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
Important Update for Chapter 35 Families: Meeting with VA Education Director on Payment Delays
Last Friday there was a virtual meeting with Ken Smith, the Executive Director of Education Service at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), to talk about the ongoing delays with Chapter 35 education payments. I want to share some important updates that came from that conversation, especially for families and students affected by this issue.
Here’s what we learned:
- Large Backlog: As of last Thursday, there were about 75,000 Chapter 35 education claims still waiting to be processed.
- System Glitch: A computer issue is causing all Chapter 35 claims to be handled manually, instead of automatically. Unfortunately, the VA staff who fix these systems are currently furloughed, so this is taking longer to fix.
- Extra Help Being Called In: The VA has brought back some experienced claims processors (who were also furloughed) to help move things along faster.
- No Overtime Allowed: Because of the government shutdown, VA staff are not allowed to work overtime, which is slowing progress even more.
- Fall Attendance Verification Waived: Good news — for this Fall semester, students using Chapter 35 do NOT need to verify their attendance. However, this will be required again for future terms.
- Schools Need to Act Fast: The VA is asking schools to quickly report any enrollment changes (like if a student drops or adds a class) to help prevent overpayments during this time of self-verification.
We know this situation is frustrating for many families. Please know the VA is aware of the issue and working—despite shutdown limitations—to get payments out as quickly as possible.
We’ll continue to share updates as we get them. If your student is affected, keep an eye on communications from the VA and your school’s certifying official.
Thank you for your patience and support.
IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID DATES AND DEADLINES
FALL 2025 SEMESTER:
- Classes begin: August 18, 2025
- Add/Drop deadline: August 22, 2025
- Tuition and Fee Payment Deadline: August 29, 2025
- ***You must certify by this date to guarantee your deferral***
- VA/GI Bill Deferral payment deadline: November 21, 2025
- Last Day to Remove Incomplete: November 25, 2025
- Last day of classes: November 25
- Final Exams: December 1 – 6, 2025
- Commencement: December 12-13, 2025
Please visit the UCF Academic Calendar for updated university dates and deadlines
