Rutgers

Office of the Registrar
Marie Diaz-Torres, VA Certifying Official
mdtorres@rutgers.edu
249 University Avenue
Newark, New Jersey 07081
P. 973-353 -5372
F.973-353-1357
www.newark.rutgers.edu/veterans


The United States Veterans Administration operates various education assistance programs for eligible veterans, war orphans, surviving spouses or children of veterans killed while on duty with the Armed Forces, disabled veterans, dependents of veterans with service related total disability, and certain members of the selected reserve. Inquiries concerning eligibility may be directed to the Veterans Administration, US Dept. Regional Office (1-888-442-4551) or http://www.gibill.va.gov/

Rutgers Newark VA Certifying Official processes the enrollment verification for receipt of VA education benefits providing the student or veteran has submitted an application to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Students who wish to utilize veterans' education benefits must identify themselves to the office of the Registrar so that the proper certification procedures are initiated.

Enrollment Certification Procedures: If You Are Applying for Benefits for the First Time

Chapter 1606, 1607, and 30
  1. Complete an online application http://www.gibill.va.gov/apply-for-benefits/application to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    • VA Form 22-1990 for new applicants

    • VA Form 22-1995 for transfer students

    • Print a copy before submitting the application, and send it to the VA School Certifying Official

  2. Apply for admission to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey: http://admissions.rutgers.edu. For questions regarding Admission into the school of the Rutgers - Newark Campus contact Christina M Chiaravalloti at chiaravalloti@ugadm.rutgers.edu.

  3. Apply for Financial Aid: http://studentaid.rutgers.edu/. For questions regarding Financial Aid please contact Pearl McMillan at pmcmilla@rci.rutgers.edu

  4. Provide a copy of your Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) or Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the VA School Certifying Official. This document will be mailed to you from the VA after your application has been processed and your educational benefits have been granted.

  5. Provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy) to the VA School Certifying Official.

  6. If you wish to have your registration certified to the VA, you must now make this request online at the following website: http://vetcert.rutgers.edu

Chapter 31
  1. Your VA Rehabilitation Case Manager must provide you with VA form 28-1905 (Authorization and Certification of Entrance or Reentrance into Rehabilitation and Certification of Status). This form will detail the specific guidelines that the University must adhere to for credit approval, payment of tuition, and purchases of school supplies. A new form must be presented to the Registrar's VA Certifying Official for each semester you wish to claim VA educational benefits.

  2. Apply for admission to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey: http://admissions.rutgers.edu. For questions regarding Admission into the school of the Rutgers - Newark Campus contact Christina M Chiaravalloti at chiaravalloti@ugadm.rutgers.edu.

  3. Apply for Financial Aid: http://studentaid.rutgers.edu/. For questions regarding Financial Aid please contact Pearl McMillan at pmcmilla@rci.rutgers.edu

  4. Provide a copy of your DD-214(Member 4 copy) to the VA School Certifying Official.

  5. If you wish to have your registration certified to the VA, you must now make this request online at the following website: http://vetcert.rutgers.edu

Chapter 33 - Post 9/11
  1. Complete an online application ( http://www.gibill.va.gov/apply-for-benefits/application) to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    • VA Form 22-1990 for new applicants

    • VA Form 22-1995 for transfer students

    • Print a copy before submitting the application, and send it to the VA School Certifying Official

  2. Apply for admission to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey: http://admissions.rutgers.edu. For questions regarding Admission into the school of the Rutgers - Newark Campus contact Christina M Chiaravalloti at chiaravalloti@ugadm.rutgers.edu.

  3. Apply for Financial Aid: http://studentaid.rutgers.edu/. For questions regarding Financial Aid please contact Pearl McMillan at pmcmilla@rci.rutgers.edu

  4. Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the VA School Certifying Official.

