VETERANS Educational Benefits

Auburn University at Montgomery is approved by the Alabama State Approving Agency (SAA) and VA to offer VA Educational Benefits (GI Bill®) to eligible individuals in approved programs and provide certification for Federal VA benefits.  Veterans or their dependents who plan to attend school and expect to receive Federal VA Educational benefits should contact Veteran and Military Recourse Center (VMRC) located in Room 325 in the Taylor Center, (334) 244-3799, vmrc@aum.edu to complete and submit required forms necessary for AUM to submit enrollment certification for benefit payments.

 Students who have not applied for their benefits should do so as soon at possible at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/#modal. 

Students certified for VA benefits will receive benefits in accordance with Federal law.  For students receiving Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) or Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Chapter 31) the VA will pay the school the applicable tuition and fees.  All other VA benefits, the student will receive a monthly stipend based on the benefits awarded; therefore, it is the student’s decision on how these funds will be used for their education.  For VA purposes typically, Undergraduate students are considered fulltime when certified for a minimum of 12 hours full term, three-quarter time for 9-11 hours, and half time for at least six hours for a standard term.  For non-standard 8-week term 6 hours is considered fulltime.  Graduate students receive fulltime benefits when certified for 6 hours in a standard term and 3 hours for a non-standard term.  When possible, those students enrolling and using Federal VA benefits to assist with the cost of their education should have sufficient funds to finance themselves for one semester or at least until payments begin coming from the VA (approximately within six weeks of the term start date).

For complete information about these programs, please contact VMRC at 334-344-3799, vmrc@aum.edu, or if possible visit their office in Room 325 of the Taylor Center.

I. Withdraw/Dropping Courses

 After a student’s certification has been submitted, any changes to their schedule must be reported to the VA in accordance with VA policies and federal law.  Such changes could result in a student debt with the VA.  The determination of a debt and the amount is made by the VA.  At the time of a debt notification, the student may submit applicable mitigating circumstance to the VA for consideration.  Failure to pay a VA student debt could result in forfeiture of future stipend until the debt is paid in full.  Students receiving Post 9/11 benefit whose schedule is changed resulting in a debt pertaining to tuition and fees will be a school debt between AUM and the VA.  However, the amount of the debt will be passed onto the student and added to their AUM account.  Any debt for housing and/or book stipend will continue to be a student’s debt with the VA.

 In accordance with VA policies and federal law, a student’s suspension will be reported to the VA and will result in the suspension of benefits until the student is reinstated.

II.  Satisfactory Progress

 Students receiving VA education benefits are expected to make satisfactory progress toward a degree.  Normal standards of progress as state in this catalog are if effect for all students.  The VA will not pay to repeat a course that was successfully passed, to include credit transferred in (in accordance with the department’s policy), a course takes for the purpose of improving a student’s GPA, or a course for the purpose of being admitted to graduate school.  To maintain satisfactory progress, the following should be carefully considered:

 A.  Develop a close working relationship with your academic advisor.

 B.  Take courses that are required  for their degree program.  Veterans or eligible students cannot receive VA benefits for courses that are not required for their degree.

III.  Certification

 In accordance with VA policies and federal law students receiving VA benefits will have their enrollment certified and reported to the VA within 30 days of the term start date.  Changes such as dropping or adding courses , withdrawing, renewing enrollment, change in VA benefits, change in major or degree, changes in grades, change in transfer credit, or change in attendance must be reported to AUM’s VA Manager.

IV.  Verification

 The student is responsible for verifying their enrollment with the VA at the end of  each month.  Failure to do so could result in a delay of receiving their monthly stipend,

V.  Declared Majors

 To receive VA educational benefits at AUM, students must be enrolled in an educational program approved by the SAA and VA.  Students enrolled as “undeclared” will not be eligible for VA educational benefits.

VI.  Remedial Courses

 The VA will pay benefits for remedial courses, as long as there is a documented need for the remedial course such as ACT/SAT and placement test scores.  Remedial courses offered online cannot be certified for VA benefits,

VII. Transcripts

 The VA requires the school to evaluate and maintain official transcripts from previous schools the student has attended.  For those students who have or are currently serving in the military this includes transcripts for military training

Official military transcripts may be ordered at the links below:  

 Air Force, Air Force Reserves, the Air National Guard, and Space Command  https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Registrar/Transcript-Requests/

 Other Branches of Service  https://jst.doded.mil/jst/

 VIII.  Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program (ANGEAP)

 ANGEAP is a program established by the State of Alabama to assist the members of the Alabama National Guard with the cost of their education.  Each year the state establishes a maximum dollar amount an eligible student may receive in tuition and instructional fees.  To receive ANGEAP, the student must complete and submit an AUM ANGEAP Request form at the beginning of their first term and an ANGEAP application each semester to VMRC.  The Office of Veterans Services will process the student’s application in accordance with AL State laws and policies.  the.  Student’s HQs must approve their application before the state will authorize payment of ANGEAP funds.  ANGEAP funds are not paid until end of the applicable semester

IX.  Alabama GI Dependents’’ Scholarship and Military Tuition Assistance (TA)

 The Office of Student Accounts is responsible for the AL GI Dependent Scholarship and Military Tuition Assistance.  The can be contacted at (334) 244-3286 or studentaccounts@aum.edu.