Making use of VA benefits is a good way to help finance your education. Many UMUC students (veterans and active duty military members) are eligible for veterans educational benefits. Information and application forms may be obtained at local education centers. Please ask the Education Services Officer, Counselor, or Navy College official for assistance in applying for VA benefits.

UMUC acts as a certifying agent for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and certifies students' enrollments to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Buffalo, NY. Enrollment Certifications (VA Form 22-1999) are generally sent electronically via "VA-Once" (a Web-based program and certifying tool that ensures easy tracking and confidence regarding the transference of enrollment data from University to DVA officials). The primary responsibility of the University is to verify active enrollment of VA students and not to make decisions on individual claims.

Active duty military members and veterans who use VA educational benefits for the first time must complete an application form (VA Form 22-1990, Application for Educational Benefits). UMUC will certify the student's enrollment, forwarding an enrollment certification form along with the application form to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The student may receive a Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 22-0557). If one is received, the student should submit a copy of the certificate to the Office of Student Affairs, ATTN: VA.

VA payments are made by the DVA directly to the students and are calculated by the DVA in accordance with federal regulations. Educational benefits are paid according to how the DVA views both the nature of the courses and the course load a student is taking. Because of the way the DVA views special-format courses, such as Distance Education and one-credit courses, students are cautioned to check with UMUC's VA Certification Specialist at Yokota regarding how DVA benefits are paid for these courses. VA students who withdraw are subject to having the amount of their award recalculated by the DVA and may be required to repay any unauthorized amounts received.

Because the DVA's initial processing of first-time VA students' application for benefits takes time, VA students should be prepared to meet their educational expenses for their first two sessions with UMUC in Asia.

Students who previously used Chapter 34 benefits at another college or university and are applying for Chapter 30 benefits for the first time since January 1, 1994, must submit a VA Form 22-1990 with the first UMUC registration for which they wish to be certified to the VA. Students who are changing their place of training or degree program must fill out a VA Form 22-1995 to officially make the change.

Some students who use VA benefits take UMUC courses for transfer to other institutions where they expect to complete their degrees. Students who are degree seeking with another institution are defined by the VA as "visiting" and must request written permission from their degree-granting institution for each course they take with UMUC. In addition, such students should indicate their "visiting" status at admission. If courses that a student takes with UMUC are not transferable to the degree-granting institution, the student will not be reimbursed by the VA.

Students who change their addresses are required to submit a "Request for Change of Address" (VA Form 572) to the DVA, and also to notify UMUC. Change of address can be done via the MyUMUC student portal.

The Department of Veterans Affairs does not have an educational representative stationed in the Asia-Pacific region to answer questions about educational benefits. Questions regarding individual claims and general matters should be addressed directly to:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Regional Office
Attn: Chapter 30 Processing
P.O. Box 4616
Buffalo, NY 14240

Web: www.GIBill.va.gov
(click "Questions and Answers" in the left-hand menu bar)

A student who has not received reimbursement for a course from the VA must contact the Department of Veterans Affairs within one year of taking the course, or the VA will not process any claim for reimbursement for the course. The Department of Veterans Affairs requires all universities to report any changes in the academic status of any student who is receiving VA educational assistance. Further, when a student receives the grade of W in a course, UMUC must notify the VA of that fact.

Student inquiries about certifying procedures should be addressed to:

UMUC Asia
Attn: VA Certification
Unit 5060 Box 0100
APO AP 96328-0100

E-mail: ova@asia.umuc.edu

Students receiving benefits are expected to follow all regulations and procedures of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs while attending UMUC Asia. At UMUC, all regulations of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are enforced. Students should be aware of the following requirements and consequences:

• Each student is expected to make satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate, and must comply with the academic standards of UMUC Asia.
• Each student must report all changes in enrollment —including adds, withdrawals, changes to audit, and changes in degree objective.
• Registering for a course and then not attending, or ceasing to attend without officially withdrawing, is a misuse of federal funds that is punishable by law.
• Payment of benefits will be disallowed for W, I, and FN, as well as for audited courses.
• Payment of benefits will be disallowed for repeating a course for which transfer credit has been rated or for which a passing grade of A, B, C, D, or P (or S) was assigned.
• Payment of benefits will be disallowed for any course that is not a requirement in a student's degree or certificate program.