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The VA requires that we have military transcripts on file for every veteran or active duty service member receiving benefits at this institution. Please submit your transcripts to the Office of Admissions. For students that have not submitted an official copy of their military transcripts to UTEP, a hold will be placed on your account and will be removed by the Office of Admissions once your transcripts have been received and evaluate.

For certification purposes, any students using Chapter 33, 30, 35, or 1606 are required to have a current copy of their Letter of Eligibility (LOE) on file with the MSSC.

Students without an LOE of file will not be certified or coded until a current copy of their LOE has been received. To avoid being dropped for non-payment, payment arrangements should be made with Student Business Services.

Spouse/dependents with transferred benefits must submit their own Letter of Eligibility, not the Veteran's or Service Members.

If you do not have a copy of your LOE, you can access it online through the VETS.gov website here. If you are unable to retrieve it, you can obtain it by completing an application online at or by contacting the VA for further assistance. You may also visit the gibill website and submit a question . If you do not have an account, you will need to create an account and then submit the question "How many months of VA Education Benefits Entitlement do I have?"

Classes that are successfully completed (at UTEP or any other institution) may not be certified again for VA purposes regardless if the VA paid for the course or not.

Courses that are failed, or if a program requires a higher grade than the one achieved in a particular class for successful completion, may be repeated and certified to the VA again.

1. If a Nursing program requires a "B" or better in Biology, then that class may be repeated if a "B" or better was not earned. That requirement must be in the school catalog.
2. If a course is required for graduation, a student may repeat the course and be certified for it until it is successfully completed. No further information needs to be provided to VA regarding those courses.
3. If a student chooses to repeat a course that was successfully completed, just to improve their GPA, that course cannot be certified to the VA

Any courses dropped or withdrawn could result in a debt owed to the VA or the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é. Courses dropped after the first day of classes will be your responsibility with regard to any debt.

Please be as definite as possible when selecting majors and classes. Try to choose classes limited to your degree plan to avoid wasting time and benefits with changes and drops. Changes in schedule slow the certification process considerably and limiting those changes will allow our staff to provide you with your educational benefits faster and more efficiently.

It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes made to your schedule. These changes could result in changes to your benefits, including overpayments which you may have to pay back to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). All schedule changes must be reported to the DVA within 30 days of the change.

Any aid or assistance that is designated for the sole purpose of reducing a student's tuition and fee cost will be deducted from the net in-state charges reported to the VA. If a student is being charged $1500 tuition and fees, but is offered and accepts $500 in tuition spefic aid, the amount reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs will be $1000.

Only courses that satisfy requirements outlined by your degree plan can be certified for VA purposes. For example, courses that are listed as 'non-program electives' cannot be certified to the VA. If you are registered for a course that is in fact a degree plan requirement, but is listed as a non-program elective on your degree plan, you may submit a degree plan signed by your Advisor confirming which requirement the course(s) will fulfill.

Please note, any degree plans that display hand-written notations or signatures must be submitted to the MSSC directly from an Advisor. Advisors can e-mail degree plans to mssc@utep.edu.

If you are seeking Commissioned Officer status (ROTC program) and are registered for courses that do not appear as requirements on your degree plan, you will need to submit a current and signed 104-R (Form 48 for Air Force) that displays all the courses you are registered for during the specified semester

The VA only covers in state tuition and fees. To see if you qualify for a residency waiver, please visit our center for further assistance. For more information on residency waivers please visit:

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Please note, residency waivers are only valid for 1 year and it is your responsibility to ensure waivers are resubmitted when expired. Students using VA benefits and listed as a non-resident will not be certified until residency status has been updated or the student gives permission to be certified as a non-resident.

Students that are on probation or suspension, have been away from the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é for two academic years, and elect to submit an Option 2 please note that the VA does not recognize Option 2. Any courses that were successfully completed prior to requesting an Option 2 cannot be certified again for VA purposes regardless if the VA paid for the course(s) or not

Study Abroad courses can only be certified to the VA if:

• The courses satisfy requirements outlined by your degree plan. Tuition and fees are listed on the school's billing statement or invoice.
• VA will pay:
  • Home school's tuition and fees
  • Books and supplies
  • Monthly housing allowance based on the home school's address (Effective 08/1/2018: monthly housing allowance will be paid at the rate for foreign schools
• VA will not pay:
  • Costs related to travel (airfare, lodging, and meals)
  • Third party charges

In order for VA to pay any additional fees specific to the Study Abroad program, the Study Abroad option must be required for graduation

A student receiving VA Education Benefits may take courses at more than one school that apply to his or her degree (the school that will grant the degree is the student's "parent/primary" school--all other schools are "secondary").

Students receiving VA Education Benefits must obtain a Parent Institution Letter (PIL) from the "primary" school in order to receive VA benefits at the "secondary" school. The Parent Institution Letter gives the receiving school assurance that the class, if completed successfully, will apply to the student's intended academic program.

VA can pay benefits for courses taken at both the primary or parent school and secondary schools concurrently and will pay for the combined credit, taking overlapping enrollment dates into account. If the student is only enrolled at the secondary school (supplemental enrollment), VA will still pay for the credits taken at the secondary school. However, the student will still need to get a PIL from the parent school.

In order to be certified, students re-enrolled after being dropped for academic suspension or probation must submit a copy of the Petition for Reinstatement received by their advisor to the MSSC.

Examples of fees not covered by the VA for students using Ch. 33 benefits are: course repeat fees, course add/drop fees, parking fees, reinstatement fees, late registration fees, and traffic fines.

VA benefits are paid based on training time certified by the school. In a standard semester, training time is measured as follows:

Undergraduate Students:

• Full-time: 12 or more credits
• Three quarter (3/4) time: 9/11 credits
• Half-time:6-8 credits
• Less than half-time: 4 or fewer credits

Graduate students:

• Full-Time: 9 or more credits
• Three-quarter (3/4) time: 6-8 credits
• Half-time (1/2): 3-5 credits
• Less than half time: 4 or fewer credits

*For programs or courses measured in clock hours, benefits are paid based on clock hours of attendance per week. Full-time measurement is 18 clock hours if classroom instruction predominates and 22 clock hours if shop practice predominates.
For non-standard enrollment periods (i.e. Summer, Winter/Maymester), rate of pursuit is based on the school's academic calendar and calculated accordingly.

VA educaton benefits cannot be paid to non-matriculated students unless they are pending admission into a university program. For this reason, a student who is non-degree seeking may be certified for a maximum of two semesters. To be certified beyond the two semester limit, a student will need to be admitted to the school as a degree-seeking student. For those students who have not declared a major, be advised that you cannot be certified beyond your sophomore year unless a major has been declared.

Eligibility Requirements

Chapter 30 benefits have four eligibility categories and generally apply to Veterans who began active duty service for the first time after June 30th, 1985, had their pay reduced $100 per month for 12 months, and received an honorable discharge. For more information on eligibility criteria, please visit .

Ch. 30 benefits are payable after 2 years of continuous active duty, at a maximum entitlement rate of 36 months. If benefits expire in the middle of a semester, benefits may extend to the end of the term, and the delimiting date for benefits is 10 years from the Veteran's last discharge or separation.

Important to Know

• Chapter 30 benefits are paid on a monthly basis directly to the student. For this reason, we urge students to request certification as soon as possible to avoid course drops due to non-payment.
• The amount of monthly benefits you receive will be based on the type of training you take, the length of your service, your category college fund eligibility, and whether or not you contributed to the $600 buy-up program.
• Students must verify their enrollment starting on the last calendar day of the month by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E) at  or by calling the toll free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone line at 1-877-823-2378.

"Top-Up"

Active duty students who are eligible for Ch. 30 benefits and Tuition Assistance (TA) are eligible to receive Top-Up. If the cost of course you are enrolled in is not completely coverered by TA, Top-Up allows the VA to pay the difference, allowing you to receive reimbursement for the full out-of-pocket charges.

To apply for Ch. 30 benefits, visit
MSSC required documents: Letter of Eligibility required for certification

Eligibility Requirements

• At least 90 days of aggregate qualifying active service on or after September 11, 2001, or discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.
• Be honorable discharged from the Armed forces or be released with service characterized as honorable and placed on the retired list, or transferred to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve
• Be released from the Armed Forces with service characterized as honorable for further service in a reserve component.
• There is a 15 year delimiting date from the last discharge or release from active duty of at least 90 consecutive days.
  
  Effective August 1, 2018: If your release from active duty was before January 1, 2013, there is a 15-year time limitation for use of benefits. For individuals whose last discharge date is on or after January 1, 2013, there is a 15-year time limitation for use of benefits. For individuals whose last discharge date is on or after January 1, 2013, the time limitation has been removed.

As a student eligible for Ch. 33 benefits, you are generally entitled to 36 months of educational assistance and are limited to a maximum of 48 months of entitlement if you are using benefits under two or more programs.

If you are eligible for Chapter 30, 1606, or 1607 and elect to receive Ch. 33 instead, please contact the VA to learn the processes involved in relinquishing your benefits or visit .

What is covered by Ch. 33 (Post-9/11)?

