Payment Process for Your G.I. Bill 庐 Benefits By Chapter
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All students are responsible for their bill regardless of VA Education benefits. Please see specific chapter sections for more information about the process and responsibilities.
The MVSO will review the student's registration to verify if the classes a student takes apply toward the student's graduation requirements. If a class cannot be approved the student is responsible for the associated tuition and fees for the class(es).
If a student is responsible for paying their bill themselves they may want to consider a UM Payment Plan, please contact Student Accounts or the MVSO for more information.
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Chapter 30 Students are responsible for paying their bill.
Chapter 30 students will receive a monthly stipend from the VA paid directly to them.
Chapter 30 students must verify their attendance at the end of each month, more information can be found on the .
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Chapter 31 Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) students' bills will be under a 3rd party billing contract once certified by the MVSO to the VA; however, students cannot be certified until the VR&E counselor submits an authorization to UM. If a student is authorized to have a parking pass the student will need to bill it to their student account so it can be submitted with tuition and fees.
Your VR&E counselor will submit a separate authorization to the bookstore for books and authorized supplies.
The VR&E counselor is the main POC for questions regarding housing allowance, books and supplies, or anything else VR&E authorized for a student.
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When using the Post-9/11G.I. Bill ® VA Education benefit as the Veteran or Transfer of Eligibility (TOE), the MVSO will put the student on a contract that covers mandatory tuition and fees (based on the percentage rating the student is eligible for).
The scheduled adjustment period is from the first day to the 3rd week of classes. The MVSO does not invoice the VA for tuition and fees until after the third week of classes During this time students may make changes to registration, please review the registration changes section and contact the MVSO if there are questions.
The book stipend is the first payment a student should receive, which is based on the number of credits a student is registered for, but will not exceed $1000 a year, and is paid directly to the student.
The VA pays the housing allowance directly to the student, and the VA pays the housing allowance in arrears (e.g. for the month of January they pay on February 1st). The VA will pay a pro-rated amount if the student attended fewer days than the total month. (e.g. January 1st - 15th will only receive 15 days of allowance).
- If the student is all distance they will only receive half the national average for the housing allowance.
- The student is responsible for paying for room and board, meal plan, or any other fees not covered by the VA.
If the student has a scholarship that only applies to tuition and fees it will affect the way the VA contract is applied to the student's account, please contact the MVSO to discuss.
Chapter 33 students must verify their attendance at the end of each month, more information can be found on the .
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The Yellow Ribbon program is the same as the Post-9/11G.I. Bill ® for payment processing.
The Yellow Ribbon program is only for students not physically located in Montana while attending UM.
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Chapter 35 Students are responsible for paying their bill.
Chapter 35 students will receive a monthly stipend from the VA paid directly to them.
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Chapter 1606 Students are responsible for paying their bill.
Chapter 1606 students will receive a monthly stipend from the VA paid directly to them.
Chapter 1606 students must verify their attendance at the end of each month, more information can be found on the .
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Contact UM's Military and Veterans Services Office if you feel you qualify for VEAP.
Changes to Registration
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If a student is already full-time, the University does not charge extra tuition above full-time, but if a class is not approved for VA education benefits the student will be responsible for the fees associated with the class.
For more information on the University's policy and procedure refer to the Registrar's Website
Refer to the Registrar's dates and deadlines calendar to verify significant dates.
You can only submit one Notification of Intent per semester if you have already submitted one and are making changes to your registration contact the MVSO.
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Adding a class will not negatively impact your VA Education benefits.
If you are less than full-time when adding the class please contact the MVSO so we can adjust your certification.
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If you are dropping a class and will remain at or above full-time, you may incur a debt with the VA if it is after the scheduled adjustment period (3rd week of class), the debt will consist of the fee associated with the class.
If you drop a class before the first day or during the scheduled adjustment period, there should be no debt for the class; however, if you receive a refund for a dropped class you may incur a debt.
If you drop a class(es) after the scheduled adjustment period and drop below full-time, expect to incur a debt, we will report your Last Day of Attendance to the VA which will start the debt process.
- This debt may include housing allowance and book stipend.
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If a class is required for a program or is a General Education requirement and requires a letter grade for the class to apply toward graduation requirements, and a student changes that class to a credit/no credit option the class may no longer be approved (contact MVSO before changing the grading method to verify).
The MVSO will report an unapproved change to the VA as a drop and the student may receive a debt.
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If a student is going to withdraw before the start of the semester or during the scheduled adjustment period (3rd week of class) and has already submitted the Notification of Intent, contact the MVSO to help avoid overpayments.
- Any payments from the VA will be owed back when withdrawn.
If a student withdraws after the scheduled adjustment period the student will incur a debt based on the last date of attendance.
If a student has submitted a Notification of Intent and later decides they do not want to use benefits for that semester, make the declaration in an email and send it to the MVSO as soon as possible to avoid creating a debt.
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The 91次元 is a participant in the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 signed into law on December 31, 2018, by the President of the United States. This provision was effective August 1, 2019, for any students who are considered "a covered individual" using Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill or Chapter 31: Vocational Readiness and Employment Program benefits at a public, private for-profit or not for profit institution regarding unpaid tuition and fees.
The states that the university will NOT:
- Assess late penalty fees/charges due to delayed disbursements from the Department of Veterans Affairs under Chapter 31 or Chapter 33.
- Prevent students from enrolling in classes
- Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding to cover the applicable tuition and fee expenses with the only exception being if there is a difference in the amount of the student's financial obligation to the university and the amount that the student is eligible to receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the student may be required to make an additional payment to make up the difference.
- Deny the student access to any school resources to include (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) which are available to other paid students.
The school WILL require that each student provides the following:
- An official Department of Veterans Affairs "Certificate of Eligibility" or "Statement of Benefits" from the VA via VA.gov, eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905.
- Complete a certification request to be certified for benefits, and Provide additional information required to ensure proper certification of benefits.
With all contingencies met the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide the university with payment either ending on the earlier of the dates following:
- The date in which the payment from the VA is made to the institution.
- 90 days after the date that the institution has certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the "Certificate of Eligibility"
Study Away Using VA Benefits
Students can use VA Education Benefits at an approved location at either another school in the United States or another country. Communication is key when using VA Education benefits at another school while attending UM.
For assistance please contact the MVSO to coordinate a study away opportunity.
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Study Abroad is for students who want to study in a foreign country. For more information and to apply for a study abroad program please visit UM's Global Engagement Office.
Answers to the questions for the Study Abroad program while using VA Benefits:
Q1. Who is receiving the tuition and fees for the classes?
A1. If the tuition and fees will be paid to the 91次元 the Study Abroad trip is either instructor-led or an approved contract with a foreign school and billed through the 91次元, the 91次元 will certify the study abroad trip.
A2. The VA will not pay for a Study Abroad program sponsored by a 3rd party unless the 3rd party is approved for VA education benefits.
A3. If the student seeks to attend a school overseas outside the Study Abroad program through the Global Engagement Office, please review the "Other Options" section.
Q2. Where is the student degree-seeking?
A1. When the student participates in a UM instructor-led program or an approved contract foreign school the student should be degree-seeking at the 91次元.
Q3. What will the VA pay for and what is the student's fiscal responsibility?
A1. Please review the for more information on what the VA will pay based on different scenarios.
Q4. Is the program at the host campus approved?
A1. For a list of approved schools and programs visit the website or contact the MVSO. Search by Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) and then by state or country. This will list approved schools and you can view approved programs and points of contact (School Certifying Official (SCO)) at that location.
Q5. Will the classes the student takes transfer back and apply toward the student's graduation requirements at the home campus?
A1. The student's academic advisor will need to verify the classes the student takes transfer back and apply toward the student's graduation requirements. The advisor will want to work with the admissions transcript evaluators to verify and may need to provide certification to the home campus SCO who may need to send a parent letter to the host campus SCO to verify.
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National Student Exchange (NSE) is for students who want to study at an approved location within the United States. For more information and to apply to the NSE program visit the NSE page.
Answers to the questions for the NSE program while using VA Benefits:
Q1. Who is receiving the tuition and fees for the classes?
A1. When using VA Benefits with the NSE program the student can only select to pay the host school option ("pay away"), the student cannot use the home payment option while using VA benefits.
Q2. Where is the student degree-seeking?
A1. When the student is participating in the NSE program the student should be degree-seeking at UM; however, if the student is going to transfer to another school and be degree-seeking at that location they will need to transfer their benefits; this is not part of the NSE program.
Q3. What will the VA pay for and what is the student's fiscal responsibility?
A1. The VA will pay tuition and fees as charged by the host school, which is the location that will certify the student's classes to the VA, contact the host location's School Certifying Official (SCO) for information on that location's rules and requirements to use VA benefits.
Q4. Is the program at the host campus approved?
A1. For a list of approved schools and programs visit the website or contact the MVSO. Search by Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) and then by state or country. This will list approved schools and you can view approved programs and points of contact (School Certifying Official (SCO)) at the host location.
Q5. Will the classes the student takes transfer back and apply toward the student's graduation requirements at the home campus?
A1. The student's academic advisor will need to verify the classes the student takes transfer back and apply toward the student's graduation requirements. The advisor will want to work with the admissions transcript evaluators to verify and may need to provide certification to the home campus SCO who may need to send a parent letter to the host campus SCO to verify.
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Students do not have to participate in the Study Abroad or National Exchange Program to take classes at another location; however, the application process with the host school will be the student's responsibility. Students may take a class(es) at UM (home location) and another location (host/guest student location) at the same time.
Answers to the questions for using VA Benefits at another location:
Q1. Who is receiving the tuition and fees for the classes?
A1. When using VA Benefits while taking classes at another location, the host location will receive the tuition and fees for approved classes; that location will certify the class(es) to the VA.
Q2. Where is the student degree-seeking?
A1. When the student is taking classes at another location the student should be degree-seeking at UM; however, if the student is going to transfer to another school and be degree-seeking at that location they will need to transfer their benefits.
Q3. What will the VA pay for and what is the student's fiscal responsibility?
A1. The VA will pay tuition and fees as charged by the host school, which is the location that will certify the student's classes to the VA, contact the host location's School Certifying Official (SCO) for information on that location's rules and requirements to use VA benefits.
Q4. Is the program at the host campus approved?
A1. For a list of approved schools and programs visit the website or contact the MVSO. Search by Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) and then by state or country. This will list approved schools and you can view approved programs and points of contact (School Certifying Official (SCO)) at that location.
Q5. Will the classes the student takes transfer back and apply toward the student's graduation requirements at the home campus?
A1. The student's academic advisor will need to verify the classes the student takes transfer back and apply toward the student's graduation requirements. The advisor will want to work with the admissions transcript evaluators to verify and may need to provide certification to the home campus SCO who may need to send a parent letter to the host campus SCO to verify.
Scholarship/Waivers
UM-specific scholarships:
Scholarship questions? Contact the Financial Aid Office or the Financial Education Office.
For Montana University System Scholarships or Waivers please visit and click the link for MUS Scholarships and Waivers.
A good resource for other outside scholarship opportunities for Military Affiliated students can be found on website.
Tutorial Assistance
If a student using VA Benefits needs tutorial assistance please visit the or contact the MVSO to discuss.
Graduating students
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During the semester you are graduating it is often the case that a student does not have enough classes which can be certified to the VA to be able to get to full-time.
The VA is aware of this and has the option to round out, but it is only allowed once per degree.
If you are graduating and need more credits to get to full-time UM's Military and Veterans Services Office will need a copy of your graduation application and you will need to fill out a Rounding Out Contract (ROC) and return it to UM's Military and Veterans Services Office (please email mvso@mso.umt.edu to request a ROC)
You may only take classes to get you up to full-time, contact us if you have questions.
Email to: mvso@mso.umt.edu
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Veterans, are you getting ready to walk for graduation? If so, please contact UM's Military and Veterans Services Office to pick up your honor cord to signify your military service as a UM graduate.
You do not have to be using VA educational benefits to wear an honor cord.
If you are not currently using VA educational benefits, please bring in proof of service when picking up your cord at UM's Military and Veterans Services Office.
Questions?
Contact us