School Certifying Official Corner

MONTHLY VERIFICATION OF SEMESTER ENROLLMENT

As required by Department of Veteran Affairs Education Benefits, you are required to verify your enrollment for the current semester monthly, prior to any stipend payments being released.  You may complete this online if you’re using any of these benefits:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
• Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
• Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)

You will be asked to verify these 2 details about your enrollment:

• Your credit hours or clock hours
• The start and end dates of your enrollment for the month

Ways to verify your enrollment information:

By Text: The Department of Veteran Affairs will send you a text message when you start your program. They will ask if you want to verify your enrollment by text monthly. If you respond “yes”, they will send you a text every month, asking you to verify your enrollment. If you need to update your phone number or if you do not wish to verify your enrollment by text any longer, call 1-888-442-4551. VA representatives are available Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.

By Email: if you choose not to receive text messages or you do not use texting, Department of Veteran Affairs will email you instead to verify your enrollment each month. Department of Veteran Affairs will send a message to the email address they have in their records for you. If you need to update your email address or if you do not wish to verify your enrollment by text any longer, call 1-888-442-4551. VA representatives are available Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.

Online through ASKVA: You may verify your enrollment through ASK.VA.GOV. In your message, be sure to include the dates of your enrollment in school or training.

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VA TUITION PAYMENTS: BENEFIT / PROGRAM SPECIFIC GUIDANCE

Post 9/11 GI Bill Students (chapter 33): If you are eligible for and using Post 9/11 GI Bill for your education, the VA covers up to 100% of in-state tuition and fees directly to the school for public institutions.  The MVSC office has gone through the roster of students utilizing chapter 33 and has already input the initial payment amounts to the VA for processing.

Dependent Education Assistance (chapter 35): You are still responsible for tuition/fees due to the school.  There is no direct payment of benefits from the VA with this program.  However, if you have applied for the Children and Spouses of Deceased and Disabled Veteran (CSDDV) scholarship through the state of Florida Department of Education, you may receive tuition payment assistance.  Please see their website for qualifying and application information. CSDDV.pdf

Veteran Readiness and Employment (chapter 31): If you are eligible for and using VRE for your education, the VA covers up to 100% of in-state tuition and fees directly to the school for public institutions.  The MVSC office will coordinate with your VRE counselor and UCF financials to ensure your purchase order number (PO#) is on file.  This will be utilized to bill your semester tuition to the counselor who will authorize the payment to the school. 

If you are a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes, the Department of Veteran Affairs will only pay the in-state tuition amount.  You must either contact the MVSC office to discuss waiver possibilities or pay the difference in the rate amounts. 

Remember though: Ultimately it is the student who is responsible for all fees associated with their account.  Please be our “second set of eyes”, review your student fee invoice, and if you have any questions or concerns, contact our office at MVSC@UCF.EDU for more information. 

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GI Bill Tutoring Benefit

One benefit they sometimes miss is the tutoring benefit. If a student is having trouble in a required subject and needs a tutor, they can be reimbursed by the GI Bill for up to $100 a month and a maximum of $1,200, as long as they’re studying 51% or more full time.

How do I get this benefit?

• Your course instructor (or teacher) at your school must agree that you need a tutor and write a letter on your behalf. The instructor should send the letter to your school’s certifying official. The certifying official will add a copy to your VA student file.
• If your school approves your need for a tutor, it will assign you a tutor and confirm the tutor’s hourly pay.
• You, your tutor, or your school’s certifying official must fill out an Application for Individualized Tutorial Assistance (VA Form 22-1990t). All of you must sign the form. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, your instructor must also sign section 18 of this form. You can submit this form either monthly or after you’ve completed your tutoring.
  Get VA Form 22-1990t to download
• The form must be signed and dated on or after the date of the last certified tutoring session you want to be paid back for (item 12b on the form).

https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/tutor-assistance/?postLogin=true

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IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID DATES AND DEADLINES

SUMMER 2026 SEMESTER:

• Session A: 
  • Classes Begin:  May 13, 2026
  • Add/Drop Deadline:  May 19, 2026
  • Withdrawal Deadline:  June 10, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes:  June 23, 2026
  • Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete June 23, 2026
  • VA/Third Party Deferral Payment Deadline July 31, 2026
  • Commencement:  31 Jul – 1 Aug 26
• Session B: 
  • Classes Begin:  June 24, 2026
  • Add/Drop Deadline:  June 30, 2026
  • Withdrawal Deadline:  July 17, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes:  July 31, 2026
  • Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete July 31, 2026
  • VA/Third Party Deferral Payment Deadline July 31, 2026
  • Commencement:  31 Jul – 1 Aug 26
• Session C: 
  • Classes Begin:  May 13, 2026
  • Add/Drop Deadline:  May 19, 2026
  • Withdrawal Deadline:  July 8, 2026
  • Day of Classes:  July 31, 2026
  • Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete July 31, 2026
  • VA/Third Party Deferral Payment Deadline July 31, 2026
  • Commencement:  31 Jul – 1 Aug 26
• Session D: 
  • Classes Begin:  May 13, 2026
  • Add/Drop Deadline:  May 19, 2026
  • Withdrawal Deadline:  June 19, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes:  July 14, 2026
  • Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete July 14, 2026
  • VA/Third Party Deferral Payment Deadline July 31, 2026
  • Commencement:  31 Jul – 1 Aug 26

Please visit the UCF Academic Calendar for updated university dates and deadlines