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VA EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT INFORMATION |
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| Applying for and Using VA Benefits | Certification of Enrollment |
Current Monthly Rates
| Applying for and Using VA Educational Benefits |
| VA application forms are available at local education centers.
VA students are advised to consult their Counselor or Education Services
Officer on any specific questions concerning VA educational benefits or
eligibility requirements.
The European Division of the University of Maryland University College acts as the certifying agent for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) by certifying enrollments of students seeking VA educational benefits. The European Division of the University of Maryland University College also acts as the Bowie State University and the University of Maryland at College Park local representative for purposes of facilitating VA enrollment certification for the graduate students. The VA application procedure is as follows: 1. Eligible students first registering who have not yet applied to use their VA:
VA Form 22-1990 signed by the ESO and CO, and a certified, true copy of DD Form 214 for each period of prior service. VA Form 22-1990; a certified true copy (or original) of DD Form 214 for each period of prior service; Old GI Bill conversion students must also include VA Form 21-686c. VA Form 22-5490
VA Form 22-1995 signed by ESO. VA Form 22-1995. VA Form 22-5495 5. Both undergraduate and graduate VA students previously certified to the DVA through the European Division of the University of Maryland University College need only inform the Field Representative that they wish to receive VA for their enrollment. 6. VA students from stateside institutions: students who are degree-seeking at stateside schools and wish to receive benefits for undergraduate or graduate courses must request written approval for each course from their degree-granting school prior to enrolling. The written approval must be submitted to the Maryland Field Representative at registration along with any other required forms or documentation (see items 1 to 4 above). 7. VA students from institutions in the European Command:
students enrolled in other EUCOM schools who wish to receive VA benefits
for courses through UMUC-ED are not required to submit written permission
for each course. They must, however, contact their degree-granting school
before registering to ensure that the course(s) will fit into their programs
of study. CCAF students should consult with their Education Services Officer
or CCAF Counselor for assistance in approving enrollments in UMUC-ED courses
for VA certification.
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| Certification of Enrollment to VA |
| In accordance with DVA regulations, the European Division's
VA Office forwards the VA enrollment certifications each academic
term to the DVA. A copy of the enrollment certification is also provided
to the student each term. Questions concerning the status of a VA student's
enrollment certification should be directed first to the UMUC VA Office
in Heidelberg.
If, after contacting the VA Office in Heidelberg, VA students need to inquire further about their enrollment certification or the processing of their benefits, they should contact the DVA for assistance. Generally, GI Bill students can expect to receive a copy of their 22-1999
(Enrollment Certification) for their records within a few weeks of the
beginning of each term. Notification of the award of benefits should
be posted to the WAVE (Web Automated
Verification of Enrollment) six to ten weeks after the date of
certification. Students
The DVA will allow retroactive payments up to one year from the first
day of the academic enrollment period. This means that if for some reason
certification of an enrollment could not be made for a current term, the
VA will accept the certification up to one year later. Students requesting
retroactive certification or re-certification of enrollments must do so
within one year of the enrollment period by contacting the UMUC VA Office
in Heidelberg.
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| Important Payment Information |
| VA educational payment checks are mailed directly to the
students by the DVA on a term by term basis. Generally, the DVA makes lump-sum
payments for each term to the students, but students may also receive monthly
payments for each eight-week term.
Please note that the establishment of a VA file at the DVA and the initial processing of an educational benefits claim often takes as much as 16 weeks. This means that first-time VA students need to be prepared to pay at least two terms' tuition costs before receiving their first payment from the DVA. Subsequent payments will normally be received within 8 to 10 weeks of certification. Educational benefits are paid according to how the DVA views the nature of the courses and the course load a student is taking. The DVA generally pays educational benefits for Open University, Distance Education and Field Study courses and seminars at a lesser rate than it does regular or traditional 3 s.h. undergraduate courses which typically meet twice a week over an eight-week term. * Distance Education courses are considered by the VA to be only quarter-time enrollment from the beginning date to the ending date of the course. * Field Study courses are paid by the VA only from the beginning date to the ending date of the course at the full-time rate (i.e. only for the actual class meetings). * Seminars are paid by the DVA based upon the length of the enrollment period. For example, if the seminar runs over one weekend, the DVA can only allow full-time payment for two days. If the seminar runs more than one weekend, the DVA must reduce the payment to the corresponding rate based on the number of days of the length of the seminar. As for the course load, the VA determines benefits as to whether it defines an undergraduate student as full-time (e.g., 6 s.h. of regular classes per eight-week term); three-quarter time (one 3 s.h. Distance Education course plus 3 s.h. of regular classes per eight-week term); half time (3 s.h. of regular classes per eight-week term); or quarter time (one Distance Education course). Graduate students benefits are defined as full-time (e.g., 6 s.h. of regular graduate courses per eight-week term or one regular course plus one DE course); three-quarter time (3 s.h. of regular classes per eight-week term or 6 s.h. of sixteen-week graduate courses); or less than half-time (one 3 s.h. sixteen-week graduate course). VA students cannot receive payment for audited courses. VA students may only receive payment for those courses required in their degree program.
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| VA Requirements for an Official Evaluation |
| Current DVA regulations require that all VA students declare
a major field of study and have an Official Evaluation of all prior academic
course work and all military training. Students must have the Official
Evaluation completed within two terms of their first enrollment as VA students
with the European Division to continue to have their enrollments certified
to the DVA. The VA prohibits the University of Maryland from certifying
VA students who have been enrolled for more than two terms without Maryland's
notifying the VA of the student's major field of study and the full amount
of transfer credit granted.
Undergraduate VA students should submit their Application of Official Evaluation (UMAA-026) and documentation to the Maryland Field Representative to ensure that the evaluation can be accomplished within the VA's required two-term frame. Graduate VA students have the official evaluation accomplished as an integral part of admission to the graduate program. If certification of enrollment must be held up pending the required evaluation of all prior training, the DVA will allow payment for retroactive certification up to one year. If VA enrollment certifications must be held up pending an Official Academic Evaluation, VA students must contact the UMUC VA Office in Heidelberg to designate the past terms they wish to have retroactively certified to the VA once the evaluation is accomplished.
Students receiving benefits are expected to follow all regulations and procedures of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs while attending Maryland in Europe. At Maryland in Europe, all regulations of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are enforced. Students should be aware of the following requirements and consequences:
including drops, adds, withdrawals, changes to audit, and changes in degree objective. We hope this information is helpful to you. We look forward to working with you and the DVA. We welcome your questions, comments and concerns. |