Getting Started with the Veterans Center

Please make sure our office has each item from the list below on file as soon as possible if you haven’t already:

1. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for Chapters 30 (MGIB-AD), 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill), 1606/1607 (MGIB-SR)

Note: For Chapter 31 (VR&E), please see the School Certifying Official

1. • If you haven’t already done so, apply for your COE
     • You will need the following to fill out the application:
       • Your Social Security number (required)
       • Proof of military history (required)
       • Basic information about the school or training facility where you want to attend (required)
       • Bank account direct deposit information
       • Your education history
2. A copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 page) .If you do not have a copy or need a new one, please call Utah Department of Veteran & Military Affairs 801-326-2372 or email veterans@utah.gov
3. A signed copy of the Statement of Understanding form
4. A signed copy of the Aviation Statement of Understanding (for aviation students only)
5. If you are a Purple Heart recipient, please let our office know 

    

Note: Documents with personal information should be given to the Vet Center in person or emailed via our secure file sharing link that can be provided.

Please also make sure you accomplish the following:

1. Apply for Financial Aid: You should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application even if you think you may not qualify.
2. Get your Student ID card at SUUSA located in the Student Center: Your first ID card is FREE.
3. Send your Official Military Transcript to SUU
   1. Army, Marines, Navy - obtain Official Joint Services Transcript
      • Select online delivery, this will send your transcript directly to SUU. The VA requires that a credit evaluation be completed for your military service.
   2. Air Force - contact CCAFto receive transcripts.
4. Apply for Residency/In-State tuition

Note: The VA does not cover the cost of Out-of-State tuition if students are eligible for in-state tuition. You must submit your residency application within three weeks of the start of the term, or you will be charged out-of-state tuition.

Please make sure our office has each item from the list below on file as soon as possible if you haven’t already:

1. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for Chapter 35 (DEA) or 33 TOE
   1. If you haven’t already done so, apply for your COE
      • ou will need the following to fill out the application:
        • The Social Security number of you and your sponsor (required)
        • Proof of Service Member’s military history (required)
        • Basic information about the school or training facility where you want to attend (required)
        • Bank account direct deposit information
        • Your education history

2. A copy of the sponsor’s DD-214 (Member 4 page, only to establish residency)
3. A signed copy of the Statement of Understanding form
4. A signed copy of the Aviation Statement of Understanding (for aviation students only)

Note: Documents with personal information should be given to the Vet Center in person or emailed via our secure file sharing link that can be provided.

Please also make sure you accomplish the following:

1. Apply for Financial Aid: You should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application even if you think you may not qualify.
2. Get your Student ID card at SUUSA located in the Student Center: Your first ID card is FREE.
3. Apply for Residency/In‐State tuition.
4. Residency/In‐State tuition is granted to dependent students, during the term that they are utilities VA benefits, or under the approval under R512. You must complete the residency application through the admissions office within three weeks of the start of the term, or you will be charged out‐of‐state tuition.

1. If you have not attended college, your academic advisor will register you for 12 credits the first semester.
2. It is important to make sure you fill out your TTQ so your academic advisor can register you for your first semester of classes based on the answers and preferences within that questionnaire. If you skip this section, all preferred courses might be full when your advisor registers you.
3. Every following semester, you will be responsible for registering for your classes so please meet with your academic advisor to learn about degree planning and how to register for courses sometime within your first semester at SUU.
4. The Degree Works App on your student portal is a great resource to check program progress, create degree plans and even explore other degree programs. Refer to this app often to make sure you are on track.
5. Academic Advisors and VA Peer Mentors can assist you with registering and learning the Degree Works App.
6. After you register for classes, you MUST CERTIFY YOUR COURSES WITH THE VA EVERY SEMESTER in order to have them to be paid for by your VA Benefits.
   • Certification applications are done through the Veterans Center website
   • You must be logged into your student portal first so your class schedule will populate on the application
   • Anytime you add or drop a course, please submit another certification application, CHECKING ALL COURSES again.

1. If you have previously attended college and have more than 12 credits, or are an Air Force member, you will need to register for courses yourself.
2. The Degree Works App on your student portal is a great resource to check program progress, create degree plans and even explore other degree programs. Please learn this learn and refer to this app often to make sure you are on track.
3. Academic Advisors and VA Peer Mentors can assist you with registering and learning the Degree Works App.
4. After you register for classes, you MUST CERTIFY YOUR COURSES WITH THE VA EVERY SEMESTER in order to have them to be paid for by your VA Benefits.
   • Certification applications are done through the Veterans Center website
   • You must be logged into your student portal first so your class schedule will populate on the application
   • Anytime you add or drop a course, please submit another certification application, CHECKING ALL COURSES again.

1. Members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard can request an official copy of their JST to be sent to the SUU Admissions Office.
   • a. NOTE: You must create an account by clicking “Register” in the “Sign in to JST” box
2. Members of the Air Force may order an official transcript, printed and mailed to the SUU Admissions Office using CCAF's transcript order form.
   • a. They do not have the ability to send transcripts electronically at this time. All official transcripts are hard copy.

