VA Educational Benefits
The VA School Certifying Officials at University of Saint Mary are located in the Registrar’s Office in Saint Mary Hall, Room 101A.
NEW STUDENTS
If you are a new student and would like to start receiving benefits, the first step is to start the application process with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Details regarding the application process can be found at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill. You may also reach the VA by calling 1-888-442-4551. The VA is your best point of contact for questions concerning benefit payment amounts and questions regarding specific eligibility.
Once the VA application process is complete, the following paperwork will need to be submitted to the VA School Certifying Official via email at registrar@stmary.edu
*Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Note: The COE will be mailed to you after the application for benefits has been processed. Once the COE is received, you may adjust any payment arrangements that you agreed upon with the Business Office during the waiting period to participate in the course of your education.
CURRENT STUDENTS
Enrollment Changes:
If at any time your enrollment changes (withdraw/drop/add a course), it is required that the student contact the School Certifying Official in writing at registrar@stmary.edu to avoid payment problems.
Semester Certifications:
Initial certifications of enrollment are completed 30 days prior to the start of the semester. Final certifications of enrollment are completed after the drop/add period of each semester for the time during which the student is enrolled/eligible for benefits. Each student will receive notification via University of Saint Mary campus email when certifications are complete. NOTE: Students must notify the School Certifying Official 45 days prior to the start of a semester if they choose not to utilize the benefits. Once an enrollment certification has been processed it cannot be reversed.
Yellow Ribbon:
The University of Saint Mary participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for students who receive 100% of Post 9/11 benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responsible for determining the level of eligibility for the Post 9/11 Program. Only students who are deemed eligible for 100% of Post 9/11 will be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a matching program between the institution and the VA. Each institution must establish the level of funding it will provide, which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) matches. At the University of Saint Mary, we have agreed to provide a minimum of 50% in institutional funding, which the VA has agreed to match.
Military Withdrawal Policy:
Active Duty members of the United States Armed Forces, or members of the National Guard or Reserve that are activated for duty or receive Deployment or Temporary Duty orders that require extended absence and/or inability to perform academic work for a sustained period of time during an academic term will be permitted to withdraw without penalty from the University of Saint Mary. Under this policy, students presenting a copy of their military orders to the Registrar will receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees with funds from any form of financial aid being returned to that source. Students will, therefore, have a zero balance remaining after withdrawal (with the exception of prorated room and board charges, if applicable). Further, students that are spouses, partners, family, or dependents of the military member receiving orders, where such orders prevent continued enrollment, will also be permitted to withdraw from the University of Saint Mary as above.
Alternatively, Incomplete (I) grades for all classes, with no tuition and fee reimbursement, may be more appropriate when the withdrawal is near the end of the semester.
Incompletes must be by agreement between the instructor(s) and the student and approved by the applicable Division Chair.
If the student chooses to withdraw from only a portion of his/her classes and receives Incomplete grades in the remaining classes, he/she would receive a prorated reimbursement of tuition and fees only if the number of remaining credit hours is fewer than twelve. In either of these alternative cases, the student will receive a prorated refund of room and board charges, if applicable, and be allowed to complete the coursework according to the established policies of the University and the Incomplete agreement with the instructor(s) involved.
Failure to attend does not constitute an official withdrawal.
READMISSION
The University of Saint Mary will readmit Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard students who withdrew to perform military service. The readmitted student will maintain the same academic standing he or she had when last in attendance at the University of Saint Mary, so long as the absence does not exceed one calendar year. The student must provide the Registrar’s Office with notification of the military service as soon as reasonably possible. In addition, the student must also notify the Registrar’s Office of the intent to return within three years after the completion of the period of service. Upon return to the University of Saint Mary, the student must contact the school certifying official in the Registrar’s Office to resume using VA educational benefits or use them for the first time.
See the University of Saint Mary website for our readmission policy.
PAYMENTS/FEES
The University of Saint Mary requires payment for the amount that is the difference between the student's financial obligation and the amount actually received by the university. However, the University of Saint Mary will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33 for their percentage of eligibility.