Veterans

Find out how to apply for the GI Bill and other VA education benefits as a Veteran, service member, or qualified family member.

VA Education Benefits

Service to School (S2S) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides free application counseling to military veterans. Their goal is to help veterans gain admission to universities and to help them maximize their education benefits.

Service to School

Purpose

Western New England University recognizes that many students serve our country in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves. Students serving in the military are subject to unforeseen mobilization or activation in response to local, regional, national, or international emergency situations. The unexpected mobilization and activation may seriously disrupt these students’ academic careers. As these students are legally obligated to report to duty when so ordered, it is the policy of WNE to minimize the effects of this disruption of their education as much as possible. The following policies are written in accordance with 20 U.S.C. §1091c(c)(2), 34 CFR §668.18, and 37-B M.R.S.A. §388.

Eligibility

In order to qualify under the provisions of this policy, a student must present official Military Orders indicating their mobilization or activation to the institution’s School Certifying Official (SCO) in Enrollment Services within 30 days of receipt of orders. If, due to time constraints between the time of notification and the time of actual mobilization or activation, the student cannot present their orders as required, the parents, guardians, spouse, or other authorized representative of the student may do so. No notice is required if the giving of such notice by the Service member or their family is precluded by military necessity.

Definitions

• Activation – Order to Service in the Uniformed Services on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty in response to federal or state orders, and as defined below.
• Armed Forces – A term used to denote collectively all components of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
• Service member – a student who is a member of, applies to be a member of, performs, has performed, applies to perform, or has an obligation to perform service in the Uniformed Services.
• Service in the Uniformed Services – service, whether voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under State order or Federal authority.
• Military Order – 1. An instruction, including an individual command by an armed forces officer to a person under their command. 2. A published directive originated by a commander of a military organization.
• Mobilization – 1. The process of assembling and organizing national resources to support national objectives in time of war or other emergencies. 2. The process by which the Uniformed Services, or part of them, are brought to a state of readiness for war or other state or national emergency.

Academic Grades

• All Service members will be provided an excused absence and not penalized when legally obligated to report for duty. Service members are responsible formissed coursework and faculty will offer accommodationswhen necessary, ie. testing and presentations.
• Mobilization or activation during a regular semester or during summer sessions may result in the complete voluntary withdrawal of the Service member from the University and without penalty or a punitive grade. Course fees that have been paid will be refunded 100 percent exclusive of student insurance fees and other non-refundable fees. Room and board payments will be refunded on a prorated basis.
• In the event of mobilization or activation during the semester and/or after the term drop period, Service members are provided the following academic options:

1. Withdraw for Military Activation — A student may choose to withdraw from one or more courses in which they are officially enrolled. In this case, course fees that have been paid will be refunded 100 percent exclusive of student insurance fees and other non-refundable fees. NOTE: Please consult with your School Certifying Official (SCO) as this option may impact VA benefits; or, students may pursue one of the following in consultation with their instructors:
2. Incomplete (I) — A student may request to take an incomplete in some or all of these courses. Students shall be allowed to complete specific work that remains unfinished as a result of activation or mobilization. See section 34 CFR §668.18(e) for the time allowed for a cumulative length of absence; or,
3. Final Grade — A student may request to receive a final grade in some or all of their courses based upon the student’s work in the courses up to the date of mobilization/activation; or,
4. Final Exam — A student may request to take an early final examination in some courses in order that the instructor can determine a final course grade for the student; or,
5. Combination — A combination of options that best serves the students’ needs based on Military Orders, following the policies set forth above, may be selected. This option will result in a refund of that portion of tuition and fees paid for those courses that the student chooses to withdraw from (other non-course fees are not refunded).

Room and board payments will be refunded on a prorated basis, if applicable.

Time Limit for an Incomplete Grade

Students who receive an incomplete grade in all or some of their courses shall have the time allowed under 34 CFR §668.18(e) which generally does not exceed five (5) years of service, although there are several exceptions offered.

Re-Admission

Under 34 CFR §668.18, an institution must readmit a member of the uniformed services with the “same academic status” upon notice of their intent to reenroll, unless the student requests a later date of readmission or unusual circumstances require the institution to admit at a later date.

