A+B. Intro_SJ.1 - University of Maryland University College

For Further Information
Information and applications are available from the Financial
Aid Office. Students can also obtain a current financial aid kit
by contacting their advisor. All financial aid information and
forms also are available at www.umuc.edu/financialaid on the
UMUC Web site. Students with additional questions should
either contact the Financial Aid Office by phone at 800-888-
UMUC, ext. 7510, or by e-mail at gradfinaid@umuc.edu.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans Benefits Programs
The following is a summary of the educational assistance that
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs makes available to
active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their dependents
who are attending UMUC:
■ The Post–Vietnam Era Educational Assistance Program
(VEAP, Chapter 32) may extend benefits to active-duty
personnel and veterans who enlisted in the military after
January 1, 1977. Eligible applicants who contributed to an
educational fund have their contributions matched at the
rate of two dollars for each dollar. (Eligibility to enroll in
this program ended on March 31, 1987.)
■ The Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty Educational
Assistance Program (MGIB, Chapter 30) assists students
who entered active duty for the first time after July 1, 1985,
and agreed to have their pay reduced $100 for 12 months.
Veterans must have been honorably discharged; active-duty
personnel must have served at least two years.
If the service does not pay 100 percent of tuition and fees
and the student is on active duty, is eligible for MGIB benefits,
and plans to use tuition assistance, the student may
apply for MGIB Tuition Assistance Top-up for the balance.
The amount of the benefit is limited to the amount that
the student would receive for the same course(s) if regular
MGIB benefits were being paid. In no case will the amount
paid by the military combined with the amount paid by the
Department of Veterans Affairs exceed the total cost of the
course(s). The use of Tuition Assistance Top-up reduces
future entitlement to MGIB benefits. Further information
on Tuition Assistance Top-up is available on the Department
of Veterans Affairs Web site at www.gibill.va.gov.
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Certain veterans and active-duty military personnel who
were eligible for educational assistance under the GI Bill
(Chapter 34) on December 31, 1989, may become eligible
for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill if they meet
specific criteria (available from Graduate Student Affairs)
and have some unused entitlement. Other veterans who
were voluntarily or involuntarily separated and who
elected to participate in Chapter 30 may be eligible.
Certain Post–Vietnam Era Educational Assistance
Program participants who elected to participate in
Chapter 30 may also be eligible.
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) provides assistance
to veterans who have a service-connected disability of at
least 20 percent and need vocational rehabilitation.
The provisions of the Survivors’ and Dependents’
Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35) award educational
benefits to spouses and children of veterans who
either died while in service, died as a result of a serviceconnected
disability, or became totally and permanently
disabled as a result of their military service.
Besides Chapter 35, the Restored Entitlement Program
for Survivors also assists dependents. Eligibility for educational
benefits under this program is limited to unmarried
full-time students between the ages of 18 and 22 whose
parent died while on active duty before August 13, 1981, or
as a result of a service-connected disability incurred before
August 13, 1981.
Educational assistance through the provisions of the
Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve Educational
Assistance Program (Chapter 106) may be available to
students who have a six-year obligation in the Selected
Reserves that was signed after June 30, 1985. Students
who are officers must agree to serve an additional six years
beyond their current obligation.
Benefits awarded under the Department of Defense
Educational Assistance Test Program (Sections 901 and
903) are available to veterans whom the department chose
for participation from among those who enlisted between
November 30, 1980, and September 30, 1981.
Application Procedures
Students who are eligible for educational benefits from the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs should review the online
information on application procedures (at www.umuc.edu/
vabenefits). Every educational assistance program requires different
paperwork and documentation to process a claim. Initial
applications for benefits may be submitted online directly to
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. All students must also
complete a UMUC Veterans Certification form each semester
www.umuc.edu/grad
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