OU Veterans Association (OU-VA)
Student Handbook / Educational Benefits

How to Apply For VA Benefits / Required Documents

All VA students must have an application on file with the VA.

The following chapters are required to submit an initial application (VA Form 22-1990). In the event that you are or will be transferring from another institution or changing the status your current program, a change of program or place of training (VA Form 22-1995) will be required. 

• New MGIB (CH 30) & VEAP (CH 32) – Veteran & Active Duty Status
• Vocational Rehabilitation Program (CH 31)
• Vietnam Era (CH 30 & 34 – Vets)
• Reserve/National Guard & Selected Reserve MGIB (CH 1606)
• Reserve Educational Assistance Program (CH 1607 – REAP)

In addition to the initial application, CH 31 – Voc Rehab students must submit a signed (VA Form 28-1905) by their current case manager/counselor before any benefits can be processed by OU-VA.

The following chapter must submit an initial application (VA Form 22-5490) or change of program or place of training (VA Form 22-5495).

• Dependent and Survivors Benefits – Spouses, Widows & Children (CH 35)

All of the forms listed can be found directly on the VA’s Web site at http://www.gibill.va.gov. The initial application can be submitted electronically directly through the Web site as well. VA Forms 22-1995 & 22-5495 can be found in a PDF format and faxed directly to OU-VA at (405) 325-8492 (we must have a copy of this in order to process your VA benefits). Be sure to always keep a copy for your records.

Additional Documentation Required For Active Duty Personnel

Active Duty personnel must have PART II of the Application form (22-1990) or the proper blank on the Change of Program or Place of Training form (22-1995) completed by the Armed Forces Education Services officer. VA educational benefits are non-taxable. Full time enrollment is determined differently by educational institutions and the VA. 

Direct Deposit

Students using CH 30, CH 1606 and CH 31 benefits have the option to have VA payments directly deposited into a checking/savings account of their choice. CALL:  1-877-838-2778 to set up an account or update a current direct deposit account. 

Notify the OU-VA of Any Changes in Your Name, Address or Telephone Number. 
(Changes submitted to the VA Regional Office will NOT update OU-VA files.) 

OU-VA Degree Plans

All VA students MUST have a degree plan. The VA requires the OU-VA to maintain a degree plan for each student’s educational objective.

You will be responsible for making sure the classes you enroll in are required courses. VA will NOT pay to repeat courses which have been successfully completed, regardless of when or where they were completed.

NOTIFY THE OU-VA OF ALL CHANGES IN DEGREE PLAN PURSUIT. (Major, minor specialization, concentration, teacher certification, special endorsements, etc.) 

Types of Courses

• Prerequisite Courses - VA will only pay for college level prerequisite courses if:
  1. The prerequisite course is listed as a prerequisite course in the university catalog for a course which is listed as a REQUIRED course for the student’s VA stated educational objective -OR-
  2. The student still lacks general elective course

• Elective Courses - VA will only pay for college courses required to meet the university graduation requirements. 

• Repeat Courses - VA will not pay for repeat courses that were successfully completed. Letter grades of “A”, “B”, “C” or “D” are considered to be successfully completed for VA purposes. Students will not be paid to repeat a course successfully completed due to academic forgiveness or reprieve purposes.

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Benefits Payment Rates

• Graduate students will be paid at a different rate than Undergraduate students for VA purposes. Contact the OU-VA (va@ou.edu) to check on your rate of pursuit for VA payment purposes if you are unsure of your status. Graduate students must provide OU-VA with copy of approved formal plan of study from the Graduate School.

• Advanced Programs Students – 3 hour seminars are certified at a full time rate of pursuit for the length of the course.

• Internships, Independent Study, Independent Directed Reading (IDR) and Internet courses are certified at a lower rate of pursuit as follows: 

• Liberal Studies Students:

To check the current reimbursement rates, please go to:  http://www.gibill.va.gov.

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Monthly Verification Procedures

• You must verify enrollment monthly in order to receive your benefits. Courses may be verified through the WAVE Web site at http://www.gibill.va.gov or by calling 888-823-2378. 

• A change in your class schedule may affect your VA benefits. It may also delay your certification process, especially if non-required courses are taken. 

• OU-VA (va@ou.edu) must be notified if you add, drop, or make changes to your current schedule for courses that have been previously certified.

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Military Credit Evaluations

A Military Credit Evaluation requires the student submit a request for evaluation. Also, the student needs to submit to OU-VA CLEAR AND READABLE copies of your DD 214 or DD 295. If there are any courses you wish to have evaluated, but do not appear on your DD 214 or DD 295, please submit copies of your certificates of completion to be evaluated.

