RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR CERTIFICATIONS OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

Programs and Courses

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs regulations, students may only receive educational benefits for courses leading towards an approved UH West O‘ahu degree and/or certificate program.  As such, only courses that are listed in the UH West O‘ahu General Catalog which are required to obtain your declared degree and/or certificate will be certified.  A class that is “highly recommended” but not required is not eligible for certification.

Continuation of Benefits

To be certified each semester, all VA students are required to meet with a Student Services Academic Advisor to have their class schedule approved.  Students must also submit the Veteran Student Enrollment Information Form every semester to the UH West O‘ahu Student Services Office. RECERTIFICATION IS NOT AUTOMATIC.

Repeat Courses

The Department of Veterans Affairs will not certify a repeated course that has been successfully completed in a previous semester, unless the veteran student previously failed or for which the grade does not meet the minimum requirements for graduation.  Students may not repeat courses to try and increase their GPA if a passing/qualifying grade was already earned in the course.

Changes in Enrollment

All VA students are responsible for notifying the UH West O‘ahu VA Certifying Official of any changes to their class schedule, including involuntary changes such as a cancelled class.  Notification requires the student to meet with a Student Services Academic Advisor and submit the Veteran Student Change in Enrollment Status Form and/or the Veteran Student Concurrent Enrollment Form to the Student Services Office.

Non-Passing Grades

Students who earn a non-passing grade in a course or who stop attending class, and as a result receive a non-passing grade may need to repay VA for the course(s) not passed.  The VA may also require students who receive a “W” grade (withdrawal) to repay any benefits, which they have advanced to a student for that course, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Students with extenuating circumstances must submit a letter to the UH West O‘ahu VA Certifying Official explaining the reason the non-passing grade was earned.