligible family members) taking courses on a half-time or less basis and/or taking 100% of their classes at a distance (online etc.) do not qualify for the monthly basic allowance for housing. • Annual Book Stipend NOTE: Service members currently on active duty are not eligible for the book stipend. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the new GI Bill that allows institutions to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the in-state undergraduate tuition rates. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and the VA will match the same amount as the institution. Students must apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program and must meet the following criteria to qualify to be eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits:
The Yellow Ribbon Program scholarship is available to the first 60 eligible undergraduate and 15 graduate applicants on a first-come, first served basis with a cap of $5,000 dollars per year. Students must complete the Application for Yellow Ribbon Program form and submit it to the VA Benefits Services office in 322 Student Union. YR participants are required to maintain continuous enrollment in each regular fall and spring semester and must remain in good academic standing each semester to remain eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits. Any changes to the class schedule may result in overpayment of VA benefits and the student will be responsible for any overpayment of VA benefits that may occur. Students in an overpayment status who do not make reimbursements in a timely manner may be at risk of losing their Yellow Ribbon Program benefits. OSU will determine on an annual basis whether to continue participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Once accepted into the program, there is no need to re-apply. Example: If a Yellow Ribbon student had $6000 in unmet tuition and fees for a new fall semester, he or she would be eligible for the following benefits that fall semester: - 50% of $6000 = $3000 OSU Yellow Ribbon tuition waiver; and The immediately following spring semester, the same student would have a maximum of $5000 - $3000, or $2000 remaining Yellow Ribbon benefits from OSU for the academic year. If this student has another $6000 in unmet tuition and fees for the spring semester, he would be eligible for the following benefits that spring: - $2000 Yellow Ribbon tuition waiver from OSU; and The student above would have no Yellow Ribbon benefits remaining for the immediately following summer term, but would be eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits again the next academic year (provided that the student still qualifies and OSU is still a Yellow Ribbon participant). • Monthly Housing Allowance (Basic Allowance for Housing) NOTE: Service members currently on active duty and veterans (and eligible family members) taking courses on a half-time or less basis and/or taking 100% of their classes at a distance (online etc.) do not qualify for the monthly basic allowance for housing. • Annual Book Stipend NOTE: Service members currently on active duty are not eligible for the book stipend. • Benefit Transferability NOTE: DoD must develop regulations and provide VA with eligibility information before the VA can make payments under this provision. The ability to transfer benefits is limited to those currently serving in the military with some limited provisions for those retiring over the next few years. Military Tuition Assistance and/or Tuition Waiver Programs Tuition Assistance and/or Tuition waiver programs may be offered through the various branches of the military. For information on these programs, students should contact the Education Officer of their unit. The Veteran Benefit Services office does not process any paperwork relating to tuition assistance. Military Education Transfer Credit OSU awards credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE), as published in "The Guide to the Evaluation of Military Experiences in the Armed Services," for selected educational experiences provided by the armed forces. OSU also accepts credit earned through the DANTES Subject Standardized tests for active military personnel. Students who wish to establish credit for military training should submit a copy of their DD214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, or their DD295, Application for the Evaluation of Educational Experiences During Military Service, to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Course Completion Certificates may be used to supplement other records or when service schools are not reflected on the DD214 or 295. An official AARTS Transcript (Army/ACE Registry Transcript Service) is available to Army enlisted, active duty personnel, and veterans who entered the service after October 1, 1981. An official SMART transcript (Sailor/Marine ACE Registry Transcript) is available to active duty and reserve Sailors and Marines, Navy veterans who separated or retired after January 1975, and Marines who separated or retired on or after June 1999. Training Programs. OSU awards credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) in the "National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs." Students may present certificates of completion or a transcript from the ACE Registry of Credit Recommendations to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for evaluation. OSU also awards credit based on the recommendation of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in the "Director of The National Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction.” For specific information regarding Military transfer credit, please contact the OSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Initial education benefit application forms are available using the link to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) web site (www.gibill.va.gov). Veterans Online Application (VONAPP) provides forms to complete online or to print out after opening the PDF version. Others forms available:
War Orphans Education Assistance – You may be eligible for Chapter 35 benefits if you are the spouse or dependent of a veteran who:
Benefit Guidelines Generally, spouses must use this benefit within 10 years from the date their eligibility was determined by USDVA. Children must use the benefit between ages of 18-26. Documentation required for Chapter 35 If you have received Chapter 35 education benefits through a previous institution, you must complete a Change of Program or Place of Training form to the OSU Veterans Benefit Services office in addition to the Veterans Advisory form. Licensing and Certification Exams Chapters 30, 33 (limited to one test), 35, 1606, 1607 Students must be eligible for benefits to receive test reimbursement. They must have remaining entitlement and their delimiting date must not have passed. Entitlement is prorated based on the amount reimbursed. Information about test fee reimbursement and required application can be found at: http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-0803-ARE.pdf. Chapters 30, 35, 1606, 1607
If a student is called to active military service during the term in which he or she is enrolled and has not completed sufficient work for receiving grades, but is in good standing academically, the University will waive tuition and fees for that term. The student should submit a withdrawal form to the Office of the Registrar. Once the student has withdrawn and submitted a copy of the military orders, the student will receive a 100% waiver of the tuition and fees or a 100% refund of tuition and fees paid. The military orders, if not available at the time of withdrawal, may be submitted at a later date at which time the waiver will be applied. If a student enters military service during the term and is not in good academic standing at the time, the regular fee refund policy of the University applies. If time allows, contact the Veterans Benefit Services office to inform them of your pending activation. Notification will be made to the Veterans Administration and education benefits will be placed in a pending status. You will not be required to repay benefits previously received for the term in which you are activated.
If you are currently serving on active duty, you may qualify for residency reclassification. Please review the following link In-State vs. Out-of-State Status for further information.
OSU Veteran Services Office Have a question? Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Processing Office – Muskogee OK Student Disability Services (SDS) Academic and Career Development Center Counseling Psychology Clinic Student Veterans Organization
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