Information & Resources

Benefits & Services

 

VA Benefit Chapters

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers a variety of education benefit programs. Many Veterans and Active Duty personnel may qualify for more than one program.

 

Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill®-AD) – Chapter 30 is the educational program for active duty or prior active duty. It expires 10 years after separation and must be relinquished if member applies for Post 9/11 benefit. This benefit is only a monthly stipend based on credit hours with no on campus course restrictions. No money comes to the school.  For detailed information visit MGIB-AD website .

Benefit Payment

• Monthly rate is based on length of service, contributions, and school enrollment status.
• Recipients must verify attendance each month to receive payment.
• Payments are made directly to the student at the beginning of each month for the previous month's enrollment.
• Benefits are not transferable to dependents

 

Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness & Employment) - The VR&E Program assists eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. This includes benefits for post-secondary education. Veterans must first apply for services and receive an appointment with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). Students are directed to contact their local VA office to obtain detailed information or call 1-800-827-1000.

Benefit Payment

• Monthly rate paid by the VA to the student based on enrollment
• Tuition and fees paid to the school
• All required books and a stipend for supplies

Veterans have a maximum of 48 months of benefits. Chapter 31 pays for training expenses, including tuition, fees, necessary books, supplies, and equipment, and will provide the veteran with a monthly subsistence allowance during training.

 

Chapter 33 (Post- 9/11 GI Bill®)  - The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits to individuals who served after September 10, 2001. The Post 9/11 GI Bill® is for anyone who served after 9/11/2001 on active duty federal orders. The percentage of eligibility the student receives is determined by their active duty time from 2001 until now. Not all students are 100% eligible. They may have a lesser percentage. The member can also transfer this benefit to a spouse or children (step, half, adopted, etc.) if they meet certain criteria set forth by the Department of Defense (DOD). The transfer must be approved before the member leaves active duty.

Benefit Payment

• Tuition and Fees paid directly to the school based on the based on the percentage of eligibility of the student.
• VA pays a housing stipend and a book stipend directly to the student. The housing stipend is based on the location of the on-campus classes attended. Students are encouraged to take at least one class on campus in their program each term to receive the highest housing stipend of their percentage of eligibility. They can attend all online classes, but will only get a partial prorated stipend. The student must be above half time to receive any monthly stipend at all. Then the amount would be prorated by credit hours.

 

Chapter 35 (Dependents’ Educational Assistance) – The DEA program provides up to 45 months of educational benefits for spouses and children of 100% service-connected disabled veterans through the VA or those who passed of a service-connected disability. Benefits for children are good up to the age of 26. The monthly stipend is based on credit hours each month.

Benefit Payment

• Monthly rate based on enrollment
• Paid to the student at the beginning of each month for the previous month of enrollment

 

Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve – The MGIB-SR program provides up to 36 months of eligibility to members of the Selected Reserve. This includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard. Reservist must be actively drilling and have a 6-year obligation in the Selected Reserve

This benefit is for National guardsmen and Reservists. It is a monthly stipend paid directly to the student based on credit hours per month.

Benefit Payment

• Monthly rate based on enrollment
• Must verify attendance each month to receive payment
• Paid to the student at the beginning of each month for the previous month of enrollment
• Must be actively drilling to receive payment 
• Benefits are not transferable to dependents 

 

 

Students are encouraged to explore the following Louisiana State Benefits for Military Affiliated Students:

STEP (Louisiana National Guard State Tuition Exemption Program) – The Louisiana National Guard STEP program provides a tuition waiver to the Louisiana National Guard members in good standing with the guard. The waiver covers tuition only. The following requirements must be met:

• Must be a drilling member of the Louisiana National Guard,
• Must be domiciled in the state of Louisiana,
• Must be in good standing with the Louisiana National Guard,
• Must be seeking an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree,
• Must maintain good academic standing with school, and
• Must pay all fees applied to bill (exemption covers tuition only).

A list of eligible guard members is sent to the University from New Orleans before every term. New users may have to be added to the list by New Orleans if their name does not appear. This benefit is typically used in conjunction with the CH 1606 or Post 9/11 benefit (if they have any active duty time on federal orders). Students can check on guard waiver eligibility by contacting (504)278-8273 or contacting SGT Acker at leonard.c.acker.civ@army.mil . For more information visit the Louisiana National Guard website. Students are directed to contact the Student Accounts Office in Coenen Hall to initiate the application of the STEP program at ULM.

Louisiana Patriot Scholarship – The Louisiana Patriot Scholarship works in conjunction with the STEP program to help Louisiana Army and Air National Guard members work towards an undergraduate degree.  The Patriot Scholarship covers mandatory fees towards an undergraduate degree at Louisiana public institutions of higher learning. The process to use this benefit is similar to the STEP program.  The University will receive a list of all eligible members for the STEP program and the Patriot Scholarship. Students are directed to contact the Student Accounts Office in Coenen Hall to initiate the application of the Patriot Scholarship at ULM.

 

Title 29 (Louisiana State Dependent Exemption) – The Title 29 Benefit provides educational assistance to dependents of certain veterans of the state of Louisiana.

• Children and surviving spouses of veterans who died in service in the Armed Forces of the United States or died of a service connected disability incurred during a wartime period.
• Children of living veterans who are rated 90% or above disabled, including 100% individual unemployability, by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs "Schedule for Rating Disabilities," as a result of a disability or disabilities incurred in service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

 

Eligible students are exempt from paying tuition and school-imposed fees. Student-imposed fees are not exempt. For more information or to apply for Title 29 contact your local Parish Veterans Service Office.

Eligible students will receive a Fee Exemption Certificate from the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs. Students are asked to submit the original certificate to the ULM Office of Veterans Affairs to receive the exemption.

Students using the Title 29 benefit must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a fulltime schedule. The Benefit is valid up to the age of 25. The VA requires that the veteran must reside in the state for children to use the benefit.  Please see the following link for more information:  https://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/benefit/louisiana-title-29-dependents-educational-assistance/

 

Military Tuition Assistance (TA)

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Armed Services.

Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process and restrictions. It is recommended that the student speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their military service to determine which VA or Military benefit(s) the student could qualify. Students who are interested in using Tuition Assistance are directed to apply online each semester using the appropriate military service portal:

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marines
• Navy

When the student receives an approved TA form from the associated branch of military service, the student is directed to contact Ms. Ginger Bigelow – Tuition Assistance Official, at the Student Accounts Office in Coenen Hall. Ms. Bigelow can be reached via email at bigelow@ulm.edu or via phone at 318-342-7920.

The student can provide a copy of the approved TA form via email or in person to the Tuition Assistance Official. The Tuition Assistance Official also checks the United States Armed Forces Academic Institution Portal (AIPORTAL) on a regular basis for approved TA forms associated with ULM students.

The Tuition Assistance Official receives approved TA forms from students or retrieves approved TA forms from the AIPORTAL and performs the following steps:

1. Verifies the classes for which the student is enrolled.
2. Applies the credit amount to the student’s tuition and fee bill.
3. Submits an invoice for the tuition and fees through the AIPORTAL after the 14th class day.

The specific branch of the military will send an authorization to the Tuition Assistance Official through the AIPORTAL for payment for the student’s tuition and fees.

At the end of the semester, the Tuition Assistance Official submits final grade information for the student through the AIPORTAL.

Students receiving TA must contact the Tuition Assistance Official if they drop or withdraww from a class. If a student receiving TA fails a class or withdraws from a class, the associated service branch will seek repayment directly from the student.

NOTE: Tuition Assistance usually cannot be used with any type of GI Bill®. Contact your TA administrator for details.

           

VA Reimbursements

If a student receives VA education benefits the student may be also eligible for reimbursement for the following educational expenses:

Tutoring

National Test Fees

Licensing and Certification Test Fees

 

Additional ULM Benefits to Military Affiliated Students

Free tutoring is available to any ULM student through the Student Success Center. Information regarding tutoring is found at the following link: https://www.ulm.edu/studentsuccess/tutoring.html .

ULM students who are veterans or on active duty are eligible for early course registration each semester.  Any student who is a veteran or actively serving should contact the SCO to ensure they are on the list for early registration.