Veterans’ Affairs
The Office of Financial Assistance assists veterans and eligible persons in all phases of enrollment certification and retention of educational benefits, tutorial assistance, and veterans' work-study.
Northwest students receiving benefits from the Veterans' Administration will meet most VA conditions for satisfactorily pursuing a program of study by meeting the University's general catalog requirements. However, a few VA requirements are more stringent than the general catalog requirements.
In addition to their eligible benefits, the following non-Missouri resident students shall be awarded a tuition waiver to ensure they only pay the current in-state tuition rate:
- A participant using educational assistance under either chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill® - Active Duty Program), chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment), chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill®), or chapter 35 (Dependents' Educational Act), of title 38, United States Code, who lives in the State of Missouri while attending a school located in the State of Missouri (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the State of Missouri while attending a school located in the State of Missouri (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the transferor's discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the State of Missouri while attending a school located in the State of Missouri (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.
- A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the State of Missouri while attending a school located in the State of Missouri (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member's death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
- Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same school. The person so described must have enrolled in the school prior to the expiration of the three year period following discharge or death described above and must be using education benefits under either chapter 30, chapter 31, chapter 33, or chapter 35, of title 38, United States Code.
Regular Attendance
VA students must attend all classes according to each instructor’s attendance policies. VA benefits will be terminated as of the last date of attendance reported by the instructor for students with unsatisfactory attendance. All VA students using Chapter 30, 33, 1606, and 1607 must verify their attendance monthly on or after the last day of each month. Students using Chapter 30, 1606, and 1607 can verify attendance by using the
Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) system or by calling 877.823.2378. Students using Chapter 33 must verify their attendance by using the VA's text message or email process.
Unsatisfactory Progress
The University is required to notify the Veterans’ Administration that a student did not make satisfactory progress if the student:
- receives a non-punitive grade in any course;
- fails or withdraws from all classes; or
- is suspended by the University.
Education benefits will be terminated for students who fail to make VA satisfactory progress.
Classes Not Completed
The Veterans’ Administration may require students to repay benefits received for classes dropped. All VA students must report changes in enrollment status, including drop/add/withdrawals to the school certifying official. The VA will only pay for courses that lead to a standard degree or certificate. VA benefits will not be paid for courses in which students have already earned a satisfactory grade, unless the university state that a higher grade is necessary for the completion of the curriculum. VA benefits will not be paid for courses that a student elects to audit.
Delayed/Incomplete Grades
Graduate students have one year to remove an incomplete grade or they will be changed to grades of “F”.
VA students should contact the Office of Veterans’ Affairs before deciding to repeat a course, withdraw from the University, drop a class, take a delayed grade or interrupt class attendance to assure compliance with VA regulations.
Veterans' Benefits Tuition and Fee Payments
In the event a Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 payment or disbursement of tuition funds is delayed by the US Department of Veteran's Affairs, the University will ensure students are not penalized, including any assessment of late fees, denial of access to courses, libraries or other institutional facilities, or require the recipient to borrow additional funds to cover any financial obligation to the University that will be covered by the benefit payment.
Contact Information
For information and assistance in completing and maintaining the proper documents to receive VA benefits, a student should contact the Office of Financial Assistance by calling 660.562.1363 or by e-mailing finaid@nwmissouri.edu.