Through your Joint Services Transcript (JST), the American Council on Education (ACE) provides Southern Utah University (SUU) with a suggested credit hour and course evaluation for the various types of military training. ACE provides the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard quality assurance and policy guidance for JST.

Actual credit is then awarded solely at the discretion of SUU. Your military credits at SUU are most often applied to help fulfill elective credit hour requirements in your degree plan. To graduate with a bachelor’s degree, SUU requires that you graduate with at least 120 credit hours, some majors may require slightly more. The difference of your general education, major, minor (if required), and other possible requirements will not always add up to 120 credit hours. That extra credit hour space can be filled with elective hours from your JST. However, not all bachelor degree plans leave space for electives, so elective military credit may not be needed.

Military training may be determined to be equivalent to courses within your major or minor requirements. This is more likely when your training is related to your selected major or minor. In such cases, the department chair may decide to give specific SUU course credit. Some departments at SUU will be unable to consider credit recommendations for your specific major course requirements due to restrictive accreditation standards for those majors.

If you are using VA Education Benefits to pay for school, it is a requirement to have them evaluated.

No. Official transcripts must be sent directly to SUU through the JST DOD website; paper copies will not be accepted.

Yes. Students who have active military, other than for training, service may be granted PE 1098-Wellness Dynamics to fulfill the knowledge area requirement for social and behavioral sciences plus another 6 elective credit hours using only their DD-214. Please inform the Veterans Center you would like your DD-214 reviewed for applicable credit. Requirements include:

• Active Military Service
  • Completed Boot Camp
  • Completed 24 months of active service
  • Honorable discharge or current orders
• National Guard or a Reservist
  • Completed Boot Camp
  • Completed 48 months of service
  • Honorable discharge or current orders

1. Once the Veterans Center receives your JST from the SUU Admissions Office, we will coordinate with your academic advisor to review your possible credit hours and contact the academic departments for possible credit articulations. Our goal is to be able to review your JST within three weeks of receiving them. However, since this step depends on what is on your JST as well as department feedback, sometimes it may take longer.
2. When the official review is completed you will receive an email notification directing you to meet with your academic advisor. You must set an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss the applicability of adding credits to fulfill program requirements and other factors that may impact the attainment of your educational goals. Please include a member of the Veteran’s Center staff to attend the meeting as well to discuss possible financial aid implications and other factors that may impact your educational goals. Then your advisor will indicate the degree applicable credits on your form, directing the Registrar's Office on which credits should be applied.
3. The Registrar's Office will apply your credits as directed by your academic advisor. Please allow five business days to process. You can view updated changes through your Degree Works or unofficial transcript.

No. CCAF is for Air Force members only. Due to the training coming from what is considered an accredited university, ALL credits from a CCAF must transfer to the student’s transcripts. Most will transfer as elective credits.

You can request a re-evaluation of your JST any time you change your degree. However, once credits are added to your SUU transcript they cannot be removed.

We understand how daunting it can feel to transition to a university setting as well as navigating the VA. Our VA Peer Mentors are here to help! All military connected students utilizing VA Educational Benefits (Except Chapter 31) will participate in the VA Peer Mentoring Program. It is one meeting held with your assigned VA Peer Mentor during each of your first three semesters here at Southern Utah University. Processes for utilizing VA benefits can vary from institution to institution and we want to ensure you have a smooth transition to SUU. We also help you navigate the many resources available from the school itself and the community so you never feel alone. Even after your first three semesters, our mentors continue to serve as your point of contact throughout your academic career all the way to graduation for all things pertaining to university life as well at the VA.

1. Our VA Peer Mentors provide guidance, resources and support while you are attending SUU. You will receive an email with your assigned VA Peer Mentor that will serve as your point of contact each semester but feel free to utilize any of our mentors! They monitor your paperwork, degree plans and assure it all aligns with VA policy and can also connect you to many resources within the VA as well as SUU. Our peers want to ensure your success so please ask questions, let us know if you are struggling and take full advantage of all this program has to offer.
2. A few weeks into your first semester at SUU, we hold a joint First Semester Seminar with all new military connected students utilizing VA benefits. This meeting can serve as your first required mentorship meeting and is held together due to the fact we get a lot of the same questions from new students and this ensures you get the answers in a timely manner with no guesswork. Of course, every student situation is different so a one-on-one meeting with your assigned VA Peer Mentor can be opted for as well to discuss questions and concerns more in depth.
3. Every following semester until you have completed your three required meetings, an email will be sent out from your assigned mentor informing you of the time blocks they will be available for walk in meetings during that semester. Meetings are held at the Veteran Resource and Support Center here in the Student Center. A phone call appointment can be opted for as well if you are a fully online student or due to extenuating circumstances.

It is policy that you participate in your VA Peer Mentorship meeting before you can request certification for the following semester. If you fail to meet with your mentor before the end of each of your first three semesters here at SUU, a hold will be placed on your account and you will be unable certify your courses with the VA which can result in delay of tuition/fees/MHA payments. Transfer students are required to participate in the mentorship program regardless of class designation. Once you have met with your mentor at least once within each of your first three semesters, you meet the mentorship requirements but you can continue to utilize the mentors and resources as needed.