Buffalo Regional Benefit Office
130 South Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14202
1-855-225-1159

Hartford Vet Center
25 Elm Street
Suite A

Rocky Hill, CT 06067
860-563-8800

Springfield Vet Center
95 Ashley Ave, Suite A
West Springfield, MA 01089
413-731-6061

• Career Center
• Counseling Services
• Student Accessibility Services

Since 1944, millions of veterans have gone back to school using the Montgomery GI Bill. This bill provides students with a direct monthly payment they can use to cover tuition, fees, books, and other costs. Veterans and service members who have been on active duty for at least two years can benefits from this program and can receive up to 36 months of benefits for up to 10 years after retirement or honorable discharge, however this number can vary on a case by case basis.

The monthly payment rate for students varies between depending on factors such as:

• If they are full or part-time students
• Their college and education type
• If they receive other benefits or aid
• Whether they participate in the $600 buy-up program which allows beneficiaries to get as much as $5,400 more in GI Bill benefits with an additional $600 contribution

Up to date monthly payment rates

Like the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 bill is an important educational benefit provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to significantly alleviate the cost of school for veterans. Introduced in 2009, it offers financial aid for veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001. The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and a book stipend. All benefits are paid on a sliding scale based on the length of service.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill can be transferred to spouses and children.

To qualify for these generous benefits, veterans must have served for at least 90 aggregate days or 30 days and obtained an honorable discharge following a service-related disability. To get full 100% benefits, veterans must have served for at least 36 months starting on or after September 11, 2001. The amount of benefits obtained through te Post-9/11 bill depends directly on length of service.

To apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, visit the VA's eBenefits website. It will take approximately 8 to 12 weeks for the Department of Veterans Affairs to process the application for benefits. Once the application is finalized, the student will receive a Certificate of Eligibility verifying the amount of benefits and months of entitlement available.

Student veterans who want to further their educations at more expensive schools may not be able to cover their tuition and fees fully with the Post-9/11 bill as there is a maximum annual threshold. To offset additional costs, veterans can explore the Yellow Ribbon Program if they are eligible.

The Yellow Ribbon program allows participating schools to provide additional funds or grants directly to students for tuition and fees.The amount contributed by the schools is then matched dollar per dollar by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This allows many students to go to top schools without disbursing a cent.

• The AMVETS National Scholarship Program - The AMVETS National Scholarship Program awards military scholarships of $1000 to $12000 to veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserves and their children and grandchildren to pursue higher degrees or training.
• Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship - The Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship awards scholarships of $1,000 to $2,500 to past and present women veterans, active duty service members, National Guard and Reserves and all lineal descendents to pursue undergraduate, graduate degrees, community college coursework and certification.
• Pat Tillman Scholarships - Pat Tillman Scholarships are highly competitive and are awarded to veterans and active duty members of all branches of the military including the Reserves and National Guard. Up to $10,000 in financial assistance is awarded to Tillman scholars annually to pursue a full-time, degree-seeking education.
• American Legion Scholarships - American Legion scholarships offer up to $20,000 to children whose parents died on the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001 and for children of post-9/11 veterans who present a combined VA disability rating of 50 percent or higher. The award can be used for tuition and other expenses for undergraduate and graduate degrees at nonprofit regionally accredited universities.
• Donor Sponsored Scholarships - Returning student veterans are eligible to apply for a number of the law school's donor sponsored scholarships.
• Incoming Student Scholarships - New students are automatically considered for the Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. and Merit Scholarships as part of the admissions process.
• The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Supplemental Education Grant provides small awards of $250 for members of the Coast Guard and their family members to help pay for college fees.

• Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
• Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
• Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program
• National Testing Program
• National Call to Service Program

• Montgomery GI Bill
• Post-9/11 GI Bill
• 8 Keys to Veterans' Success Sites
• Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Information
• Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon FAQs
• Paying for College
• Scholarships for Veterans
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education and Training
• Education and Training Benefits
• Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Student Work-Study Allowance Program
• Dependents Education Assistance Program