Military Funding and Aid

Military Funding

The military supports its soldiers and families in many different ways with a variety of benefits. Below you will see the most common items we work with at Kutztown University. Some allow us to defer the costs to wait for the funding to come directly to us while some funding goes to the student directly.

All students using any military education benefit funding must complete a VA Enrollment Certification Form and submit this to the Registrar's Office. They will notify the Office of Student Accounts about the benefits you intend to use. Student Accounts will then review to see what will actually be covered and what is due out of pocket. This form must be completed EVERY semester. Any course changes after submission, need to be shared with the Registrar's Office with urgency.

*All students receiving military benefits must know it is their responsibility to make the choice of which benefit they want to use if they are entitled to more than one. In MOST cases, aid cannot exceed the full-time costs of tuition and fees at the in-state rate. Review your benefits directly with the military if you have questions or concerns.

Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill®

Chapter 33 benefit amounts are determined by the active-duty time of the soldier and can range from 40 to 100 percent. A soldier can pass these benefits to dependents. A copy of the Certificate of Eligibility is required to defer any costs. Deferring the costs means we will wait for that portion of the bill to arrive from the VA for the tuition and fee costs only. Housing and Meals must be paid to KU by the appropriately assigned due date. While there is a beneficial component with Chapter 33 for housing and books - these payments do go home and not to the University, therefore cannot be used for deferment. We can only defer what is paid to KU directly.
TA (Tuition Assistance) - Army

This funding source requires students request to use these funds in the new Army Ignited 2.0 portal by the student on a strict timeline. The approval must occur BEFORE the first day of classes (not just entered before the first day of classes). The process has changed somewhat from the process that was in Go Army Ed as well as the OG Army Ignited 1.0 (which was shut down 8/26/2022).

The system still requires the student to be created, approved and courses to be added as well as a Degree Audit Plan (see the Registrar's Office KU Certifying Official for assistance), however much of this is, is now done by Kutztown University if and only if, the student has shared that they want to use TA AND they have themselves created in Army Ignited 2.0 with a valid Education Path, etc..

All documentation and support must be submitted prior to TWO WEEKS before the first day of the semester. Disclosing the desire to use the benefit must be shared more than two weeks prior to the start of the semester in order to guarantee KU can submit the course enrollment and degree audit as needed. It may take a new student quite some time to get added into Army Ignited 2.0. We are not clear on how this new version will affect students as the 1.0 version took an exceptional long time to process. We cannot guarantee the benefit and timing for late submissions.

New information is coming out daily on this new site and their implementation problems, we are doing our best to help facilitate this process with our students as we learn more and functionality grows in Army Ignited 2.0.
Tuition Assistance (TA) - Air Force / Navy / Marines

TA from the Air Force / Navy / Marines requires classes to be entered into their disciplined educational system, WAWF. The student prints the approved "Tuition Assistance Authorization" document, signs it and submits it to the Office of Student Accounts BY the due date on the student tuition invoice in MyKU. This contains a number needed to invoice the Air Force / Navy / Marines. These documents may also be referred to as a Purchase Order.
Education Assistance Program (EAP) - National Guard (PA)

Education Assistance Program (EAP) is a benefit a National Guard member may receive. Amounts will be approved as a part-time student or a full-time student. Students who already have an undergraduate degree will always be considered part-time for this benefit. These amounts will never cover full tuition & fees billing. Student soldiers must apply with their education unit by June 30 for the upcoming Fall, Spring, and Summer (there is no Winter EAP benefit). The student is always best served to include Summer on their request if there is a possibility of needing or desiring to take summer courses.

The student should submit a VA Enrollment Certification document to the Registrar's Office Certifying Office each semester and notify them if there are any changes in enrollment.

The Office of Student Accounts will receive a roster of approved students about one month prior to the start of a semester or session. Late applicants may not be on the roster for some time. Questions may be directed to the Director of Student Accounts. These are added as pending no sooner than August 1st for the Fall semesters.
Military Family Education Program (MFEP) - National Guard (PA) spouses & children

MFEP is a benefit a National Guard family member may receive. It is an educational assistance grant for dependents (spouses and children), earned by Army and Air Force National Guard members for their commitment and service in the Pennsylvania National Guard. The member can assign all of their benefit to one dependent or a portion of the benefit to multiple dependents. There are specific requirements for this benefit that the soldier should be aware of and discuss with their education unit to determine eligibility.

This new benefit approved to start with the 2020/2021 academic year mirrors the EAP program with deadlines and process. The member will submit an application to their unit by June each year for the upcoming fall, spring, and summer semesters (there is also no MFEP for the winter session).

The student should submit a VA Enrollment Certification document to the Registrar's Office Certifying Office each semester and notify them if there are any changes in enrollment.

The Office of Student Accounts will receive a roster of approved students about one month prior to the start of a semester or session. Late applicants may not be on the roster for some time. Amounts will be approved as a part-time student or a full-time student. These amounts will never cover a full tuition & fees billing. Student soldiers must apply with their education unit by June 30 for the next Fall, Spring, and Summer (there is no Winter EAP benefit). Questions may be directed to the Director of Student Accounts. These are added as pending no sooner than August 1st for the Fall semesters.
Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

Chapter 31 - Veteran's with Service-connected disabilities - The Office of Student Accounts is notified of the student's eligibility when the students counselor with the VA creates a Purchase Order for them in a system called Tungsten. Using this Purchase Order, the Office of Student Accounts will add pending aid to the students MyKU account so that they do not have to pay the tuition, fees or inclusive access portion of their bill; housing and meals would be due by the student by the assigned due date.

Eligible students must also complete a VA Enrollment Certification with the Registrar's Office. After Add/Drop, the Office of Student Accounts will invoice for the funds and once received will be disbursed to the students account.
Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve

This is financial assistance some Reserve or Guard members may be entitled to. This assistance is mailed home and therefore KU is unable to defer any of the costs/charges by these funding amounts.

Previously students had to choose if they wanted to use TA or 1606 for each course. Students may now use these benefits concurrently (at the same time) as long as they are greater than half time. If the student is less than half time - they must select one benefit or the other.
Chapter 35 - Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance

This is financial assistance is for Veterans’ and Service-members’ dependents, spouses and surviving spouses who have been found eligible by the Regional Processing Office (RPO). This assistance is mailed home and therefore KU is unable to defer any of the costs/charges by these funding amounts.
ROTC Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded by the Army. The Office of Student Accounts is notified of these and they are added to the student's Financial Aid package and reported as a scholarship. The students have obligations to enter information and classes into Go Army Ed in order for the ROTC to approve and Kutztown University to certify.

choice & accountability act of 2014

Kutztown University adheres to the Choice & Accountability Act of 2014.

Combining Benefits / Limits

Some of the military education benefits can be combined with a total limit, some can be combined with no limit, and others cannot be combined at all. We know this can be confusing, we try to make this easy, but if you have questions email us!

TA & Chapter 33 - combined these two benefits cannot exceed the full time instate costs (or the total costs at the in-state rate).
TA is limited to the tuition line item only and cannot exceed 250 per credit hour (4,500 per fiscal year).
EAP is not limited to the item it can pay but is capped at the tuition line item amount or less (whichever is approved and based on enrollment). Changes during the semester to enrollment may impact the EAP amount and cause it to be reduced even into the semester.

Changing your schedule?

For all enrollments using military education benefits with the exception of EAP, if you change your schedule after being certified in the Registrar's Office, you MUST update your enrollment with the Registrar's Office. Classes may have different costs, AND when grades are entered they are per course. This is critical and very important. Neither office will be checking this for you until its time to invoice, at that time it may be too late to correct your enrollment and you could lose out on your benefit for that class. You must self-disclose.

Military Aid

The military offers several programs that enable enlistees to earn and save money for college - The Montgomery G.I Bill®, Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), Education Assistance Program (EAP), signing bonuses and "kicker" programs. Because of career training, educational opportunities and benefits are different for each branch of the military, we suggest that you talk to a local recruiter about specifics for the branch of the military in which you are interested.

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is a national service program where participants earn education awards in return for community service. Workers receive stipends for living expenses and an education award for up to two years of full-time service. Students can work for AmeriCorps before, during, or after they go to college.

school compliance - title 38

As part of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, effective August 1, 2019, Kutztown University agrees to the following obligations for “covered individuals” who are individuals entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® Benefits. These individuals (students) have obligations as well listed below.

Kutztown University Obligations under School Compliance

A covered individual will be permitted to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website e-Benefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
- The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
- 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Late Payment fees and holds will not be added to the portion of the balance due that is covered under chapter 31 or 33.

Student Obligations under School Compliance

Submit a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to education assistance no later than the first day of a course of education.
- Submission sooner than later is encouraged to not delay any at-home payments that might be due and so that we are aware you are using said benefits to apply the item coverage above.
Submit a written request to use such entitlement.
- Completing the Veteran Services Enrollment Certification Request Form complies.
Provide additional information necessary to the proper certification of enrollment by the educational institution.
- Completing the Veteran Services Enrollment Certification Request Form complies.
A late fee may be imposed on the amount that is the difference between the amount of the students’ financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement.

Military Scholarships and other Resources

"GI Bill®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

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Using Veteran's Benefits Veteran's Services

Student Accounts ArmyIgnitED