Resources for Veterans

CDU’s team of Veteran School Certifying Officials (SCOs) assists veterans, reservists, and dependents with issues related to their government-issued educational benefits.

SCOs submit enrollment certifications for new and continuing students to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and provide resources to help veterans navigate their academic journey at CDU.

All questions, forms, documents, and correspondence related to veterans may be submitted to va.certify@cdrewu.edu.

Visit the Financial Aid for Veterans page for additional information about Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit amounts.

How New Veteran Students Use VA Benefits at CDU

Newly enrolled students must complete the forms listed below to certify their status and initiate benefits.

Maintaining Your VA Benefits as a Continuing Student

Continuing students who wish to use VA benefits must submit a Statement of Intent each semester. Failure to submit a Statement of Intent will stall the certification process and delay receipt of benefits.

Before submitting a Statement of Intent, students should ensure they are registered for the semester for which they intend to use benefits.

CDU Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon) is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The program allows institutions of higher learning (degree-granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses, and the Veterans Administration will match that amount.

Instructions for Requesting Participation

The Veterans Administration (VA) requires all entering veterans to be formally admitted to the University through a VA-approved education program before becoming eligible for VA benefits. Please visit WEAMS to view your options and verify if your program of interest is approved for education benefits.

Before submitting a Request for Participation, candidates must be:

  • Officially accepted for admission to CDU for the upcoming academic year AND have received a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) verifying 100% eligibility for Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) GI Bill benefits.
  • A CDU undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking student in good academic standing, or officially accepted for admission to CDU for the 2023-2024 academic year, AND has received a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) verifying 100% eligibility for Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) GI Bill benefits.

Health Coverage Options for Veteran Students

Veterans who served in the military, Navy, or Air Force and were discharged under any condition other than dishonorable may qualify for health care benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
If you are receiving health care benefits through the VA, please remember to opt out of CDU’s student health insurance plan during the opt-out period.

VA Benefits and GI Bill Programs Accepted at CDU

Online courses may not be covered by the VA. In 2022, the VA released information notifying schools that online courses, which were temporarily covered due to COVID-19
allowances would no longer be covered. This may/may not apply to your benefits chapter. Students will still be able to receive their housing allowance if they take online courses, but tuition and fees for those courses may not be covered.

Students are encouraged to contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to confirm eligibility for benefits and coverage.

Background

Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 115-407, ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, amends Title 38 US Code 3679 by adding anew subsection (e) that requires disapproval of courses of education, beginning August 1, 2019, at any educational institution that does not have a policy in place that will allow an individual to attend or participate in a course of education, pending VA payment, providing the individual submits a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33.

Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs(VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation &Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will not:

  • Prevent the student’s enrollment;
  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
  • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes,libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

  • Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day ofclass;
  • Provide a written request to be certified;
  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify theenrollment as described in other institutional policies

GI Bill ® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

VA Education Benefits Accepted

CDU proudly supports veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and eligible dependents by certifying a wide range of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits. Our Veteran School Certifying Officials work directly with students to process enrollment certifications and ensure timely access to earned benefits.

CDU certifies the following VA benefit chapters and military tuition programs:

  • Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill®
  • Chapter 33 – Post-9/11 GI Bill®
  • Chapter 33 – Transfer of Entitlement (Spouse/Child)
  • Chapter 33 – Fry Scholarship
  • Chapter 33 – STEM Scholarship (Post-9/11 GI Bill® STEM Extension)
  • Chapter 31 – Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
  • Chapter 35 – Dependent’s Educational Assistance (DEA)
  • Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
  • Active Duty Tuition Assistance
  • ArmyIgnitED – Army Tuition Assistance Program

Our Veterans Affairs team assists students throughout the certification process, answers benefit-related questions, and helps military-connected students successfully use their education benefits to pursue their academic and professional goals.

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