Benefit Requirements

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
This program began July 1, 2012. Because Miami University (including Miami Regional campus locations) is a four-year institution we are not an eligible VRAP school. To qualify for VRAP you must enroll at a community college or technical school. Please visit http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm for further eligibility and application information.

New Students
If you are a new student who is a veteran or other eligible dependent who has never used your VA education benefits, you need to submit an application. You also need to complete an enrollment form.

Transfer Students
If you previously received VA education benefits at another school, you must complete a Change of Program of Place of Training Form (Form 22-1995 for Veterans and Form 22-5495 for Survivors and Dependents of Veterans) and complete an enrollment form.

Previously Enrolled/Returning Veterans
If you have previously applied with the Department of Veterans Affairs, you must complete an enrollment form. If you need to notify the Office of the Registrar that you are returning, complete the Re-Enrollment Application.

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
New and existing students who believe they are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (CH33) program must complete an online application. The form requires that individuals currently eligible for another education benefit make an irrevocable choice between their existing program and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You will then receive a letter (Certificate of Eligibility) from VA regarding your program eligibility. Once you receive this letter, you must submit a copy by postal mail or fax.

Student Accounts
Office of the Bursar, ATTN: Kriss Ross
103 Campus Avenue Building
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
Fax: 513-529-3239

If you do not submit the letter to Miami's student accounts office, cancellation of your classes for nonpayment cannot be prevented if your funds have not been received from the VA by the due date of your Bursar eBill.

Once you have submitted your Certificate of Eligibility to Kriss Ross in our Student Accounts Office and you have completed your Fall and Spring Enrollment Form on this website, your enrollment will be electronically certified with the VA each semester after the first week of class. This is to ensure that the correct tuition and fees are submitted to the VA and to prevent overpayments being made to you that you would have to repay to the VA. This process does not prevent you from receiving an overpayment and possibly creating a balance due to the VA if you withdraw from a course before it's completed.

To learn more about transferring the Post-9/11 GI bill, you can review eligibility information here: Transfer of Post-9/11 Benefits to Dependents.

Enrollment and Certification (must be completed every year)

Standard Enrollment
After you have registered for hours on BannerWeb, complete the appropriate enrollment form to inform the certifying official of your expected registered hours.

Non-Standard Enrollment or Sprint Courses
Be aware that if you are taking a course that is not the full length of the semester or you are taking a sprint course, the actual dates of the course will be submitted to the VA, which could affect your enrollment status and your pay. For example, if you are taking 9 full semester hours and a 3-credit-hour sprint course, you will be paid only for full-time hours while the sprint course is in session.

Adding, Dropping, or Repeating a Course
You must email us if you add or drop a class during the semester. Your certification will need to be changed as soon as possible to ensure proper payment or to avoid paying back any benefits to which you are not entitled. The longer you wait to change this, the longer future payments will be delayed.

Change in course enrollment at any time may result in the retroactive loss of benefits unless the VA finds mitigating circumstances are involved. Loss of benefits may revert to the first day of class. Courses added during the drop/add period are considered by the VA to begin on the day the course was added, not the first day of the semester.

The VA will not pay for a course for which you have previously earned credit at Miami or elsewhere. For example, if you received a grade of "D" in PHY 181 last semester and you plan to retake the course for a higher grade, you will not receive benefits the second time you take it. To receive full benefits while retaking a class, you must have 12 or more hours in addition to that class.

Monthly Verification
Any student who is receiving VA education benefits under Chapter 30, 1606, or 1607 must certify current hours on or after the last day of each month while attending school. Students can certify current hours online at Verify Attendance or call 1-877-823-2378.

Payment of Benefits

Advance Pay
Advance pay must be requested at least 30 days prior to the start of the fall semester. This payment will be for the months of August and September. You will be notified through your Miami University email account when the check has been received at the Oxford campus. The next payment will not be issued until November. If you are eligible for break pay, you must specifically decline the break pay in order to receive advance pay.

Direct Deposit
Direct deposit of VA education benefits is available for all veterans under Chapters 30, 35, 1606, and 1607. These students may request direct deposit through the VA by calling 1-800-827-1000. You must provide your VA file number, bank routing number, and checking/savings account number to receive direct deposit.

General Information

Classification as Ohio Residents
Veterans, their spouses, and dependents may qualify for immediate classification as Ohio residents for tuition purposes. For more information, see Ohio GI Promise.

Standards for Receiving Education Benefits
In compliance with the Department of Veteran Benefits Circular, Miami University has developed standards of academic progress. Each veteran must conform to the university standards to be eligible for VA education benefits. For more information on these standards, see the Miami Bulletin, General Edition.

Miami's Refund Policy for Students Called to Active Duty
For enrolled students called to active duty, Miami University has established special refund policies and procedures.