Getting Started with the Veterans Center
Welcome Military Connected T-Birds!
The SUU Veterans Center strives to support military-connected students across their academic journey by focusing on proactive support in student success, financial wellness, belonging, and career readiness. Whether using VA education Benefits or just needing resources available just for you, follow the links below to guide you through getting started at SUU!
Applying to SUU
- Prior to applying at SUU, find out if your desired degree is approved for VA educational benefits by visiting the GI Bill Comparison Tool to search for approved Education Programs
- Apply to SUU
- Confirm you have given SUU a valid email and be sure to check it often for important communications from the school and the Veterans Center
- Once you have been accepted, you have the option to defer your enrollment deposit by submitting the Deferment Application and stating that you are using VA education benefits
- Note: Chapters 31, 33, or 33TOE students that already paid their enrollment deposit will be reimbursed. Students that completed the deferment application will have the deposit included in their initial funding request to the VA.
Starting Your VA Education Benefits
These links include all of the information required to utilize your VA Education Benefits.
Registering for Classes
- If you have not attended college, your academic advisor will register you for 12 credits the first semester.
- 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.
- 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 and reference the Veterans Center tutorial videos on how to register for classes using the different apps
- Utilize the Degree Works app located on the right side of your student portal under RESOURCES which is a great way to stay on track and ensure a timely completion of your degree. Your academic advisor uses the app to help create a whole degree plan with you of what courses you plan to take and when, all the way through to graduation. Or the Veterans Center has a tutorial video that teaches you how to create plans yourself. It is helpful to have all classes broken down by semester through to graduation which makes registration so much easier. It is also a VA requirement (if using VA education benefits) to have one saved that has all classes broken down by semester through to graduation.
- If using VA Education Benefits, you MUST CERTIFY YOUR COURSES WITH THE VA EVERY SEMESTER.
- Submit your VA Benefits application
- 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.
- If you have previously attended college and have more than 12 credits, or were in the Air Force, you will not be automatically registered for courses by your academic advisor. You can register on your own or meet with your academic advisor to learn about degree planning and how to register for courses. Reference the Veterans Center tutorial videos on how to register for classes using the different apps
- Utilize the Degree Works app located on the right side of your student portal under RESOURCES which is a great way to stay on track and ensure a timely completion of your degree. Your academic advisor uses the app to help create a whole degree plan with you of what courses you plan to take and when, all the way through to graduation. Or the Veterans Center has a tutorial video that teaches you how to create plans yourself. It is helpful to have all classes broken down by semester through to graduation which makes registration so much easier. It is also a VA requirement (if using VA education benefits) to have one saved that has all classes broken down by semester through to graduation.
- If using VA Education Benefits, you MUST CERTIFY YOUR COURSES WITH THE VA EVERY SEMESTER.
- Submit your VA Benefits application
- 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.
Credit for Military Training
- 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. The VRSC can also order on behalf of the student
with just their SSN. Students must stop by or call the office to provide your SSN.
- You must create an account by clicking “Register” in the “Sign in to JST” box
- Members of the Air Force may order an official transcript to be sent to the SUU Admissions Office using CCAF'S transcript order form.
- An electronic copy of a CCAF is only available through Parchment.
Student’s will have their DD214 evaluated first, followed by the evaluation of their JST for additional credits.
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 7 elective credits.
- Active Military Service requirements:
- Completed Boot Camp
- Completed 24 months of active service
- Honorable discharge or current orders
- National Guard or a Reservist requirements:
- Completed Boot Camp
- Completed 48 months of service
- Honorable discharge or current orders
If the student has other than honorable on their DD214, the VRSC will review and may request additional information from the student
Additional credit may be granted if specific requirements are met.
Credits may be awarded as elective credit. Certain credits may also be articulated as equivalent to SUU coursework, if applicable.
- Once the Veterans Center receives your JST from the SUU Admissions Office, we will upload your JST to our electronic processing application system. This will allow for our office to coordinate with your Academic Advisor to review your possible credit articulations. Any and all credits found to be applicable to your degree will be sent for review to the respective Department Chairs for further evaluation.
- 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 and notify a VRSC representative of where and when to meet, to discuss the applicability of adding credits to fulfill program requirements and other factors such as possible financial aid implications and other factors that may impact your educational goals.
You will receive your JST evaluation application through email where you have the ability to check boxes next to approved credit, which will allow you to apply them to your SUU transcripts and push your evaluation along. - The Registrar’s office will apply your credits as stated on your evaluation application. Please allow five business days to process. You can view updated changes through your Degree Works or unofficial SUU transcripts.
Be aware, credit is awarded solely at the discretion of SUU. Some departments at SUU will be unable to consider recommendations or approval for your specific major course requirements due to restrictive accreditation standards for those majors.
Once credits are added, they cannot be removed.
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.
If the student does not receive credits for degree applicable course(s), the student has the option to meet with the Department Chair(s) associated with said degree applicable course(s). The student must provide the Department Chair(s) with a copy of the syllabus provided to them during their time in service.
If you are using VA Education benefits to pay for school, it is a requirement to have them evaluated.
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.