VA - Semester Certification
If you are requesting VA benefits, you must confirm your intent to receive benefits
by completing the appropriate certification forms (see below).
You are paid VA benefits based on your training time and the number of hours for which
you are certified.
Fall and Spring Semesters
Full-time:
Undergraduates - 12 or more hours
Graduates - 9 or more hours
Three-quarter time:
Undergraduates - 9 to 11 hours
Graduates - 4 to 8 hours
Half-time:
Undergraduates - 6 to 8 hours
Graduates - 3 hours
Less than half time:
Undergraduates - 5 or less hours
Graduates - 2 or less hours
Summer Terms
Full-time: Undergraduates and Graduates - 4 or more hours
Three-quarter time: Undergraduates and Graduates - 3 hours
Half-Time: Undergraduates and Graduates - 2 hours
Tuition only: Undergraduates and Graduates - 1 hour
Enrollment Verification/Certification Form
Download this form, to be completed each enrollment period by the third day of classes
and returned to ULM's Office of Veterans Affairs, located in ULM Registrar's Office:
Undergraduate & Graduate Enrollment Verification Form (.pdf)
Monthly Verification
Veterans, Reservists, and Guardsmen who receive VA educational benefits under Chapter
30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty) and Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill - Selective
Reserve) must verify class attendance on or after the last day of the month.
You may verify by phone (1-877-823-2378) or via the web at www.gibill.va.gov
Failure to verify class attendance could result in non-receipt of VA educational benefits
for the month. Benefits may be delayed in those months with federal holidays.
Benefit Restrictions
For you to receive educational benefits, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs requires
that a student "be making satisfactory academic progress towards your goal" (e.g.,
courses must apply toward degree in which you are enrolled). Failure to adhere to
this regulation may result in a decrease of the amount or the loss of VA benefits.
Your academic advisor or school director will approve the courses in which you may
enroll each enrollment period in your curriculum and certify that they apply toward
your degree by completing and signing the appropriate Undergraduate & Graduate Enrollment Verification Form.
For each enrollment period, you must submit a completed Undergraduate & Graduate Enrollment Verification Form by the third day of classes to the ULM Veterans Affairs Office in order to certify
your benefits.
The ULM Certifying Official is obligated by the VA to closely monitor your academic
performance and to provide your enrollment information (e.g., dropping below full-time
enrollment) to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Although not all-inclusive, some
of the primary reasons for this required reporting are to adjust the amount of VA
educational payment benefits:
a) based on your current enrollment status,
b) based on the number of courses that apply toward your degree,
c) based on the number courses that apply toward your degree as a result changing
majors at ULM, or
d) based on the number of transferable courses that apply toward a degree as a result
of transferring to ULM from an accredited college or university.
Although not all-inclusive, some of the basic ways to ensure that you receive your
benefits in a timely manner are:
a) to submit your required Undergraduate & Graduate Enrollment Verification Form each enrollment period within the first three days of classes,
b) forecast your intent to enroll in future enrollment periods,
c) remain enrolled in required courses for which you register, and
d) earn grades in each course that indicate ULM and VA satisfactory progress toward
your degree.
After you have enrolled during an enrollment period as a full-time, three-quarter
time, half-time, less than half-time, or tuition-only student, you want to avoid an
Overpayment of Benefits for which you are responsible to repay the VA.
To avoid such overpayments, always report any action you take that affects your class
enrollment (e.g., dropping courses, resigning from the University) to ULM's Office
of Veteran Affairs.
Veterans Affairs