• The actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees, after the application of any waivers, scholarships, aid or assistance other than loans

Important to Know

• Chapter 33 benefit payments can include a payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, a stipend for books and supplies, college fund (kicker) payments, a rural benefit payment, and a Yellow Ribbon Program payment.
• Payments for book stipends, housing allowances and tuition and fees are issued separately.
• Book stipends are sent directly to the student and are received as a lump sum payment once a student's enrollment certification has been processed, and are prorated by the student's benefit level. The stipend pays $41.67 per credit certified, up to 24 credits for the academic year. The maximum stipend for a year is $1000. Effective October 1, 2011, active duty members are also eligible to receive book stipend.
• Housing allowances are sent directly to the student and are prorated by the student's benefit level.
• Tuition and fees payments are sent directly to the school when the student's enrollment certification is processed. The tuition and fees payment is prorated by the student's benefit level.
• Ch. 33 benefit payments will only cover in-state tuition rates. This means that if you are being charged tuition and fees at a non-resident rate, you will be responsible for any remaining balance due to the difference in cost

Yellow Ribbon Program

You may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program if you and/or dependents are entitled at the 100% level, served at least 36 months or more on active duty, or served at least 30 days of active duty service prior to being discharged for a service-related disability. Those not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program include:

• Active Duty students
• Spouses of active duty students using transferred entitlement
• Fry Scholarship recipients

*Effective August 1, 2018, Fry Scholars and Purple Heart recipients will be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The Yellow Ribbon Program can provide additional funding for students whose tuition and fees charges exceed the state rate or cap. More information on the Yellow Ribbon program may be found online at .

Rate of Pursuit/Monthly Housing Allowance

If you are eligible to receive a housing allowance, it will be paid to you if you're rate of pursuit is more than 50%. At UTEP, for example, if you are taking 6 undergraduate credit hours during a standard term you are considered half-time (50% enrollment). At this rate, you would not not receive a housing allowance payment. If you are enrolled in 7 undergraduate credit hours during a standard term you are considered more than half-time (58% enrollment) and you would receive a housing allowance payment as calculated by the VA. For more information regarding housing allowances, distance learning, and pay rates please visit .

Transferring Ch. 33 (Post-9/11) Benefits to a Spouse or Child

A Veteran may transfer Ch. 33 benefits to their spouse or dependent children if they serve six years and reenlist for 4 more years, or have at least 10 years of service. Please refer to the Transfer of Entitlement (ToE) website, which can be found through a link on the DoD's website, to learn more about transferability information and requirements.

Children of a member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, may be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits under the Marine Gunnery John David Fry Scholarship Program. For more information please visit .

To apply for Ch. 33 benefits, visit:



MSSC required documents: Letter of Eligibility required for certification.

Eligibility Requirements

You may be eligible for Ch. 35 benefits if you are a dependent of a Veteran who has a service connected permanent disability and total disability or died as a result of service connection. To be eligible, you must be:

• A child (between the ages of 18 and 26, with some exceptions), of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled due to a service related condition, or who died in service or from a service-connected disability, or who is listed as a POW or MIA
• A surviving spouse of a veteran who died of a service connected disability, or died in service or from a service related condition.
• A spouse of a veteran who has a service-connected total and permanent disability or is listed as a POW or MIA
• A spouse or child
• A spouse or child of a veteran who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for service connected total and permanent disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability

Important to Know

• Ch. 35 benefits are paid monthly, and directly to the student. For this reason, we urge students to request certification as soon as possible to avoid course drops due to non-payment.
• If you are in the Armed Forces, you may not receive this benefit while on active duty.
• Benefits end for spouses 10 years from the date the Va determines you are eligible, or from the date of death of the Veteran.

*Current payment rates for Ch. 35 benefits may be viewed on the DoD website at:


To apply for Ch. 35 benefits, visit:

MSSC Required documents:

Letter of Eligibility required for certification and the Veteran's Social Security Number that you are claiming benefits under.

MGIB-SR program provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components and VA makes the payments.

Eligibility Requirements()

• Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30th, 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).
• Meet the requirements to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT. You may not use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet this requirement.
• Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit. You will also retain MGIB-SR eligibility if you were discharged from Selected Reserve service due to a disability that was not caused by misconduct.
• Your eligibility period may be extended if you are ordered to active duty.
• Your eligibility normally ends the day you leave the Selected Reserve

Important to Know

• Chapter 1606 benefits are paid on a monthly basis directly to the student. For this reason, we urge students to request certification as soon as possible to avoid course drops due to non-payment.
• Monthly educational assistance allowance received based on training time
• CH. 1606 and Tuition Assistance (TA)
  • DoD will not authorize Federal Tuition Assistance for classes for which a member is also receiving benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve program (Chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code).
• Students must verify their enrollment starting on the last calendar day of the month by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E) at

To apply for Ch. 1606 benefits, please visit:

MSSC required documents: Letter of Eligibility required for certification.