Eastern Oregon University > Veterans > RESOURCES

RESOURCES

INFORMATION TO HELP

ASSISTANCE

GI Bill®

Government-Based Education Assistance

There are a variety of GI Bill® programs that can be used by veterans as well as active-duty, guard and reserve service members, spouses and dependents. This is an irrevocable decision, meaning you can’t change your mind, so you can compare benefits easily by using the GI Bill® Comparison Tool and viewing current payment rates.

Forever GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

The Forever GI Bill® brings significant changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill® that expand veterans’ eligibility for, and amount of, education benefits and the length of time they have to use them. See Full Details

Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33).

If you’re a member of the reserves who lost education benefits when the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) ended in November 2015, you may qualify to receive restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

This GI Bill® could help you with tuition and fees, money for housing, books and supplies. See Full Details

Montgomery GI Bill® — Active Duty (Chapter 30)

The Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD) can help you pay for up to 36 months of education benefits. You need to have served at least two years on active duty and must meet eligibility requirements in one of four categories. See Full Details

Montgomery GI Bill® — Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)

The Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you’re a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard or Air National Guard, and your obligation started after June 30, 1985, or for some types of training, after September 30, 1990, you may be eligible for this benefit. See Full Details

Yellow Ribbon

Designed by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, this program aims for the VA and degree-granting institutions to pay the difference between what is covered by GI Bill® benefits and the total cost of the program. The Yellow Ribbon Scholarship is automatically applied if your tuition costs exceed the maximum state cap for tuition reimbursement and if you are qualified for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at the 100 percent rate. It does not apply for active duty personnel, their spouses or veterans receiving less than 100 percent of the benefit.

Eastern Oregon University contributes the difference in cost between in-state and out-of-state tuition. See Full Details

Family/Spousal Benefits

Fry Scholarship (provides the same benefits as Chapter 33 to a surviving spouse or dependent)

If you’re the child or surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, or a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after the same date, you may qualify for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) which grants you up to 36 months of benefits including money for tuition, housing, books and supplies. Learn more about the Fry Scholarship

Post-9/11 GI Bill® Benefits (Chapter 33, Transfer of Entitlement – TOE)

If you’re a qualified service member, you can transfer all 36 months or a portion of your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to a spouse or child. The DoD approves a transfer of benefits. Learn about transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) (Chapter 35)

If you’re the child or spouse of a veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing or has disabilities, you may be able to receive between 36 and 455 months of benefits to pay for school or job training through the DEA program — also called Chapter 35. See Full Details

Veterans’ Dependent Tuition Waiver (only available to Oregon residents)

Designed for children of a Purple Heart recipient or the child, spouse or un-remarried surviving spouse of a U.S. military service member who died or is 100 percent disabled from service, the waiver is a last-dollar award after all other money has been accounted for and applies towards tuition. See Details and Application

Called to Active Duty?

Any student with orders to report for active military duty may withdraw at any time during the term and receive a full refund. If sufficient course- work has been accomplished and the instructor feels justified in granting credit for the coursework completed, credit may be granted and withdrawal proceedings are unnecessary. Students can refer to the Tuition Refund Policy in the EOU student handbook.

If called to active military duty, students should meet with the Veteran’s Affairs Office if already receiving benefits, with the Financial Aid Office if applicable, and with their academic advisor to discuss their options. See EOU’s Academic Policy page for the full Military Call-up Policy 2.35.15. Students should refer to the policy for options on
completing or withdrawing from classes.

Military Tuition Assistance

DoD Tuition Assistance (T/A)

Active military students may be eligible to utilize Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) to fund their education. DoD TA covers tuition expenses equal to $165 per quarter credit (up to $250 per semester credit hour) for eligible students. 

For more information regarding tuition assistance, visit your service branch:

Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance (ONGSTA)

Eligible to current Oregon National Guard Members who are seeking an undergraduate degree, a maximum of $208 per credit hour can be awarded to attend a community college, public or private university. See Details and Application

Active Duty Military Award

Once Tuition Assistance benefits have been applied, this award from EOU will cover the remaining tuition fees. You must be an active-duty military service member taking 100 percent online undergraduate coursework and submit paperwork for TA benefits through your branch of the military.

This award is applied automatically based on the submission of TA paperwork through the third-party billing desk of the Student Financial Services office.

