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Veteran Benefits

How to start your VA benefits:

  • Visit the SNU Veteran Coordinator (located in room #201 Royce Brown, 405-491-6666). Tulsa Campus: 918-664-1949 Ext 229Complete a VA application for benefits packet (If you are not sure what type of VA benefits you qualify for, you may contact the VA Regional Office education toll-free number: 1-888-442-4551.
  • Submit a copy of your DD Form 214--member 4 (if veteran status)
  • Inform staff if you will be using military tuition assistance for any courses (if active duty status) See "Top-up" below for active duty students for more information.
  • Submit copies of marriage certificates, divorce decrees (for veteran and spouse) and birth certificates for all minor children under 18 years of age (required for veterans using the Vietnam era Montgomery G.I. Bill)
  • Submit a copy of your Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) (if using benefits through a Reserve/National Guard unit)
  • Set up an appointment with the SNU Veteran Coordinator, 491-6666. NOTE: VA will not pay for REPEAT courses. For exceptions see the SNU Office of Veteran Affairs

Active Duty MilitaryUsing VA Benefits

The following is a variety of items that specifically affect active duty military personnel using VA benefits. We strongly recommend you read through these tips & usage information to help assist you in making your use of VA benefits easier.
  • If you plan to use ONLY your regular VA educational benefits while on active duty; the information instructions listed below will be applicable to you.
  • Student applications for VA benefits must have the Armed Forces Education Services Officer Certification Signature.
  • Student Change of Place/Program Forms must have the Armed Forces Education Services Officer Certification Signature.
  • Currently, Chapter 30 recipients must verify attendance on a monthly basis. You may call your verification telephonically or verify via the internet. You may call: 1-877-823-2378 and follow the instructions provided OR you may go on the internet to: www.gibill.va.gov and follow the link to the WAVE Program, then follow instructions provided.
  • Active Duty- New GI Bill (Chapter 30) will only pay Tuition and Fees!
  • Active Duty - VEAP (Chapter 32) are not paid for breaks between semesters.
  • A change in your enrollment may affect your VA benefits. Frequent changes often can cause a student to have an overpayment of benefits. Frequent changes of schedule may also delay your certification process. VA will only issue benefits for courses that are required for your approved VA Educational Objective.
  • All VA undergraduate students that are degree seeking at Southern Nazarene University must have a degree plan in your file. This is normally obtained after meeting with your advisement counselor.
  • SNU students who want to receive VA benefits for courses that will apply to their SNU-VA approved VA educational objective at another institution, and transfer those courses back to Southern Nazarene University to apply toward their SNU-VA approved VA educational objective must notify the SNU-VA Office for a Parent School Letter.
  • Note: The VA will not pay to repeat a course unless: 1) the university course catalogue specifies a certain grade must be achieved within a certain major, or 2) the person did NOT successfully complete the course and it is required for your current approved VA objective. - A "D" is acceptable for transfer. VA will not pay to repeat courses to raise your GPA. Please contact the SNU-VA if you have questions about this policy.
  • If you have been certified by SNU-VA and your enrollment is canceled or you withdraw or take a leave of absence, YOU WILL BE DECERTIFIED. Decertified students must notify SNU-VA to be recertified.
  • STUDENTS WHO HAVE TO BE RECERTIFIED, WILL HAVE A DELAY IN RECEIPT OF THEIR VA BENEFITS.

For more information, contact Margaret at AdultStudiesFA@snu.edu, Coordinator of Veteran Affairs for Graduate and Professional Studies.

Tuition Assistance Top-Up or Top-Off (TAT)

Information & Instructions:

Note: THIS INFORMATION IS APPLICABLE ONLY TO STUDENTS USING TA & VA FOR THE SAME COURSE! If you are using TA & VA for the SAME course you do NOT need to go thru the school VA office!! IF YOU WANT TO USE ONLY VA, and NO TA FOR THE COURSE EXPENSES, THEN YOU MUST CONTACT THE SCHOOL VA OFFICE at 405-491-6666.

*****Please READ the information provided directly by the Department of Veteran Affairs regarding "Top Up" at: Application Procedures for students using Top Up

Original Claims:

Basic eligibility to Chapter 30 must be established before eligibility to Top-up can be considered. An original claim must be submitted on VA Form 22-1990. If you haven't previously filed a claim for MGIB, you should do the following:

  • Request TA from your branch of service. See your education services officer or education counselor.
  • Complete an application for VA educational benefits, VA Form 22-1990. You can get the form at VA's web site at: www.vba.va.gov.
  • Indicate "Top-up" on the VA application in item 1A under the MGIB-Active Duty block.
  • Send your TA approval form, along with the application for VA Educational Benefits, to the Muskogee VA Regional office at:
    Veterans Affairs Regional Office
    PO Box 8888
    Muskogee, OK 74402-8888

**Remember you still have to process your TA paperwork with Cara at SNU (491-6349); Tulsa: 918-664-1949; and you are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to make a copy of the VA application and TA paperwork you send into the VA Regional Office to be processed for your records!

  • Instructions for students continuing to use their VA "Top-up" Educational benefits If you have ALREADY USED Chapter 30 within the past 1 year (12 month) period of time, then you would just need to submit your TA paperwork to Cara at SNU (491-6349) and to the VA Regional Office. You are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to retain a copy of the correspondence and TA paperwork each time you send a request for Top-up to the VA.

*****Please READ the information provided directly by the Department of Veteran Affairs regarding "Top Up" at: Application Procedures for students using Top Up

You can email the Muskogee VA Regional Office if you have questions or problems at: muskrpo@vba.va.gov or you can call: 1-888-442-4551 toll free and you will reach the nearest VA Regional Office in your area.

For more information, contact Margaret at AdultStudiesFA@snu.edu, Coordinator of Veteran Affairs for Professional & Graduate Studies