Veterans Services
University of Atlanta’s Veteran Services Department
experienced Veterans Affairs Certifying Officials who are
dedicated to the University’s veteran students. The
department also serves as a liaison between UOFA veteran
students and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Our purpose
is to help eligible veteran students understand their
education benefits, provide guidance on procedural
requirements, and to certify, monitor, and report
enrollments to the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure
veterans receive their benefits in a timely manner.
Veterans Education Benefits
University of Atlanta offers a variety of programs of study
approved for the training of veterans. Check with your
admissions representative for a current listing of degree
programs approved for Veterans Administration Education
Benefits. VA education benefits are available to eligible
students enrolled in approved programs. The Department of
Veterans Affairs determines a student’s eligibility for
educational benefits. Eligible students may call the VA at
(888) 442-4551 (888-GIBILL1). The VA Web site
www.gibill.va.gov also provides information on each veteran
benefit, including Chapters 30, 32, 35, 1606, 1607 and the
new Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), and the opportunity to
ask questions and receive answers.
Please note: If you are eligible for more than one GI Bill
benefit, like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI
Bill, the Veterans Administration requires that you choose
one benefit over the other. In many cases, this decision,
once made, cannot be reversed. To help determine which
benefit is right for you, visit:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Benefit_Comparison_Chart.htm.
Chapter 31: VA Vocational Rehabilitation Education Program
VA Vocational Rehabilitation is a program whose primary
function is to help veterans with service-connected
disabilities become suitably employed, maintain employment,
or achieve independence in daily living. The program offers
a number of services to help each eligible disabled veteran
reach his or her rehabilitation goal. These services include
vocational and personal counseling; education and training;
financial aid; job assistance; and, if needed, medical and
dental treatment. Services generally last up to 48 months,
but they can be extended in certain instances.
A veteran may be eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation
(Chapter 31) benefits if he/she:
• Received or will receive a discharge under other than
dishonorable conditions;
• Incurred or aggravated a service-connected disability
which entitles him/her to VA disability compensation; and
• Vocational rehabilitation is needed due to his/her
service-connected disability creating an employment
handicap.
An eligible veteran generally has 12 years from the date
he/she is notified of entitlement to VA compensation to use
his/her Chapter 31 benefits. The VA may approve an extension
of time and/or length of training in certain cases.
Transcript Evaluation
Students using VA benefits must enroll into a degree program
approved for Veterans Administration education benefits;
therefore, VA students must have a complete evaluation of
transfer credits.
Enrollment Certification
A Veterans Affairs Certifying Official (VACO) will certify a
student’s enrollment to the VA once the student is enrolled.
The student must complete VA Form 22-1990, VA Form 22-1995,
Certificate of Eligibility (COE), or Notice of Basic
Eligibility (NOBE).
Concurrent Enrollment
While receiving VA educational benefits, students may be
concurrently enrolled in two different institutions during
the same enrollment period. Whichever school the student is
pursuing a degree from will be the Parent School. Students
using VA benefits must acquire an authorization letter from
the VA Certifying Official at the Parent School addressed to
the VA Certifying Official at the secondary school. This
form states that the courses taken at the secondary school
will be credited toward the current major the student is
pursuing. Students using VA benefits are responsible for
informing the secondary school’s Veterans Office where their
Parent School is located. The secondary school will complete
the certification for the benefits form (VA form 22-1999)
and send it to the VA.
Satisfactory Progress
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the state of
Georgia require schools to monitor a student’s progress. To
demonstrate compliance, the VA Certifying Official (VACO)
must perform satisfactory progress checks. In addition to
maintaining satisfactory progress, students using VA
benefits must also comply with all University policies,
including the Satisfactory Academic Progress and Academic
Probation and Termination policies.
If you have additional questions, call 1.800.533.3378 or
e-mail military@uofa.edu
