Military & Veteran Education Benefits

Welcome to the University of Northern Iowa. We are proud to have you at the University of Northern Iowa and greatly appreciate your time given in service to our nation. Balancing college life with your military, career, family and many personal responsibilities can be challenging. To get the most out of your college education, UNI’s VA School Certifying Officials are here to assist you in obtaining the benefits you need to achieve your academic, personal, and professional goals.

To request information, you can send an email to registrar.veterans@uni.edu - one of the VA School Certifying Officials (SCO) listed below will respond.

VA School Certifying Officials (SCO)

Primary contact for student last names beginning A - H
Carol Squires
115 Gilchrist Hall
(319) 273-2242
Carol.Squires@uni.edu

Primary contact for student last names beginning I - R
April Schmiesing
115 Gilchrist Hall
(319) 273-6801
April.Schmiesing@uni.edu

Primary contact for student last names beginning S - Z
Michelle Kline
115 Gilchrist Hall
(319) 273-2273
Michelle.Kline@uni.edu

COVID-19 A note from the Veterans Administration

My school changed all classes to online. Will I still qualify for my VA educational benefits?

Yes, if you're currently receiving VA educational benefits, payments will continue automatically. You don't have to do anything. We know that many schools have changed to online classes in response to COVID-19. You'll continue to receive the same monthly housing allowance payments you received for resident training until December 21, 2020, or until your school resumes normal operations.

We're working closely with schools to ensure enrollments are accurately certified and processed.

If you have specific questions, you can contact the Education Call Center toll-free at (888) 442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., ET.

Steps for obtaining VA Education Benefits

1. Apply to the University of Northern Iowa

2. Military education and training

Military Joint Services Transcripts (JST) are official transcripts for eligible service members combining military education and job experience with descriptions and college credit recommendations.
A JST is necessary for evaluation of credit.
To order your JST, go to https://www.military.com/education/timesaving-programs/the-joint-services-transcript.html
Current and former members of the Air Force can request transcripts from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Air Force personnel can obtain their transcript even if they have not attended classes at the CCAF.

3. Submit an application for VA Education Benefits

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will determine your eligibility

4. Submit the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

It takes 6-10 weeks for the VA to determine your eligibility. If eligible for benefits, your COE will be available at the following link: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov. Please notify your School Certifying Official (listed above) by email when your COE is available. You will then receive a secure link to use for submitting your COE to UNI.

5. Register for Classes at the University of Northern Iowa

You can register for classes before submitting the Certificate of Eligibility.

6. Enrollment Certification

The school certifying official will complete and send the enrollment certification to the VA (form 22-1999) each semester the student is enrolled at UNI (unless the student notifies the certifying officials differently). You will receive an email from the VA confirming the enrollment has been submitted.

You will be certified only for courses that apply toward your minimum degree requirements.
Repeated courses previously failed will be certified for benefits.
Repeated courses with passing grades may be repeated and certified for benefits if the academic program requires a higher grade than previously earned.

7. Monthly Enrollment Verifications

Required for Chapter 1606
Verify your enrollment on the last day of the month or after by calling 1-800-823-2378 or go online to https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do. Payments will be deposited or sent only if the student verifies their enrollment monthly.
If you have direct deposit set up, your payment is generally in your account within 3-5 business days. If receiving your payment by mail, it will take approximately 5-7 business days.

8. Priority Registration

UNI grants military and veteran students priority registration within their classification (i.e. freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate).

9. Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship (INGSS - State Tuition Assistance)

Apply at: https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/ (lower right hand corner: Iowa Financial Aid Application).

10. Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA – ArmyIgnitEd)

Can use Chapter 1606 with FTA for the SAME credit hours.
Maximum of 16 credit hours per academic year.
May be used with Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship (INGSS).

Policy for Military Students Called to Active Duty

If a student (or their spouse if the student has a dependent child) is called to active duty by the National Guard or the reserve forces of the United States during an academic term, the student will be given an option to have courses dropped or an "I" (Incomplete) grade assigned to each of their courses. This option is available on a course-by-course basis as well as to their entire registration. The assigning of an "Incomplete" is by mutual consent of the faculty member and the student. If the call up occurs late in the term, the faculty member also has the option of assigning a final grade rather than the "I" grade.

Tuition, mandatory fees and related course fees will be canceled or refunded in full for all courses dropped. Courses in which the grade of "I" or a final grade is assigned will have applicable tuition and course fees assessed.

Grades

Regardless of the date of withdrawal, the student will be given the choice of dropping the course (s) or having and "I (incomplete) grades assigned to the course(s).
This may be done on an individual course-by-course basis, or for the entire registration.
If the student requests an Incomplete (I), the student should be reminded of completion dates and the possibility of an extension in the assignment of the Incomplete grades.
If the call up occurs late in the term, faculty members, if they so choose, may assign a final grade for the course.

Tuition

Regardless of when the student withdraws, the student will receive 100% refund of tuition for all dropped courses. Tuition will be charged for courses kept with assigned incomplete or final grades.
All individual cases must be coordinated with the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, the Office of Business Operations, and the Veterans Certification official in the Office of the Registrar to address any over-payment and other financial considerations with Federal or Veterans Administration funding.

Housing

Spouses and/or children of affected military personnel may continue to reside in family housing.
If you live on campus, we strongly encourage you to initiate a discussion with the Department of Residence, in particular, we encourage you to speak with your Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) and/or Resident Assistant (RA).

More information and the policy can be found online here.

Tuition Per Credit Hour

Individual Program Per Credit Hour Cost

University Resources

Other Resources

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
St. Louis VA: (888) 442-4551 (for questions regarding education benefits)

Iowa Department of Veteran Affairs
(515) 252-4698 or (800) 838-4692

Des Moines Regional Veteran Affairs
(800) 827-1000 (for Vocational Rehabilitation and general VA questions)

Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs
(319) 291-2512