Veterans Success

The VA offers several education benefit programs, each with its own eligibility requirements and payment rates.  For more details, use the links below.

1. Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill®

2. Chapter 31 Veterans Readiness and Employment 

3. Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance* 

4. Chapter 30 The Montgomery GI Bill®-Active Duty

5. Chapter 1606Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve*

▪ Questions about your eligibility? Contact the VA directly

▪ Phone: 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

▪ Online: Ask VA Portal.

▪ Questions about how your VA Education Benefits apply to your Syracuse University student account? Contact the Office of Veteran Success (OVS)

▪ Email: [email protected]

▪ Phone: (315) 443-0358.

Note: The VA pays Chapters 30, 35, and 1606 benefits directly to students.  Syracuse University does not receive tuition or fee payments from the VA for these benefits.

For current VA educational pay rates, please visit the VA’s website.

Apply For Benefits: Students who are using VA Education Benefits for the first time *must apply directly through the VA to determine their eligibility.

▪ It can take the VA approximately 30 days to process a new application. Once processed, the VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).  You can also access your COE through your My VA.gov account.

Dependent Transfer of Benefit (TOB): Dependents of service members using the Post-9/11 GI Bill® can find detailed information about the transfer of entitlement process on the VA website.  Please note that once the transfer is approved, dependents must submit their own application for benefits.

Questions about transferring your benefit to dependents? Contact the VA directly:

▪ Online: Ask VA portal

▪ Phone: 1-888-442-4551

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

▪ Once the VA processes your application, the VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) outlining your education benefits. The COE looks like a letter. The COE indicates the VA’s decision (approved or denied), the specific benefit you have been approved to use, and the number of months of eligibility remaining.

▪ Please send a copy of your COE to Thomas More’s School Certifying Official, Michelle Vezina, at [email protected]. We accept either a copy of your mailed COE or a downloaded copy from your My VA.gov account.  The COE is required when you first start using VA benefits or when you switch from one benefit program to another.

CH33 Post 9/11 GI® Bill benefits

▪ If you are using CH33 Post 9/11 GI® Bill benefits, you can download a copy of your COE from My VA.gov account.

Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

▪ If you are using Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), your VR&E counselor will need to send a purchase order (PO) to the School Certifying Official. If your counselor has questions about where to send the PO, please have them contact the School Certifying Official, Michelle Vezina, at [email protected] or (859) 344-3505.

▪ For more information about CH31 VR&E and how to apply, visit the VA’s website.

Questions? Contact the VA School Certifying Official:

▪ Michelle Vezina

▪ Email: [email protected]

▪ Phone: (859) 344-3505

Registration: Students must register for their upcoming classes. VA education benefits dependon the student’s enrollment for the semester.

Once the student is registered for classes, the School Certifying Official will certify their enrollment with the VA. The credit hours, class dates, and tuition will be reported. Please note that if the classes start on different dates, the tuition will be divided accordingly.

Enrollment Changes: You are responsible for notifying the School Certifying Official of any enrollment changes (adding/dropping courses, withdrawals, etc.). Failure to do so may result in payment delays or incurring a VA debt.

Questions? Contact the VA School Certifying Official:

▪ Michelle Vezina

▪ Email: [email protected]

▪ Phone: (859) 344-3505

The Thomas More School Certifying Official (SCO) will certify your enrollment to the VA for payment. SCOs may contact you about your enrollment or certification, so check your school email regularly.

The VA will email you a confirmation after Thomas More University certifies your enrollment.

For students using Post-9/11 GI Bill® (CH33): The VA will send the funds directly to Thomas More, and they will be posted on your student bursar account.

For students using Chapters 30, 35, and 1606 benefits: These benefits provide a monthly stipend paid directly to students based on enrollment. Thomas More University receives no tuition or fee payments from the VA.  Please ensure you have other funding sources to cover tuition and fees.

Financial Aid: It is highly encouraged that you apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year, even if you are using VA educational benefits. For information and questions about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid. (Link this to Financial Aid’s email address)

Cost of Attendance: For more information on the cost of attendance, please visit our Estimated Cost of Attendance page.

Enrollment Changes: You are responsible for notifying the School Certifying Official of any enrollment changes (adding/dropping courses, withdrawals, etc.). Failure to do so may result in payment delays or incurring a VA debt.

Questions or concerns about the estimate for your bill? Contact the VA School Certifying Official:

▪ Michelle Vezina

▪ Email: [email protected]

▪ Phone: (859) 344-3505

Thomas More University proudly demonstrates its commitment to those who have served our nation through participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33). The Yellow Ribbon Program helps bridge the gap between the maximum tuition and fee benefit provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and the actual cost of attendance at private institutions such as Thomas More University. Through this partnership, eligible veterans and military-connected students may be able to attend Thomas More with little to no out-of-pocket tuition expense.

Thomas More University offers an unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon scholarships to qualified students. For students who are eligible at the 100% benefit level under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, the University contributes Yellow Ribbon funding toward remaining tuition and fee costs after the annual VA tuition cap is reached. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs then matches Thomas More’s contribution dollar-for-dollar, significantly reducing or eliminating remaining tuition expenses.

Eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program is determined by the VA and will be indicated on the student’s Certificate of Eligibility (COE). To participate, students must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at the 100% benefit tier and have remaining Chapter 33 entitlement available. Eligibility for Yellow Ribbon funding ends when Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits are exhausted, or the student reaches their delimiting date, as determined by the VA.

Yellow Ribbon funding is applied after the annual VA tuition and fee cap has been met. The VA establishes this cap each academic year, which runs from August 1 through July 31. Thomas More University’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program reflects our ongoing dedication to making higher education accessible and affordable for veterans and military-connected students.

For more information on the cost of attendance, please visit our Estimated Cost of Attendance page.

For more information about Thomas More University’s Yellow Ribbon program, please contact the School Certifying Official:

▪ Michelle Vezina

▪ Email: [email protected]

▪ Phone: (859) 344-3505

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program, authorized under Chapter 35 of Title 38, U.S. Code, provides education and training benefits to eligible dependents of certain veterans, service members, and members of the Armed Forces.

DEA benefits may be available to spouses and children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition, who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability, or who meet other eligibility requirements established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

For the most current monthly benefit rates, please visit the VA website:

https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/resources/benefits_resources/rate_tables.asp

For information regarding tuition, fees, and other educational expenses, please visit Thomas More University’s Estimated Cost of Attendance page.

Students with questions regarding eligibility or certification of benefits should contact the Thomas More University School Certifying Official (SCO) for assistance.

Questions? Contact the VA School Certifying Official:

▪ Michelle Vezina

▪ Email: [email protected]

▪ Phone: (859) 344-3505

Eligible service members may transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill® educational benefits to qualifying family members through the Department of Defense Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) program.

Educational benefits may be transferred to:

• A spouse

• One or more children

• Any combination of a spouse and children

To receive transferred educational benefits, the family member must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and be eligible for benefits at the time the transfer is approved.

Important Information for Recipients

Children

• Marriage does not affect a child’s eligibility to receive transferred educational benefits.

• The service member retains the right to modify or revoke a transfer designation at any time.

Spouses

• Divorce does not affect a spouse’s eligibility to receive transferred educational benefits that have already been transferred.

• The service member retains the right to modify or revoke a transfer designation at any time.

Additional eligibility requirements, service obligations, and transfer approval processes are determined by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Students are encouraged to review their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and consult with the Thomas More University School Certifying Official (SCO) regarding the use of transferred benefits.

Questions? Contact the VA School Certifying Official:

▪ Michelle Vezina

▪ Email: [email protected]

▪ Phone: (859) 344-3505

▪ VA Housing Allowance (MHA): If you are using Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® or Chapter 31 (VR&E) benefits, your housing allowance is paid directly to you by the VA based on your enrollment. The VA issues housing payments on the first of each month for the previous month’s attendance. Payments are issued only for the days you are enrolled during the semester; if you are not enrolled for the full month, the payment will be prorated.  Please note: Active-duty service members and spouses of active-dutymembers are not eligible for the housing allowance.

Books & Supplies:

▪ Chapter 33: Students using Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits are also eligible for a books and supplies stipend. The VA provides up to $1,000 per academic year, paid directly to you, to help offset the cost of required books and supplies. For current books and supplies rates, please visit the VA’s website.

▪ Chapter 31: Students using Chapter 31 (VR&E) benefits must have an approved purchase order (PO) submitted by their VR&E counselor. Your books will be covered by the VA.

▪ Inclusive Access Books: These books and course materials are available in digital format through your Canvas account. The cost of these materials will be billed to your student account and will not be covered by Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits.

If you choose not to participate in the program, you can opt out. The opt-out process is completed in Canvas and must be finalized by the indicated deadline. If you do not opt out by that deadline, the charges will remain on your student account through the Bursar’s Office.

For more information, please contact your professor or the bookstore.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code § 3679 subsection (e), and effective August 1, 2019, this university 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 Veterans Readiness & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. Within 90 days of the date when the school certifies the student’s tuition and fees, following receipt of the student’s VA Certificate of Eligibility, this university 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, students will be required to provide the University with:

 • A copy of his/her VA Certification of Eligibility (COE) – A “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website; eBenefits; OR  • An approval letter for chapter 31 benefits, such as a VAF 28-1905 form

It is highly encouraged that you apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and for Thomas More University aid, even if you are using VA educational benefits.

For information and questions about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.(Link this to Financial Aid’s email address)

The Veterans Success Center serves as a dedicated space for veteran and military-connected students to connect, study, and recharge while pursuing their educational goals at Thomas More University. Located in the Administration Building, Room 3331, the Center provides a welcoming environment that fosters community, supports academic success, and enhances the student experience.

The Veterans Success Center offers students access to computers and study resources, as well as comfortable lounge seating where they can relax between classes, watch television, and connect with fellow veterans and military-connected students. Whether students need a quiet place to work, a space to meet with peers, or simply a place to unwind, the Veterans Success Center serves as a home away from home on campus.

As part of Thomas More University’s commitment to those who have served our nation, the Veterans Success Center provides an inclusive and supportive environment where students can build relationships, access resources, and find encouragement throughout their academic journey.

Contact the VA School Certifying Official:

▪ Michelle Vezina

▪ Email: [email protected]

▪ Phone: (859) 344-3505