New to La Verne: Get Started with Veteran Resources and Success

I applied, now what?

Know your education benefit eligibility and apply for, or update your benefit.

If you are not sure you are eligible, please check with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). There are two ways you can do this: Using Ask VA (AVA) on the Help Portal at https://ask.va.gov, or by phone at: (888) 442-4551.

Next…all VA Education benefit-eligible students, whether a first-time VA benefit user, or transferring benefit use to a new program, should apply for, or update his/her education benefits. This online VA form (link) will complete all necessary documents including receiving a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and the mandatory VA Form 22-1995 Change of Program/Place if needed.

Create your VA account via www.va.gov account to check on the status of benefits, and payments and to request future VA services or information. Important: Update your mobile phone and email when it changes.

Check-In with the Abraham Center for Veteran Students Success (ACVSS).

From admission through graduation, we are here to assist you! Start and stay on track when you check in with the ACVSS. Be prepared to provide the following info: Name, if a student your ID#, program/site, if you are active duty/veteran, or spouse/legal domestic partner, or dependent, as well as your VA benefit and generally, what type of assistance you are seeking. Call us at 909-448-1461/64.

Order all Transcripts—Early and Online

The university follows ACE guidelines/recommendations for military credit. For undergraduate degrees only, if applicable, submit your Joint Services Transcript (JST) to the University of La Verne online via the American Council on Education. Air Force submits Air Force College transcripts (CCAF) online to ULV. Link: https://www.acenet.edu/Programs-Services/Pages/Credit-Transcripts/Request-Transcripts.aspx

Note: All applicants with less than 28 transferable college-earned credits should submit a High School transcript or GED.

Education Plans/Education Costs Information

All official transcripts must be received to create an official personalized Education Plan. If you are not yet accepted, you can receive an Education Plan if you have unofficial transcripts, but it will be an unofficial Education Plan. Request these documents through your Admissions Counselor, who will be able to connect you with the correct program’s academic advisor. Education costs that include financial aid cannot be personalized without a submitted FAFSA. If you need assistance please call ACVSS at 909-448-1461, or email VetStudentSuccess@laverne.edu.

Academic Advising and Military Advising

All students are assigned an Academic Advisor and should meet with their advisor prior to each enrollment period to ensure they are on track with the degree and classes. Once admitted you will receive an Acceptance Letter to your personal email with your ULV ID#, the name and contact information of your Academic Advisor, as well as additional important instructions. Be sure to keep this information. Once you set up your ULV email and portal, you can also locate your advisor by following the instructions located here: La Verne Support: Academic Advising Paragraph.

Military Advising assists VA and Active Duty Tuition Assistance (TA) students with academic advising-related support. Select advisors provide essential support to the School Certifying Officials (SCOs) with course certifications for VA benefits. Please send only VA and/or TA-related questions, attached forms that may need review and/or approval, as well as requests for assistance to the Advising Military email: advisingmilitary@laverne.edu. For more information go to Military Advising | University of La Verne.

Apply for FAFSA

All VA Education benefits students, undergraduate, and graduate, should apply for federal student aid via FAFSA online to determine eligibility for financial aid or student-friendly loans. All financial aid (including Named Scholarships and Federal Work Study) is only awarded/distributed to those who complete the free application for FAFSA (link). The school code is 001216. Check-in with the Financial Aid Office and meet with an advisor if needed. If transferring and your start date is mid-academic year or summer, submit the school change on FAFSA. Once awarded, view your loan offers and accept or decline loans within 30 days. Veterans using benefits may have employment income change. FAFSA awards are based on income two years prior. Apply and once the award is made, contact Financial Aid to explore an adjustment to your award.

Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) Academic Worksheet, Education Plan, and Cost Sheet (for approval to attend ULV)

If you have a VA disability rating of 10% or more, you are encouraged to explore utilizing VRE for your undergraduate degree prior to exhausting your 9/11. As long as you have remaining 9/11 you will be eligible to opt for 9/11 MHA while using VRE. Once accepted into the VRE program, you should discuss your degree options with your VRE Counselor. Contact Veteran Student Success at VetStudentSuccess@laverne.edu and request assistance to secure a VRE Academic Worksheet, with Education Plan and costs. Once completed, submit all to your VRE counselor. If your program is approved, your counselor will issue a Tungsten Authorization/PO Number, separately, to both your University’s Certifying Official and the University (Follett) Bookstore. Both must receive POs prior to any funding (tuition, books, supplies, etc.) approvals. To check on the receipt of your PO, email the ULV Certifying Official at vareg@laverne.edu. NOTE: An unofficial transcript must be submitted to your VRE counselor at the end of each semester. Instructions for ordering books will be emailed in response to your request for books (see forms).

I’m admitted, now what?

Congratulations! You will receive an acceptance letter with important information, instructions, and a Student ID Number to get you started. Follow the instructions to set up your ULV email and access the La Verne Portal. Always use and check your ULV email often for important ULV notification emails on services, class registration, and administrative/academic requirements. Always include your Student ID number on all communications. Save your admission letter. Remember! Veteran Student Success is here to help you! Drop by the center or call 909-448-1461 for assistance.

