Director of Military Benefits: Niccole Hess

Lead SCO: Kathy Whitmer

Email: gibill@su.edu

Phone: (540) 545-7203

Mailing Address:

Shenandoah University
Office of the Registrar
1460 University Dr. 
Winchester, VA 22601

Certifying Overview

The School Certifying Official (SCO) is the liaison between Shenandoah University and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

The SCO is responsible for reporting student enrollment information (term dates,  credit loads, and tuition when applicable) to the VA so benefit payments can be disbursed . Students with VA Benefits must enroll for the VA benefits online by using the Veterans Online Application. Once the student has applied online it may take up to 12 weeks to receive the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE). Once the student receives the CoE  a copy of the certificate needs to be submitted to gibill@su.edu or brought to Niccole Hess in the Wilkins Administration Building, Room 228. 

Once the CoE is received, the student is registered for classes and the Enrollment Certification Request Form (ECR) is completed, the SCO will certify the students enrollment to the VA. 

The ECR should be completed every semester the student wishes to use benefits. Without the ECR the SCO will not certify enrollments with the VA.

If any of these are true, you may be eligible for benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33):

• You served on active duty for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001, whether continuous (all at once) or interrupted (for shorter periods over time), or
• You served for at least 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001, and were discharged because of a service-connected disability, or
• You received a Purple Heart after September 10, 2001

Learn more about the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

Generally, if you served at least 2 years on active duty and you meet the requirements listed here, you may be eligible for benefits through MGIB-AD.

All of these must be true:

• You were honorably discharged, and
• You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
• You didn’t decline enrollment in MGIB-AD when you started active duty, and
• You meet other requirements
  
  Check all the requirements for MGIB-AD

If you’re a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserves, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, and you meet the requirements listed here, you may be able to get benefits through MGIB-SR.

One of these must be true:

• You have a 6-year service obligation (you agreed to serve 6 years) in the Selected Reserve, or
• You’re an officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve 6 years in addition to your initial service obligation

And all of these must be true:

• You complete your initial active duty for training (IADT), and
• You get a high school diploma or certificate of equal value, like a High School Equivalency Diploma or GED, before finishing IADT, and
• You stay in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit

Check all the requirements for MGIB-SR

If I’m a Veteran, what are the eligibility requirements?

You’re eligible to apply for VR&E benefits and services if you meet both of these requirements:

All of these must be true:

• You didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, and
• You have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA

When we receive your VR&E application, we’ll schedule your initial evaluation with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). The VRC will determine if you’re entitled to receive VR&E benefits and services.

If you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, your basic period of eligibility ends 12 years from one of these dates, whichever comes later:

• The date you received notice of your date of separation from active duty, or
• The date you received your first VA service-connected disability rating

The basic period of eligibility may be extended if a VRC finds that you have a serious employment handicap (SEH). Having an SEH means your service-connected disability significantly limits your ability to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests).

If you were discharged from active duty on or after January 1, 2013, the 12-year basic period of eligibility doesn’t apply to you. There’s no time limit on your eligibility.
Learn more about accessing VR&E services through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System

If I’m a service member on active duty, what are the eligibility requirements?

You may be eligible for VR&E benefits and services if you’re a service member and you meet at least one of these requirements.

At least one of these must be true:

• You have a 20% or higher pre-discharge disability rating (memorandum rating) and will soon leave the military, or
• You’re waiting to be discharged because of a severe illness or injury that occurred while you were on active duty

Learn more about accessing VR&E services through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System

You may be eligible for these benefits if both you and the Veteran or service member meet certain eligibility requirements.

1 of these descriptions must be true for the Veteran or service member:

• The Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
• The Veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability, or
• The service member died in the line of duty, or
• The service member is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force for more than 90 days, or
• The service member was forcibly detained (held) or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity for more than 90 days, or
• The service member is in the hospital or getting outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability