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Veterans and Military Services

Student Responsibilities

To comply with both the laws governing VA education benefits and Illinois State policies, it is your responsibility as a student to do the following:

  • Apply online for VA education benefits (see detailed information in "GI Bill / VA Benefits" tab above)
  • Notify the Military & Veteran Services Office of your enrolled status with the University
  • Complete a Request for Veterans Benefits form at the Military & Veterans Service Office every semester after enrolling in classes
    • Students must continue to do this to receive GI Bill and other VA education payments
    • First-time benefit users must also submit their VA education eligibility award letter and DD 214 (Member 4 copy)
  • Verify enrollment monthly (Chapters 30 and 1606 only) by the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by calling (877) 823-2378
    • The earliest students can verify their enrollment is the last calendar day of each month
    • WAVE allows students to verify enrollment, change mailing address, initiate or change direct deposit information, view benefit amounts & remaining entitlement, and sign-up for monthly e-mail reminders
  • Inform the Military & Veterans Services Office when you:
    • Add or drop a class
    • Change your major
    • Change your address
    • Receive an Incomplete, No Credit, Audit, or Deferred grade
    • Withdraw from the University
  • Make satisfactory academic progress (NOTE: If you are suspended by the University, your VA education benefits can not be resumed until you have met the University requirements for Reinstatement and are approved for reactivation of your benefits by the VA)

Your GI Bill VA Education benefits may be terminated if you do not comply with the information stated above. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to register and utilize eBenefits to assist them in managing their benefits. eBenefits helps students with the following:

  • Obtaining up to date information on their educational entitlement
  • Updating their Direct Deposit and personal contact information
  • Downloading VA letters and personal documents
  • Viewing the current status of their payments (both education and disability)

Please note that students utilizing Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) or Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits have additional provisional rights. Student must comply with the above information (including submitting a VA education eligibility award letter and completing the Request for Veterans Benefits form) by the first day of class in order to be eligible for this provision. If eligible, Illinois State will not take any of the following four actions toward any student while their payment from the VA is pending:

  • Prevent their enrollment
  • Assess a late penalty fee to their student account
  • Require they secure alternative or additional funding
  • Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution