Daniel Flores, MBAFinancial Aid/Veteran Affairs Counselor/VA Certifying Official

Overview

• Who we are

• GI Bill Education Benefits

• What we do

• Academic Requirements

• Recommended Do’s

• Recommended Don'ts

• Contact Info

• Questions

Office of Veteran Services

Outreach-Ross BryantLunch & Learn SeriesBlog, Facebook, TwitterRebel Ready ConsultationsUNLV Student Veterans

OrganizationSERV training

Education Benefits-Daniel Flores & Gail ReeseGI BillVA payment reconciliationStudent transition

ResourcesCampus referralsSouthern Nevada Veteran

Resource Partnerships

Office of Veteran Services Mission: To provide centralized, tailored support to student veterans, active duty military members and their families throughout all

phases of their college-going experience

GI Bill Programs

Ch 1606 – Selected Reserves

Ch 1607 – REAP (Reserve Education Assistance Program)

Ch 35 – Survivors’ & Dependent’s Education Assistance

Ch 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation (VocRehab)

Ch 30 – Montgomery GI Bill

Ch 33 – Post-9/11 GI Bill

When a student says, “I have GI Bill benefits” he or she is referring to any one of the following programs – each has its own set of specific rules.

Student Population

2012-2013 Academic yearEstimated over 1,000 active duty, reservist,

national guardsmen, dependents and veterans enrolled each semester.

Fall 2012 - Certified 900 students. Of which, 220 were new students.

Spring 2013 – Certified 800 students. Of which, 100 were new students.

Ch. 1606 Reserve / National Guard

Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program.

You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Your eligibility for the program normally ends on the day you leave the

Selected Reserve. Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after

June 30, 1985. If you are an officer, you must have agreed to serve six years in addition to your original obligation. For some types of training, it is necessary to have a six-year commitment that begins after September 30, 1990;

Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT) Request a DD Form 2384-1, Notice of Basic Eligibility, when you become

eligible for the program.

Student Status Monthly Rate

Full time 12 credit hrs. $345.00

¾ time $258.00

½ time $171.00

Less than ½ time $86.25

Ch. 1607 Activated Reserve/ Guard

Benefits are for Guard and Reserve Personnel who have been activated for 90 consecutive days or more.

Service member can upgrade from Ch. 1606 to Ch. 1607 if deployed while using his or her Ch. 1606 Benefits.

VA makes the payments for this program. If you are a New Student who never used Ch. 1606, request a DD Form

2384-1, Notice of Basic Eligibility, when you become eligible for the program.

Student Status Consecutive Service Days of 90 or more but less than 1 year

Consecutive Service Days of 1

year +

Full Time $589.20 $883.80

¾ Time $441.90 $662.85

½ Time $294.60 $441.90

Less than ½ time more than ¼

time

$294.60 $441.90

½ Time or less $147.30 $220.95

Ch. 35 Spouse or Dependent of a Disabled Veteran

You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of: A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected

disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces. A veteran who died from any cause while such permanent and total service-connected disability

was in existence, missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force, forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.

A service member who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability. This change is effective December 23, 2006.

If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26.

If you are in the Armed Forces, you may not receive this benefit while on active duty.

If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible or from the date of death of the veteran.If the VA rated the veteran permanently and totally disabled with an effective date of 3 years from discharge a spouse will remain eligible for 20 years from the effective date of the rating.

For surviving spouses (spouses of service members who died on active duty) benefits end 20 years from the date of death.

Student Status

Monthly Rate

Full Time $957.00

¾ Time $718.00

½ Time $476.00

Less than ½ time more than

¼ time

$476.00

¼ or less $239.25

Ch. 31 Vocational Rehabilitation

Veterans with VA rated disability of at least 10%, or a memorandum rating of 20% or more, may be eligible for this program.

The basic period of eligibility is 12 years from the date of separation from active duty military service, or the date the veteran was first notified by the VA of a service-connected disability rating.

Vouchers will be issued for parking, books, and supplies. Vouchers must be used at the Public Safety Building for parking pass and the

books/supplies voucher only useable at the UNLV bookstore. Contact the Academic Success center for Tutorial Assistance.

Ch. 30 Montgomery G.I. Bill

2 yr. continuous enlistment required to receive benefits. Benefits are paid directly to student, student is responsible for

paying the school. You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education

benefits. Benefits expire 10 years after release from active duty. Break pay is no longer issued. Student must check in monthly via telephone or website to verify

attendance.

Student Status Monthly Rate

Full Time $1,473.00

¾ Time $1,104.75

½ Time $736.50

Less than ½ time more than ¼ time

$746.50

¼ or less $368.25

Post-9/11 Update – August 2011

Open to wider range of academic optionsProfessional certifications, non-academic programs

More students will be eligibleIn-state graduate & doctoral tuition now covered

Biggest change for NevadaOut-of-state tuition can no longer be listed as a feeStudents will be wholly responsible for that charge

Ch. 33 Post 911

This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.

You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Your full tuition & fees directly to the school. Half Time Status or greater is required to receive the BAH. An annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based

on enrollment. ($47.61/ per credit hour) Does not pay Non-Residency Fees. Break Pay BAH is no longer received. Is Transferable to Dependents or Spouse if the Service Member meets the

requirements established by the DoD. BAH and Tuition and Fees payments are directly reflected by Benefit

Percentage and Student Status.

For Additional Information Regarding GI Bill Benefits

Please visit Financial Aid TV http://unlv.financialaidtv.com/

ContentNew GI Bill BenefitsNew GI Bill EligibilityNew GI Bill Specific QuestionsMilitary Service Benefits (for loans)Veterans-Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)Other Financial Aid related videos

How Student Accounts are Affected

Chapter 33, Post 9/11 students Semester Enrollment Form (SEF) Received from Academic Advisor School Certifying Officials verify courses are degree applicable Tuition and Fees are calculated and reported:

Certified to VA VA Anticipated Aid placed on student’s university account.

Total amount of VA Anticipated Aid depends on student’s eligibility percentage.

How Student Accounts are Affected (Cont.)

For example:100% Post 9/11 eligible = 100% tuition and fees placed on

hold at the in-state residence rate.80% Post 9/11 eligible = 80% tuition and fees placed on

hold at the in-state residence rate, the student is responsible to make payment arrangement for the remaining 20% prior to the start of the semester (Financial Aid, Payment Plan, out-of-pocket)

Once payment is received from VA, monies are disbursed to student’s university account.

How Student Accounts are Affected (Cont.)

Why VA Anticipated Aid? Tuition and Fees paid directly to UNLV Prevents a student from incurring late charges Prevents a student from Purge

Assuming student is 100% Post 9/11 eligible and is receiving tuition and fees at the in-state residence rate

VA Anticipated Aid is not available for other GI Bill Benefits. Students are responsible for payment arrangements prior to the start of semester.

VA does not pay for out-of-state fees or late charges

Ch. 33 Post 9/11 Ch. 1607 + Tuition Waiver

Tuition and Fees

BAH$1146/mo

40% = $45860% = $687

Books$1000/yr

$47.61/ credit hr.

Tuition Waiver

Paid To School

Paid to Student

Paid to Student

Ch. 16071 year + Active Duty=$883.80/mo90 Days but less than 1 year Active

Duty = $589.20/mo

BooksCheck Unit for

Refund

Use 36 months of Ch. 1607 then Apply for up to an Additional 12 months

Post 9/11

Active Duty

Service Time

90 Days = 40%

1 Year = 60%

3 Years = 100%

Student registers VA benefits with SCO

office

Regulatory paperwork collected

Consultation with student/academic

advisor

SCO evaluates Program and courses

for approval

CH33 – tuition/fees must be calculated

along with financial aid data

CH31 – certification is more detailed

SCO evaluates credits for certification

SCO notifies student of potential

certification issues, if any

Original VA Certification submitted

with proper documentation

maintained in file

Student add/drops/withdraws

SCO must re-evaluate original certification and

make decision to adjust/amend/terminate

CH33- tuition/fees recalculated

SCO must notify VA within 30 days of

enrollment changes

Student grades must be evaluated and reported to VA if

necessary

Improper Withdraws/Incompletes must be reported to VA

within 30 days

CH33 payment to school from VA must

be reconciled for each cert and adjustment.