Military Evaluation for Credit

Students may receive college credit for training obtained during military service. Credit will be awarded based on recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE). To receive credit, official ACE transcripts must be
submitted to the Office of Admissions. Students receiving GI Bill® education benefits while attending Eastern Oregon University are required to obtain official transcripts from all schools previously attended and submit them to the
school for review of prior credit.


*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Enrollment Verification

If you receive benefits under chapter 30, 33, or 1606, you must verify school attendance on either the first or last day of each month during the current term, every term. Benefits will not paid if you do not verify.

Chapter 33 Post 9/11 students with a US mobile phone number on file will receive an opt-in text as their next enrollment period approaches. Note: Students who do not have a US mobile phone number on file with the VA will not be able to use text verification. They will be automatically enrolled into email verification.

Chapters 1606 and 30: To verify by phone call 1-877-823-2378 or online at http://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/

Effective December 22nd, 2021 students receiving benefits under Chapter 33, Post 9/11 must verify their enrollment at the end of each month. Failure to verify for two consecutive months will impact your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments.

FORMS

Enrollment Certification Notification form (Chapters 30, 33, 35, 1606)

Student Rights & Responsibilities form (all chapters)

Parent School Letter request form (PSL) (all chapters if attending a secondary school for the same term)

VA 22-1995 Change of Program or Place of Training (Chapters 30, 33, 1606)

VA 22-5495 Change of Program or Place of Training (Chapter 35)

VA Form 28-1905 (Chapter 31)

VA Form 24-0296 Direct Deposit Enrollment (or call 1-800-827-1000 / TDD 1-800-829-4833)

VA Form 20-572 Request for Change of Address/Cancellation of Direct Deposit

Oregon DEA/Chapter 35 Tuition Waiver Application

VA Form 22-1990+ (Tutorial Assistance application) (all chapters)

REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE

Choice Act (38 U.S.C. 3679(c))

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014 (38 U.S.C. 3679(c))

Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 [effective July 1, 2015] as codified in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c). In 2016 Congress passed Public Law 114-315 [effective July 1, 2017], which modifies 38 U.S.C. 3679(c).

Eastern Oregon University is a proud participant of the 2014 Veterans Choice Act, which allows Veterans and other covered individuals under the Montgomery & Post 911 GI Bills® to receive in-state tuition. Active duty personnel and Veterans who identify as such on the admission application will automatically receive in-state tuition. Eligible dependents, spouses, and individuals currently receiving transferred benefits or the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship must contact the Registrar’s Office once admitted to the University to verify eligibility. Veteran and Service Member students receive priority registration at EOU.

EOU will allow any covered individual to attend or participate in courses of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to EOU a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33. EOU ensures all covered individuals will not accrue any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to EOU due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33.

Students Eligible for In-State Tuition under Section 702 (“Choice Act”) include:

  • A Veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  • A spouse or child using transferred benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  • A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Servicemember’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  • Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.

Veterans who do not qualify under the Choice Act will likely qualify under HB 2158 (2013) and HB 4021 (2014) section 1. ORS 352.375 or HB 2787

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

More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Priority Registration

Eastern Oregon University offers early, priority registration to students using veterans’ educational benefits and to identified veterans and military members.

Priority registration supports timely program completion in compliance with Oregon House Bill 2565.

Students being certified by the Registrar’s Office for federal VA educational benefits will automatically be given veteran priority registration.

Oregon HB 2565

J. Isakson and D. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020

Section 1018 of Public Law 116-315

Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, adds new requirements for educational institutions participating in the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These new provisions became effective June 15, 2021, and will apply to Institutions of Higher Learning and Non-College Degree institutions beginning August 1, 2021. Many of the requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Principles of Excellence, currently in Executive Order 13607; however, there are requirements in addition to those embodied in the Principles of Excellence which schools must also satisfy to maintain approval for GI Bill® participation.

Schools must provide a covered individual (a student using benefits under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 1606 of title 10, U.S.C.) with a personalized shopping sheet that contains:

Estimated total cost of the course that includes tuition, fees, books, supplies and any other additional costs.

Estimated cost of living expenses.

Other types of Federal financial aid, not administered by VA that is offered by the institution, that the individual may be qualified to receive.

