From the Director of Military and Veteran Student Success
Well we are one month into the Fall Semester and it is time to think about your academic plan! How are you managing your classes and preparing for exams? Are you spending hours/days before your exam cramming? If so, I really recommend getting a planner and practicing time management skills. Focus on the tough classes first and allocate time to prepare for each class and then a session afterwards to really absorb the lesson.
Another great trick…GO TO CLASS!!! It is critical for you to attend your classes so you can learn from the professor.
I wanted to thank everyone who attended one of our events over the last several weeks. From the Salute to Service tailgate to the 9/11 stair climb and the UCF Remembers 9/11 Ceremony…I truly appreciate everyone who attended. Our team is busy planning for our upcoming events…we have some great ones planned for you in October focused on your well-being. Check out our Instagram page for all the updates.
Study rooms at the Military and Veteran Success Center are here for your use. Please feel free to drop in and use the study rooms here so you can stay ahead! We hope to see you soon.
GO KNIGHTS!!!
Stay updated with MVSS and join our community on Campus ESP .
Michael Kepner, MS.
Director, MVSS
michael.kepner@ucf.edu
School Certifying Official Corner
Updated from Department of Veteran Affairs, Education Services!
In light of the recently approved federal continuing resolution, the Department of Veteran Affairs Education Services are back online and operating. Pasted below you will find the first updates from their office, as it applies to our military-connected students. As always, if you have concerns about your education benefits, you can contact our office (407-823-2707) or the VA Education Benefits Customer Service line (888-442-4551).
ECC and SCO Hotline Operations
The ECC and SCO Hotline have resumed operations and are available to assist with questions. Call us at 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551), or 001-918-781-5678 if calling from overseas, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST.
If a student has a debt due to enrollment changes, they can submit a message through Ask VA or call the Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648.
Progress on Claims and Student Support
VA Education Service continues to make steady progress in restoring timely service for students, especially for those using Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits. We recognize the past several weeks have been difficult, and we appreciate your patience.
We are working as quickly as possible to process all pending claims and remain on track for full recovery by mid-December.
Students can check the status of their payments and complete common self-service actions such as updating direct deposit information or changing contact details using their My Education Benefits page.
We encourage you to submit enrollment certifications as soon as possible. Enrollment Manager allows certifications up to 180 days before the term begins for Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) enrollment certifications and up to 120 days for non- 33 (Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty [Chapter 30], Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve [Chapter 1606], or Chapter 35).
Email and Text Notifications for Attendance Verification
VA now offers email and text messaging for students using Chapter 30, 33 or 1606 benefits. These messages are used for the required monthly verification of attendance.
We encourage students to ensure their contact information is up to date in their VA.gov profile and to opt in to text or email notifications to ensure their payments are released without delay.
For Chapter 35 students only, enrollment verification is temporarily waived as explained below.
Automatic Verification for Chapter 35 Students
Chapter 35 students whose fall 2025 terms have been processed will be automatically verified for November. They do not need to submit verification of attendance at this time.
We will share more information once Chapter 35 beneficiaries will be required to resume verifying their enrollment.
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IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID DATES AND DEADLINES
SPRING 2026 SEMESTER:
- Classes begin: January 12, 2026
- Add/Drop deadline: January 16, 2026
- Tuition and Fee Payment Deadline: March 27, 2026
- ***You must certify by this date to guarantee your deferral***
- VA/GI Bill Deferral payment deadline: April 27, 2026
- Last Day to Remove Incomplete: April 27, 2026
- Last day of classes: April 27, 2026
- Final Exams: April 26 – May 5, 2026
- Commencement: May 7 – May 9, 2026
Please visit the UCF Academic Calendar for updated university dates and deadlines