Follow up with VA for incorrect payments

VA Certification Work Flow

Other Duties:

Outreach, Student Care

Catalog Certification (annual, six month process)

Data Reporting (VA, NSHE, Institution)

Attend annual VA Conference

Ongoing Certification Process

Student Add/Drops

SCO:Evaluate

Adjust/Amend/Terminate

SCO:Submit

Payment ByVA

SCO Reconciles if

CH33

Compliance

Final Cert

VACode of FedRegulations

State Approving Agency Authority

Institution’s Published Policies

NSHE Policies

Academic Requirements

Non-Punitive Grades & Mitigating Circumstances

Repeating Courses

Dual Enrollment

Full Time Schedule in Last Term(Fill Fill-in Rule)

Credit for Prior Training

Non-Punitive Grades &Mitigating Circumstances

Non-punitive grade is one which neither applies to the student’s grade point average nor applies as credit earned towards the program.

EXAMPLES: W, X, NP, etc.

A grade of I (incomplete) becomes non-punitive and should be reported as such if it is still unresolved a year after it was first issued.

A grade of Audit is treated the same as any other non-punitive grade

Chuck Peterman: VA Education Compliance Survey Specialist

Repeating Courses

VA will not pay a student to re-take a course which was previously satisfactorily completed.

Doesn’t matter whether or not the student received VA education benefits for the prior attempt.

Students can repeat courses for which a D was previously earned if a C or better is required for the student’s current program.

Exception: when student is using the fill-in rule during his/her last term in that program.

Chuck Peterman: VA Education Compliance Survey Specialist

Dual Enrollments

Student enrolled at two different schools/campuses concurrently or temporarily attending another school/campus for a term or two.

Primary degree-granting) school specifies in a letter (see our form) which courses may be taken at another specific school/campus and the fact that those courses will apply in full to the student’s current objective.

Each school, primary and supplemental, certifies the student for courses taken at their school/campus.

Chuck Peterman: VA Education Compliance Survey Specialist

Full Time Schedule in Last Term (Fill Fill-in Rule)

Student taking all courses needed to graduate, but they don’t add up to full time pursuit.

Student can fill in schedule with any course to bring pursuit up to full time.

Can do this only once in each program.

If student fails required course(s) we can pay to repeat that course(s) only -cannot pay to fill-in again for that program.

Chuck Peterman: VA Education Compliance Survey Specialist

Credit for Prior Training

Schools must review all prior education and training.

Student has no choice -even if (s)he doesn’t want prior credit transferred, school must do the transfer & evaluation.

Schools are not required to grant transfer credit, but must evaluate it and grant it in accordance with the rules published in their approved catalog.

Schools should accomplish this in first two terms of enrollment to avoid certifying the student for courses previously satisfactorily completed from transfers.

Chuck Peterman: VA Education Compliance Survey Specialist

Recommended Do’s

Be ProactiveEstablish your semester schedule earlyGet your Semester Enrollment form signed by your advisorPersonally deliver your documents to us - ASAPRegister for a Rebel Mail accountSet up your Rebel Mail to FWD to your personal emailCheck Rebel Mail/email routinely for messages from usTry to limit changes to your plan Keep us informed of changesBe understanding (We have about 1000 VA Students)Use UNLV Academic Success CenterSeek a tutor if you are strugglingSeek assistance from the UNLV Writing CenterRegister with eBenefits if using Ch. 33 BenefitsJoin the SVO – Help other veterans at UNLV! GO TO CLASS, GO TO CLASS, GO TO CLASS

Recommended Don’ts

Assume we have your documentsRely upon third parties to deliver your paperwork!Wait till the last minute (Any delay will delay us helping YOU!)Make a habit of missing classFail a class – (If you are having a challenge – continue to attend!) - Could result in a CHARGE BACK!Stop attending class – Could result in a CHARGE BACK!Don’t withdraw after add/drop unless absolutely necessaryChange your major every semester!

Where are we?SSC-A Rm 311

Office of Veteran ServicesMailing address: 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 452003,

Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-2003Contact Us

(702) 895-2290Ross Bryant, Director: ross.bryant@unlv.edu

Daniel Flores, Financial Aid/Veteran Affairs Counselor/ VA Certifying Official: daniel.flores@unlv.eduGail Reese, VA Certifying Official: gail.reese@unlv.edu

http://www.unlv.edu/veterans

UNLV Rebel VETS

Questions?