Getting Started with the Veterans Center

1. Verify your Program Eligibility
   1. To find out if a program “degree” is approved for VA educational benefits under MGIB, please visit the VA's WEAMS Institution Search Tool to search for approved Education Programs.
2. Apply to SUU Online
   1. There is $50.00 application fee that may be waived for veterans and dependents using benefits. You can contact the Veterans Center to receive a waiver code.
3. Note: You cannot be reimbursed for completed application payments.
4. Wait for initial acceptance email from SUU Admissions.
5. Note: Confirm you have given SUU a valid email.
6. After being accepted, you must defer or pay your enrollment deposit
   1. You may submit a Deferment Application, merely state that you are using VA educational benefits.
7. Note: Students under Ch.31, Ch.33, or Ch.33TOE will have their enrollment deposit reimbursed for those that paid. Students that completed the deferment application will have the deposit included in their initial funding request to the VA.

1. 1. Meet with your Academic Advisor

   Only classes under your declared major can be certified so if necessary complete a change of major form.

   ---

   2. Register for Classes

   Students register for courses online through the mySUU portal.

   ---

   3. Notify

   After registration, contact the Veterans Center.

   ---

   4. Make any changes?

   Anytime you make any registration changes, drop or add notify the Veterans Center.

   ---

   ADVISORY: Plan your registration carefully

   Each time you Drop/Add you reset the VA certification process to begin again, which restarts the VA 4-6 week processing time and delays the arrival of your money!

1. Verify your Program Eligibility
   1. To find out if a program “degree” is approved for VA educational benefits under MGIB, please visit the VA's WEAMS Institution Search Tool to search for approved Education Programs.
2. Apply to SUU Online
   1. There is $50.00 application fee that may be waived for veterans and dependents using benefits. You can contact the Veterans Center to receive a waiver code.
3. Note: You cannot be reimbursed for completed application payments.
4. Wait for initial acceptance email from SUU Admissions.
5. Note: Confirm you have given SUU a valid email.
6. After being accepted, you must defer or pay your enrollment deposit
   1. You may submit a Deferment Application, merely state that you are using VA educational benefits.
7. Note: Students under Ch.31, Ch.33, or Ch.33TOE will have their enrollment deposit reimbursed for those that paid. Students that completed the deferment application will have the deposit included in their initial funding request to the VA.

8. Obtain your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
   1. Apply for your COE at Vets.gov
   2. What you need to fill out this application
      1. The Social Security number of you and your sponsor (required)
      2. Proof of Service Member's military history (required)
      3. Basic information about the school or training facility where you want to attend (required)
      4. Bank account direct deposit information
      5. Your education history
   3. You may also mail in a paper form to the VA Regional Office. Online text friendly copies can be found on the Veterans' Affairs Forms page.
      1. First-time applicants for GI Bill® Chapters 1606, 1607, 30, and 33 (Post 9/11) must complete VA Form 22-1990 "Application for VA Education Benefits."
      2. If you are transferring to SUU from another institution, and wish to continue using Chapters 1606, 1607, 30, or 33 (Post 9/11) benefits, complete VA Form 22-1995 "Request for Change of Program or Place of Training."
9. Create your VA file with the Veterans Center
   1. Provide the office with the following:
      1. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
      2. A copy of your Sponsor’s DD-214
      3. Your local contact information
      4. A signed copy of the Statement of Understanding form
      5. A signed copy of the SUU Aviation Program Addendum (for aviation students only)
      6. Purple Heart Certificate (if applicable)
10. Apply for Financial Aid: You should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application even if you think you may not qualify
11. Get your Student ID card at SUUSA located in the Student Center: Your first ID card is FREE.
12. Send your Official Military Transcript to SUU
    1. Army, Marines, Navy - obtain your Official Joint Services Transcript
       1. 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 CCAF to receive transcripts.
13. Apply for Residency/In-State tuition
    1. 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 for the term.
    2. 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.
    3. Note: See the Residency section for more information.
    4. Note: See the College Connections section for more.

8. Obtain your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
   1. Apply for your COE at Vets.gov
   2. What you need to fill out this application
      1. The Social Security number of you and your sponsor (required)
      2. Proof of Service Member's military history (required)
      3. Basic information about the school or training facility where you want to attend (required)
      4. Bank account direct deposit information
      5. Your education history
   3. You may also mail in a paper form to the VA Regional Office. Online text friendly copies can be found on the Veterans' Affairs Forms page.
      1. First-time applicants for Chapter 35 must complete VA Form 22-5490 "Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits."
      2. First-time applicants for Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) Dependents using Transferred Benefits (TEB) must complete VA Form 22-1990E "Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits."
      3. If you are transferring to SUU from another institution, and wish to continue using Chapters 33 (Post 9/11) Dependents benefits, complete VA Form 22-1995 "Request for Change of Program or Place of Training."
      4. If you are transferring to SUU from another institution, and wish to continue using Chapter 35 benefits, complete VA Form 22-5495 "Dependents' Request for Change of Program or Place of Training."
9. Create your VA file with the Veterans Center
   1. Provide the office with the following:
      1. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
      2. A copy of your Sponsor’s DD-214 (for out of state students only)
      3. Your local contact information
      4. A signed copy of the Statement of Understanding form
      5. A signed copy of the SUU Aviation Program Addendum (for aviation students only)
10. Apply for Financial Aid: You should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application even if you think you may not qualify
11. Get your Student ID card at SUUSA located in the Student Center: Your first ID card is FREE.
12. Apply for Residency/In-State tuition
    1. 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 for the term.
    2. *VA does not cover the cost of out-of-state tuition.
    3. Note: See the Residency section for more information.
    4. Note: See the College Connections section for more.
    5. Note: See the Concurrent Enrollment section for more information.

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.

Your credit recommendations will appear on your JST. Official transcripts must be sent directly to SUU; paper copies will not be accepted. Actual credit is 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.

• Students who have active military 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.
  • 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. Fill out the Military Credit Application and select option 1. A hard copy can be found at the Veterans Center located in the Sharwan Smith Center room 113.
2. Submit your form and DD-214 or current orders for non-separated personnel to the Veterans Center. Additional documentation may be requested to confirm the length of service or level of training completed.
3. The Veterans Center will review the submitted documentation to verify that all requirements meet standard DD-214 credit and notify you of the outcome.
4. Before credits can be added to your account you must first obtain signatures from your academic advisor and a Veterans Center advisor.
5. Submit your form to the Registrar's Office located in the Sharwan Smith Center room 166. Please allow five business days to process.  You can view updated changes through Degree Works or unofficial transcript. 

• Additional credit may be granted if specific requirements are met.
  • Note: Credits may be awarded as elective credit. Certain credits may also be articulated as equivalent to SUU coursework, if applicable.
• Military credit will be evaluated and applied only if it can be applied to your current degree program.

You will meet with your academic and the Veterans Center to discuss the applicability of your military credit to your program of study after your JST/ DD-214 has been evaluated before they can be added to your SUU transcript. If you decide to change your program of study later on, you can request a re-evaluation of your JST. However, once credits are added to your SUU transcript they cannot be removed.

For more details see Transfer Guide: Understanding Your Military Transcript and ACE Credit Recommendations.

1. Fill out the Military Credit Application and select option 2. A hard copy can be found at the Veterans Center located in the Sharwan Smith Center room 113.
2. The Veterans Center will coordinate with your academic advisor to review your 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.
3. When the official review is completed you will receive notification directing you to meet with your academic advisor.
4. 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.
5. Your advisor will indicate the degree applicable credits on your form, directing the Registrar's Office on which credits should be applied.
6. Lastly, you must set an appointment with the Veterans Center to discuss possible financial aid implications and other factors that may impact your educational goals.
7. 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.