Information for New GI Bill® Students

Tuition and Fees

Chapters 1606, Chapter 30 and Chapter 35 DO NOT pay for tuition, fees associated with tuition, housing, meal plans, books or the university required student health insurance.  It assists students with out-of-pocket expenses incurred from attending school.  **It is the sole responsibility of all students to pay their tuition and fees on time and/or make per-arranged payment options with the University Cashier’s, Housing and Dining offices to prevent the cancellation of their academic schedule for nonpayment.

  • ***Chapter 33 students only – Tuition and Fees are paid directly to the school. In-state tuition and fee amounts based on your student classification as either an undergraduate or graduate will be paid to the University Cashier’s Office on your behalf.  However, it is your responsibility to make arrangements for housing and meals plans, health insurance and any other non-standard fees on your account.  If you are not eligible at the 100% rate, you may be required to pay your percentage up front or make payment arrangements in order to avoid the cancellation of your course schedule.

 

Certificate of Eligibility

Before the payment of education benefits is authorized, the VA will mail a Certificate of Eligibility to you. You can also obtain a copy of this information by visiting: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage .

The Certificate of Eligibility will tell you what benefit you qualify for (and your entitlement percentage if you are a Chapter 33 student). The letter provides: dates of attendance, monthly rate of payment, original net entitlement, delimiting date, and remaining entitlement.  For Chapter 33 students, your Certificate of Eligibility is required to be on file in order to prevent the cancellation of your academic schedule each semester.

 

Unsatisfactory Progress

Students may not continue in certified status beyond two consecutive terms while below the level of continuous achievement necessary to graduate.  VA benefits will not be reinstated until you have removed the probation status.  This will also apply to any appeals granted by the Appeals Committee and Special Readmission (Forgiveness) Policy.

 

Tutorial Assistance

Tutorial assistance may be paid to eligible persons training under Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35 and 1606.  Tutorial assistance may not be used to improve satisfactory grades in order to raise student’s academic standing; however, a passing grade which is not sufficiently high enough to establish credit for degree purposes may be considered.  Students must pay out of pocket and submit the appropriate complete request forms in order be reimbursed by the VA for tutors.

 

There is No Payment For:

  • Auditing a course
  • Courses not required for your degree as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog.
  • Raise grade in which a grade of “D-” or better was earned, unless degree requirements specify that a “C” or better must be earned.
  • Courses repeated in order to raise a grade point average.
  • Undergraduate admission as a non-degree student beyond 56 shared hours.
  • Graduate admission as a non-degree student.
  • Co-operative education.
  • Study Abroad – unless specifically listed in the degree requirements (paperwork is required).

 

Degree Requirements

You will be paid only for the minimum degree requirements as shown in the current catalog.  If your department is in the process of changing degree requirements that are not in the current catalog, it will be your responsibility to supply this information to our office.  This will apply to official majors and intended majors.  Only required courses will be submitted for payment to the VA.  This office is not required to notify you when courses are found to be outside of degree requirements.

 

Course Substitutions

Substitutions are allowed when your departmental chairperson gives a written statement prior to you taking the course.  The NC State Approving Agency will allow no more than two per program without approval from their office.

 

Course Attendance

The VA requires that you fully attend each course and take the final exam.  East Carolina requires each professor that submits a grade of F to also submit a last day of attendance.  If you receive a grade of F in a course and it is reported that you stopped attending and did not complete the final exam, the VA requires that we report that information.  This may result in a student debt with the VA.  We encourage each student to fully attend each course they are enrolled to avoid any possible debts after a semester has ended.

 

Contact Information

ECU Veterans Affairs Benefits Office
Office of the Registrar
East Carolina University
207 E. 5th Street – Uptown 207
Greenville, NC  27858-4353
VABenefits@ecu.edu

Ph:         252-328-1731      Fax:        252-328-4232


VA Toll Free Numbers

VA GI Bill Student Assistance:                1-888-442-4551

Website:                                                  http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill