United States Military Veterans Resources – Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center

Veterans Educational Assistance Resources: Pursuing and Financing a Legal Education

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers a number of educational benefit programs for veterans. These include, but are not limited to, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and the Yellow Ribbon Program.

VA Education Benefit Programs Applying to Benefits Important Policies UHM Veteran Affairs Contacts

VA Education Benefit Programs

Eligibility & Entitlement

Set by law and are complex
Determined by the
- Department of Defense (DoD)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Coast Guard
- Reserve/Guard components
Veterans or dependents may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of full-time education benefits
Veterans or dependents may be eligible for more than one educational benefit
- If they are eligible for benefits under more than one VA Educational benefit program, they may receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits under the programs combined

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Educational Assistance Program

For service members who are on active duty or have separated from active duty.
Benefit of a monthly stipend payable to the student.

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill

Assists eligible individuals with tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, annual books and supplies stipend, and a one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals
May be transferred to eligible veterans’ dependents under certain conditions
For individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001
May be eligible if served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, or were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving 30 continuous days following September 10, 2001
Members of uniformed services may transfer unused benefits to a spouse or dependent(s)
Children of a member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, may be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits under the Marine Gunnery John David Fry Scholarship program
Benefits are prorated by eligibility (e.g. 100%, 80%, 40%)
In-state tuition & fee payment to the University (see Residency)
May be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program (see Yellow Ribbon, following).

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Post-9/11 GI Bill has a provision that established the Yellow Ribbon Program

Assists with funding tuition and fee expenses not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill
The benefits of this particular program are exclusively for eligible veterans; the Yellow Ribbon benefits cannot be transferred to dependents
Allows institutions of higher learning in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state tuition rate
The University and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs negotiate the agreement annually and are subject to change each year
Veterans must be receiving the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level
Students must be classified as a non-resident and admitted to a master’s degree program
The VA matches each dollar of unmet charges the institution agrees to contribute

Applying to Benefits

Applying for VA benefits:

Veterans Online Application website (VONAPP): Here
Select a School & VA Approved Program.
Approved Programs: Undergraduate and graduate degrees, minors, and selected undergraduate and graduate certificate programs.
If application is approved, students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA which is required by the school.

Residency:

Choice Act of 2014: Non-resident veterans who were honorably discharged from active duty within 3 years of enrollment and are eligible for GI Bill education benefits, may be eligible to pay in-state tuition (spouses and dependents may be eligible if GI Bill benefits are transferred).

Certification Steps:

Ensure that a transfer credit evaluation (TCE) has been completed by the Admissions Office – if the student has transferrable credits.
Identify classes that will fulfill degree requirements. Academic advisors can help students select courses that meet major/degree requirements; students should let their advisor know that they intend to use VA benefits.
Register for classes.
Appropriate Student Academic Services office, Graduate Chair, or Registrar’s Office will approve course registration on a VA enrollment form.
Submit veteran enrollment forms to the Office of the Registrar.
Students receive a confirmation to their e-mail account once their course enrollment is reported to the VA.

Important Policies

Important Policies:

University and VA policies are subject to change without notice.
VA policies may affect which courses a student can receive benefits for.
All courses used toward VA educational benefits must be required for the degree program. Students may be charged with an overpayment for any courses that do not apply toward their degree or for which they have already received credit for.
All courses certified for VA educational benefits must be taken for a letter grade. Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) permitted only if it is the default grading option, or if the course is required for the degree program. Courses taken for audit cannot be certified.

For further information on veterans’ educational assistance, check with the US Department of Veterans Affairs here, and the Office of Veterans Affairs on the campuses of any law schools to which you are applying.

Please note that while much of the information shared on this site are taken from literature put out by the UH Mānoa Office of the Registrar, it is likely that any law school you consider will have similar services that you will want to research and access prior to the application process.

UHM Veteran Affairs Contacts

At UH Mānoa, the Veterans Affairs website is connected to the Office of the Registrar and may be geared more towards undergraduate students. However, it is relevant for any veteran or their dependents who are planning to use their benefits at the William S. Richardson School of Law: Click here for more information.

Another helpful link is to the Office of Veteran Student Services which is dedicated to assisting veterans at the University: Click here for additional information.

The Office of Veteran Student Services is located at:

Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services, Room 010

2600 Campus Road

Honolulu, HI 96822

Attn: Kelli Nakama, School Certifying Official

E-mail contact: uhmva@hawaii.edu

Website: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/veterans/

Phone: (808) 956-8010

Reference, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Office of the Registrar UH Mānoa GI Bill Benefits, Information for Advisors of Pre-Law and Mānoa Peer Advisors

Office of Veteran Student Services
Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services, Room 010
2600 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Attn: Kelli Nakama, School Certifying Official
E-mail contact: uhmva@hawaii.edu
Website: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/veterans/
Phone: (808) 956-8010