Veterans Benefits

If you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veterans' benefits. The courses offered by UMC have been approved for veterans and their dependents eligible for educational benefits. Students should contact the Office of the Registrar or their local Veterans Administration office to obtain applications and determine eligibility and entitlement.

At the Office of the Registrar, 9 Hill Hall , students can get help with any problems they have with the Veterans Administration (e.g., getting their check, filling out forms) and find out about the services available to veterans on campus.

( NOTE . The University of Minnesota , Twin Cities campus maintains a website specifically for veterans that includes more comprehensive information. A link to this site is listed in the column on the right side of this page. Clicking on this link will open a new browser window. Please be aware that the procedures described on the Twin Cities may be different for Crookston campus students.)

Veterans may receive academic credit for appropriate military training. The Office of Admissions will determine the number of credits acceptable for transfer to UMC.

Veterans or veterans' dependents receiving educational benefits must conform to the following regulations to maintain their eligibility:

• Register for at least 12 credits per semester to receive full benefits, 9-11 credits for 3/4 time, 6-8 credits for 1/2 time, 4-5 credits for less than 1/4 time. (Veterans Administration pays tuition only for 1-3 credits. These credits must apply toward a degree.)
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress toward graduation.
• Report any changes in course load (cancellations, additions) to the Office of the Registrar (and repay benefits, retroactive to the start of the semester, for any course dropped 30 days after the start of a semester, or for any course not completed if the cancellation or incompletion changes their enrollment status: half time, three-quarters time, or full time).

If you are called to active duty during the semester, you must present a copy of the military orders to the Office of the Registrar. You may be eligible to cancel your enrollment and receive a full tuition and fee refund. Processing may take several business days. If financial aid is involved, ask a financial aid counselor to determine how your financial aid will be affected. You are responsible for contacting your lender(s) regarding loan repayment options.

UMC Contact Information

Veterans Certification Office
Office of the Registrar
9 Hill Hall
University of Minnesota , Crookston
Crookston , MN 56716-5001
PHONE: 218-281-8548

Laura Farris
Regional Coordinator
Higher Education Veterans Programs
Minnesota Dept of Veterans Affairs
Office: (218) 683-7036
Cell: (218) 208-7544
lfarris@mdva.state.mn.us
laura.farris@northlandcollege.edu

Veteran's Certification Procedures

Students under Chapters 30, 32, 35, 106 and 901- The following is a summary of University and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) procedures and does not include all the information you may need.:

Only the VA can determine an applicant's eligibility for educational assistance. Because eligibility criteria are different for the several educational assistance programs and the benefits for the programs vary, students with specific questions about eligibility should contact the VA.

If you plan on attending fall or spring terms, you can request certification for the entire academic year by appearing in person to the Office of the Registrar. If you enroll for (or drop to) less than half time, you can be certified only for the current term; when you register for the next term you will have to reapply for certification.

You can request continuous enrollment/ payment during fall or spring term for the next term if you did not initially sign up for the academic year. Continuous enrollment/payment cannot be requested in the following instances:

• if you are attending less than half time, are on active duty, or are receiving chapter 901 benefits, or
• if you withdrew from all courses in the preceding term.

If you will be enrolling at a half time rate or more when you enter school initially or reenter, but are not eligible for continuous payment, you may elect to be paid in advance for the first partial (or full) month of training plus the following full month. Payment for the next month, however, will not be available until the very end of that month. This means that if you receive advance payments for September and October you will not receive your November check until the first week in December.

If you do not participate in advance payment or if you are not eligible for continuous pay, you must be officially registered before requesting certification. Certification cannot be sent to the VA until the first day of the term. You should receive your first check 6-8 weeks after the certification is sent to the VA.

If you requested certification for the academic year, you must be officially registered by the first day of each term. Failure to register by the first day of the term will result in notification of the VA and cancellation of payments.

Registration/Enrollment Changes

If you cancel any or all of your courses, notify the Certification Office. Your reduction in credits will be reported to the VA. The VA will adjust your benefits retroactive to the first day of the term and may require you to repay all money paid to you for any courses that you cancel.

Any grade of "N" or "W" will be reported to the VA. The VA will adjust your benefits retroactive to the first day of the term and require that you repay all money paid to you for that course. Likewise, any grade of "I" will be reported to the VA. However, the VA will allow one year for completion of the course before repayment is required.

You are responsible for notifying the Certification Office, 9 Hill Hall, once you receive a grade to replace the "I".

Whenever you claim mitigating circumstances for reductions in your credit load, you should present written evidence to the Certification Office to be included with the report submitted to the VA.

Chapter 31 Veterans

If you receive vocational rehabilitation assistance, you can refer questions to 9 Hill Hall. Bring your enrollment statement and course list to the bookstore to obtain books and supplies.