Western Carolina University

NOTE: VA Enrollment Certification is NOT automatic. It is the student’s responsibility to request a WCU VA Enrollment Certification for each term submission.

1. You may repeat courses failed up to the allowed maximum as stated in the WCU catalog and receive VA benefits for those courses. You are not entitled to receive monthly checks for repeating courses previously passed with a grade of “D-” or better.
2. Certification for benefits cannot be completed until ALL transfer credit has been received, evaluated, and posted to your academic record by the appropriate academic department(s) and, the Registrar’s Office. Military transfer credits that are pending can be certified; however, only for the first semester of enrollment. Upon receipt of official transcript and final evaluation, you will be certified from the original date of enrollment.
3. Your education benefits ONLY pay for courses that apply toward your degree.
4. If you change your major, it is imperative that you contact the Registrar’s Office as soon as possible to complete a Change of Program form. Only one change of major is allowed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs without review.
5. It is your responsibility to notify the VA Certifying Official immediately of any changes in your enrollment after your initial certification has been forwarded to Department of Veterans Affairs. For example, if you drop or add course(s), or if you withdraw from course(s) or totally from school. You must attend all class meetings. Failure to report non-attendance or changes in your enrollment will result in suspension of your VA Education Benefits. You will be liable for any false information or over-payment. Full semester certifications:
   Undergraduate:
   12 or more semester hours…a full monthly check
   9-11 hours…3/4 of a full monthly check
   6-8 hours…..1/2 of a full monthly check
   Below 6 hours….tuition and fees only
   Graduate:
   9 or more semester hours…a full monthly check
   6-8 hours….3/4 of a full monthly check
   3-5 hours….1/2 of a full monthly check
   Below 3 hours….tuition and fees only
6. You will receive educational benefits even if you fail a course, assuming that you continued to attend the course and attempted to complete all work required. If you receive a failing grade for non-attendance or failure to attempt completion of the course, you are not entitled to benefits. Non-attendance must be reported to VA.
7. Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 recipients who knowingly give false or incorrect information on the monthly verification documents by phone to the VA could be charged with fraud.
8. To continue to receive VA educational benefits, your cumulative GPA must remain at or above a 2.0. Two consecutive semesters below a 2.0 necessitates the Registrar’s Office having to terminate your benefits until your cumulative GPA is at or above a 2.0.
9. Transfer student/credit transferred to WCU: Benefits cannot be certified until a final evaluation of credits transferred is provided 
10.  Special part of term/ON-LINE COURSE(S) will be certified as regular courses(s) based on the beginning/ending dates in the Student Information System Term Calendar.
11. VA toll free number for certification and payment questions: (888) 442-4551
    VA Education Web Site: http://gibill.va.gov/
12. Chapter 30, Chapter 1606 and 1607 ONLY: Toll free number for monthly verification: (887) 823-2378
    If you have any questions regarding the above regulations and procedures, please contact WCU VA Certifying Official via Email military@wcu.edu; phone (828) 227-7397; or fax (828) 227-7115.