  5. Provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy) to the VA School Certifying Official.

  6. If you wish to have your registration certified to the VA, you must now make this reques online at the following website: http://vetcert.rutgers.edu

Chapter 35
  1. Complete an online application ( http://www.gibill.va.gov/apply-for-benefits/application) to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    • VA Form 5490 (Application for Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance) for new applicants

    • VA Form 5495 for transfer students

    • Print a copy before submitting the application, and send it to the VA School Certifying Official

  2. Apply for admission to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey: http://admissions.rutgers.edu. For questions regarding Admission into the school of the Rutgers - Newark Campus contact Christina M Chiaravalloti at chiaravalloti@ugadm.rutgers.edu.

  3. Apply for Financial Aid: http://studentaid.rutgers.edu/. For questions regarding Financial Aid please contact Pearl McMillan at pmcmilla@rci.rutgers.edu

  4. Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the VA School Certifying Official.

  5. If you wish to have your registration certified to the VA, you must now make this request online at the following website: http://vetcert.rutgers.edu

National Guard Tuition Waiver Recipients must provide a Commanders Certificate each semester.

Go Army Ed recipients must inform the Registrar's Office in writing each semester.

Retroactive Enrollment Certification and Payment

Students have one year from the beginning date of their training in which to file an application and to receive benefits. The VA will only pay educational assistance allowance retroactively for school enrollment periods up to one year prior to the date the claim and certification of enrollment are received in the VA regional processing office.

Payment Procedures and Information

New and transfer students can expect to begin receiving VA funding, including book and housing stipends (BAH), approximately four to eight weeks from the date the certification is submitted to the VA. Remember that the payment is made to the student for the number of days the student is certified for the month. If a student is certified for a whole month, the full monthly benefit is paid. If the student is only certified for part of the month, the benefit is prorated.

Payment usually comes between the 1st and 15th of each month and is paid for the previous month. The VA does not consider a check as late until after the 10th of the month. Inquiries regarding check status or other payment issues may be made directly to the VA at: 1-888-442-4551.

Students planning to train under Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve, Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill, or Chapter 35 Survivors & Dependents, are required by the University to pay in advance for tuition, fees, books, and suppplies when due. Students, in turn, receive an allowance for each month of schooling based upon credit hours enrolled.

Students receiving educational benefits under Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Chapter 33 Post 9/11 will have their tuition and fees paid (part or full) depending on eligibility, directly to the University.

Monthly Certification of Attendance - WAVE

All students who are receiving Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve, Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), or Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill benefits MUST verify their enrollment monthly to receive payment. This verification can be done either by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) application at: https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do or by using the Automated Telephone System (IVR) at: 1-877-823-2378.

Pay Rates

For a list of current pay rates, visit the VA Education Website at: http://gibill.va.gov/resources/benefits_resources/rate_tables.html

Enrollment Certification Regulations and Student Responsibility

The State Approving Agency (SAA) approves programs and courses of instruction so that educational benefits may be paid to eligible students under the programs administered by the DVA. Therefore, students must be admitted as matriculated and pursuing an approved program of study for enrollment certification of VA benefits. Students are also expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a degree. Any changes in enrollment including change of major, change of course, course deletions, and complete or partial withdrawals must be reported in writing to the Registrar's VA School Certifying Official via: Marie Diaz-Torres at mdtorres@newark.rutgers.edu

Failure to comply with the official school withdrawal procedure may affect both past and future benefits. Payment of benefits will not be allowed for any course in which a non-punitive grade is assigned. Payment will not be allowed for repeated courses which were previously transfered or previously had a passing grade assigned. Payment will not be allowed for courses not required in a degree program.

It is the student's responsibility to make sure tuition and fees are paid in full.

Military Leave Policy

Rutgers' Policy for Military Leave, Academic Credit, and Tuition Refunds for undergraduate and graduate students who are called to active duty is explained on the following link (http://policies.rutgers.edu/PDF/Section10/10.3.5-current.pdf).
If you are called to active duty, inform your school's dean and the VA School Certifying Official. Failure to comply could result in you incurring a debt to the VA.