Air Force Personnel –
The OU-VA requests all Air Force personnel to request an official CCAF (Community College of the Air Force) transcript. Air Force personnel may receive more college credit from a CCAF transcript than will a military evaluation done by OU. ALL Students must have AT LEAST ONE PAID ENROLLMENT AT OU before a military credit evaluation will be done.

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Continuation of Benefits

Enroll early and send your schedule to OU-VA each semester you desire to receive VA educational benefits. OU-VA will NOT certify a course for VA benefits, unless an email (va@ou.edu) has been submitted by the student requesting certification with each course number & section number listed.

Take advantage of the EARLY ENROLLMENT PERIOD if you are a CONTINUING STUDENT. The earlier the OU-VA receives your schedule, the less likely you are to have a break in receiving your benefits. However, the OU-VA office cannot guarantee when you will be paid. Multiple schedule changes WILL CAUSE A DELAY in the processing of your benefits.

Extending Your VA Benefits

If you are using CH 30 or CH 30/34, you may be eligible for an extension of you benefits. If you have at least one day of benefits remaining at the beginning of any new semester, you may request an extension of you GI Bill benefits. You will need to contact the VA Regional Office to request an extension of you benefits.

NOTE: 

• If you are using CH 30/34 benefits and are receiving additional funding for approved dependents OR have the ARMY COLLEGE FUND OR A KICKER with your GI Bill benefits, please be advised that IF you are approved for the extension of your benefits, theamount you will receive will be paid out at the NEW MGIB base rate (CH 30).

• Additional payments for Chapter 1606 and dependents CANNOT be extended since the original benefits were exhausted.

• The Army College Fund, Kicker, and the Reserve/National Guard Kicker program CANNOT be extended past the original monetaryamount approved.

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Financial Assistance

Check with the OU Financial Assistance (FA) Office for financial assistance programs available to you (grants, loans, scholarships). You may receive both VA and FA during the same semester. The amount of VA you receive will affect the amount of FA you may be eligible to receive.

NOTE:  The OU Financial Assistance Office will require a copy of your VA award letter for all loan applications to be processed and a check to be disbursed (upon FA approval), each semester. Please contact (405) 325-2929 for additional information.

Tuition Assistance

Active Duty Status

CH 30 active duty students may use Tuition Assistance (TA) and then use the TOP-UP program to cover the tuition expenses not covered by TA. The Top-Up benefit is not processed by the OU-VA Office. You will need to contact your Education Service Officer (ESO) for additional information.

If you are using ALL VA for payment of your courses then you will need to go through the OU-VA Office. Failure to notify the OU-VA Office of receipt of TA will result in a debt overpayment of VA educational benefits.

NOTE:  Students may not use TA and Full G-I Bill benefits for the same course.

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National Guard Tuition Waivers

National Guard (CH 1606) students may also be entitled to a National Guard Tuition Waiver. The National Guard Tuition Waiver only covers the cost of tuition. Each student will be responsible for the accessed fees unless approved by their Education Service Officer. This can be used in conjunction with their GI Bill education benefits. More information can be obtained through individual National Guard units. The OU-VA Office cannot process these waivers.

“I”, “F”, and “U” Grades

• If you make a grade of “I” in a class, you have one year to complete the course before the VA will charge you an overpayment. You are responsible to notify the OU-VA when the course grade is changed from an “I” to a letter grade on your transcript.

• Students who receive a grade of “F” or “U” FOR NONATTENDANCE / PURSUIT will be charged with an overpayment (with the exception of the National Guard & Tuition Waiver).

• If role is not taken in class by the instructor, then nonattendance/pursuit is determined by the last day of pursuit towards the class as identified by homework and test grades. Mitigating circumstances may be submitted to Muskogee VA.

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Parent School Letters

• Students seeking a degree at another institution, but attending courses at OU, MUST have approval from the degree granting institution for OU-VA to certify OU courses.

• The student must request a Parent School Letter indicating course enrollments each semester he/she is enrolled at OU. Any change to the student schedule would require an updated Parent School Letter. 

• Non-OU degree seeking students will not be certified for OU courses until a Parent School Letter is received from the degree granting institution.

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

If you are interested in browsing the National VA Education Web site, you may do so by using the following internet address: http://www.gibill.va.gov
(This is also where you would look for information about the 1607 program.)