Now, once registration opens, register for classes. IMPORTANT: After registering, you will access the Forms page (link) and submit the GI Bill® Enrollment Certification Request Form. Read the instructions! Answer the questions to request class certification and download these required documents: the first page of your VA Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) that shows your name, benefit, months, and rating. If applicable, your DD214, valid VA ID, or Drivers License showing Veteran, and/or Active Duty Military ID and Submit! Both you and your certifying official will receive a copy of the submission. On the Forms page are: The Yellow Ribbon Form, TA (for active duty) Submission form, Parent Letter Form, as well as other forms. NOTE: If you have not yet received a CoE from the VA, you can now view and print eligibility information from your va.gov account to submit.

Important: Be sure to continue with the Frequently Asked Questions below.

Question What about my books? When should I order?

Books and supplies should be ordered a minimum of 3 weeks prior to classes. You can visit the ULV Bookstore or order online.

Visiting Store: Select your items and when at the register let the cashier know you will be using your VA account, please ensure you have a picture ID.

Online Ordering: Visit www.ulvshop.com and sign in (create an account if necessary).

VR&E, Chapter 31 Students should visit the Forms page for ordering instructions. Any textbooks/supplies not purchased via the ULV Bookstore require reimbursement with the approval of your VR&E Counselor.

Other ordering options: When comparing options/pricing, be sure to use the ISBN number provided on your syllabus to search for the same textbook online. Numerous third-party websites, such as those that specialize in selling used books, may offer significant discounts, as well as purchasing directly from the publisher’s website. However, it is extremely important to double-check that the ISBN number you are searching for matches exactly with the one listed on your syllabus to ensure you are purchasing the correct edition of the textbook. This will help you avoid issues with content discrepancies or outdated material.

Question How long can it take to receive VA benefits? VA Processing General Timeline, MHA (housing), Class Registration and Certification Requirements for all benefit users, DUO Enrollment Verification for Post 9/11.

First-time recipients should receive their benefits in approximately four to six weeks. Continuing students should receive their benefits in approximately three to four weeks. If your program qualifies, MHA should start at the end of the first month of attending certified classes (prorated for dates attended) and the Chapter 33 book/supply stipend ($1000/year) should arrive prorated with each semester/term, often prior to the same semester/term. Rates are updated on August 1 of each year. MHA is calculated based on zip code and at a percentage based on attending classes full-time or less. For MHA amounts for each ULV site visit this link: VA Ed Benefit Comparison Tool entering University of La Verne to list all sites.

ULV offers programs via On-ground, Hybrid, Telepresence, and Synchronous Online or Asynchronous Online classes. You must attend full-time and be in at least one On-ground, Hybrid, or Telepresence class to qualify for MHA (housing) each semester or session. Directed Study is offered occasionally and also meets the residency requirement. All online classes are considered distance learning and affect MHA. Be sure to share this with your academic advisor!

DUO enrollment verification requirement for Chapter 33 Post 9/11 benefit! If you are using Post-9/11 GI Bill®, you are required to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to receive your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. How to verify:

The VA encourages students to opt-in to text messaging verification of monthly enrollment to ensure MHA/kicker payments are uninterrupted. All students with a US mobile phone number on file should receive an opt-in text message after being enrolled in your courses. You must respond to that text within 14 days. After opting in, you can simply reply to a VA text message each month to verify your enrollment.

If you opt out of text message verification or do not respond to the opt-in text, you will be automatically enrolled in email verification with your email address on file with VA. Link with more info: https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/docs/isaksonroe/1010_ihl_process.pdf

Important NOTE: You can update your mobile phone number and/or email address and opt-in to verification by text message at any time by calling the ECC at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Question Can I be eligible for two or more education benefits?

You may be eligible for more than one VA education benefit program. However, you may only receive payments from one program at a time.

Question When is my school responsible for refunding VA?

Schools are required to report, without delay, the enrollment, interruption, and termination of attendance for each person enrolled in an educational assistance program administered by the VA.

In addition to reporting any changes in enrollment status, schools will be held responsible for refunding payments as appropriate. The following list explains when a school will be responsible for refunding VA:

The student never attended classes for which he/she was certified (regardless of the reason for non-attendance).
The student completely withdraws on or before the first day of the term. (If a student reduces classes, the debt shall be assessed to the student.)
The school received a payment for the wrong student.
The school received a duplicate payment.
The school submitted an amended enrollment certification and reported reduced tuition and fee charges, reduced Yellow Ribbon amount, or both.
The student died during the term or before the start of the term.
VA issued payment above the amount certified on the enrollment certification that was used to process the payment (VA data entry error).

*All other over-payments will remain the responsibility of the student.

Question What are my responsibilities as a student?

As a veteran using your education benefits, it is your responsibility to notify your University Certifying Official immediately of any action affecting your enrollment status – drop, add, or a change of classes and a degree/certificate program goal. Failure to do so may result in termination of benefits. Submit notices to vareg@laverne.edu.

You are responsible for maintaining satisfactory academic progress through degree completion. Satisfactory progress is defined as a grade point average of “C” for credit programs and/or an “average” for noncredit programs. Failure to maintain the required grade point average could result in the suspension of veteran education benefits.