Principles of Excellence program

The Principles of Excellence program requires schools that get federal funding through programs such as the GI Bill® to follow certain guidelines. Learn about these guidelines.

Schools that are a part of the program must:

  • Give you a written personal summary of the total cost of your educational program, including:
    • The costs covered by your benefits.
    • The financial aid you may qualify for.
    • Your expected student-loan debt after you graduate.
    • Other information to help you compare aid packages offered by different schools.
  • Give you an educational plan with a timeline showing how and when you can fulfill everything required for you to graduate.
  • Assign you a point of contact who will give you ongoing academic and financial advice (including access to disability counseling).
  • Allow for you to be gone for both long and short periods of time due to service obligations (service you must fulfill) for active-duty service members and Reservists.
  • Make sure all new programs are accredited (officially approved) before enrolling students.
  • Make sure their refund policies follow Title IV rules, which guide federal student financial aid programs.
  • End fraudulent (deceitful) and aggressive methods of recruiting.

Schools that don’t charge tuition and fees don’t have to follow the Principles of Excellence guidelines. These include:

  • Foreign schools
  • High schools
  • On-the-job training and apprenticeship programs
  • Residency and internship programs

Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to learn which schools are part of the program. You can also compare benefits offered by different schools.
Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool

https://militarybenefits.info/principles-of-excellence/

Other helpful links

American Council on Education (ACE) 
An official ACE transcript of your military training

Congress.gov
Official website for U.S. federal legislative information. Here you can find bills, resolutions, and legislative histories from 1973 to the present. Read more about Congress.gov.

Ebenefits Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. Gateway to Benefit Information

EOU ARMY ROTC

Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors, 2018 Edition
Provides brief descriptions of VA programs and benefits, including compensation and pension benefits, healthcare, memorial and burial benefits, facility phone numbers and addresses, and more.

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Reviews veterans’ programs, examines current laws and reports bills and amendments to strengthen existing laws concerning veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Joint Services Transcript (JST)
The Joint Services Transcript (JST) is an academically accepted document approved by the American Council on Education (ACE) to validate a service member’s military occupational experience and training along with the corresponding ACE college credit recommendations. JST replaces the Coast Guard Institute Transcript , the Army ACE Registry Transcript (AARTS) and the Sailor/Marine ACE Registry Transcript (SMART).

National Personnel Records Center (NARA)
Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR) is the repository of millions of military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services during the 20th century. Order a copy of your DD 214.

Oregon Department of Veteran’s Affairs Find your Veteran benefits

Oregon National Guard Service Member and Family Support Program
Provides family, wellness, and transition programs.

Oregon Partnership Military Helpline

Scholarships Information on scholarships at EOU (Service to Country)

Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A gateway to critical news and information for veterans and all those who care about veterans issues.

Transition Care Management
Provides information on veterans benefits for returning service members (OEF/OIF/OND).

Troops to Teachers
Provides Counseling and Referral services to military personnel interested in beginning a second career in public education as a teacher. The DANTES Troops to Teachers office will help applicants identify teacher certification requirements, programs leading to certification and employment opportunities.

USA.gov
U.S. Government’s Official Web Portal for all government transactions, services, and information. Provides direct online access to federal, state, local, and tribal governments.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Provides information on healthcare and federal benefits to veterans and their dependents. You can access crisis prevention information directly by going to the Veterans Crisis Line Website.

CONTACTS

Dorothy Jones

EOU Veterans Certifying Official,
[VA certification of all chapters, use of benefits, general GI Bill® questions]
Inlow Hall 105 – Registrar’s Office
djones@eou.edu
541-962-3607
Fax: 541-962-3799

Kimberly Zollman

Student Financial Services
Gilbert Event Center
thirdpartybilling@eou.edu
541-962-3306
Fax:541-962-3872

Kerry Thompson

Military/Veteran Coordinator [Advisor & VA work-study supervisor]
kjthompson@eou.edu
541-289-2841

VA Muskogee Regional Processing Center

Education Benefits questions: 1-888-442-4551 7a-7p M-F Central time
www.benefits.va.gov/
Debt Management Center: 1-800-827-0648

Monthly Verification of Attendance (Ch. 30, 1606): 1-877-823-2378 or online at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do

Other VA Benefits: 1-800-827-1000