Veterans Education and Transition Services

Serving those who served

The University of Maine is proud to serve those who have served our country. We are dedicated to fostering a sense of community and developing a communication channel among veteran and reservist students, and with faculty, staff and administration. This website provides information on financial, medical, and other university resources to assist student veterans transitioning to campus life.

University of Maine VETS Center

The University of Maine’s VETS Center serves student veterans as they apply to, attend, and advance beyond UMaine. The Veterans Center connects student veterans with the resources they need to transition from combat to classroom to career successfully. This includes help navigating the admissions process, applying for financial aid and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits, academic assistance, and preparing to re-enter the workforce. The Veterans Center is located in Room 161 of the Memorial Union.

VETS – Veterans Education and Transition Services

The VETS Associate Director acts as a liaison between the student veteran and campus resources to ensure that the issues unique to student veterans are adequately addressed. The coordinator provides general information on how to use resources and connects the student veteran with the appropriate individuals on campus to address more in-depth questions. The coordinator also assesses how the needs of student veterans are being met and identifies new concerns and how the university can address them.

(207) 581-1316

um.veterans@maine.edu

Click here to read an important letter about student veterans from the Provost and Vice-President for Student Life

Beginning in the Summer of 2014, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees approved a system-wide policy approving in-state tuition for all current and former members of the US Armed Forces who were honorably discharged, regardless of whether or not they are receiving benefits.

In addition, beginning in the Summer of 2015, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees approved a system-wide policy approving in-state tuition to all military dependents using a GI Bill. Further, that once the in-state tuition rate is applied to the eligible individual, it shall remain in effect until the individual completes their academic program, even after GI Bill benefits have been exhausted, transferred, or are otherwise expired.

Veterans or dependents applying for VA educational benefits for the first time must :

Go to the GI Bill website to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, COE or Notification Of Basic Eligibility, NOBE

NOTE: Initial enrollment for educational benefits may take up to 15 weeks to process by the Veteran’s Administration. Subsequent enrollments are processed automatically provided you are certified by the VETS office as registered for classes, with the exception of Summer Session ( see Summer Session Certification).

Once you have applied and have been accepted at the University of Maine, to access your educational benefits to attend UMaine, veterans or dependents must :

Submit you Certificate of Eligibility, COE or Notice of Basic Eligibility, NOBE to the UMaine VETS office
All Chapters must complete a CERTIFICATION REQUEST FORM to VETS office as soon as they are registered for each coming semester.

Note: All linked documents are in Microsoft Word format.

It is the responsibility of the student to submit a Request for VA Educational Benefits to the V.E.T.S. office as soon as you are registered for classes, if you would like to receive benefits for any semester including summer session .

Summer Session Certification

Veteran students who enroll in summer session courses must be certified by the VETS Office before payment of benefits can be authorized. Continuous payment of benefits is authorized providing the student maintains the required credit load. Regular semester full credit loads are modified for summer certification. Summer session classes at UMaine can vary in scheduling. Check with the V.E.T.S. office before enrolling for summer classes to determine your rate of entitlement.

Chapters 30, 33 and 1606 students are required to verify school attendance on the last calendar day of each month. Failure to verify will result in no monthly stipend check until verification. Verification can be done at W.A.V.E. for Chapters 30 and 1606 or by phone at 1.888.442.4551 for all Chapters. Chapter 33 recipients can directly with the VA via text, email, online through Ask.VA, or by phone.

Advanced Pay
Veterans may apply for advance payment of educational benefits before the start of the term. This must be done at least 30 days prior to the start of classes but not more than 120 days in advance.

Advance payment will include two months of payments and the student will not receive further benefits until the end of the third month. Benefits are normally paid at the end of the month for the preceding month. You must seek assistance from the V.E.T.S. Office to take advantage of advanced pay.

University Bill Payment
Some VA Educational Benefits are paid to the student. In these cases it is the student’s responsibility to pay the University for services and supplies. The Bursar’s Office offers several installment plans to pay for tuition. Please contact the Bursar’s Office for further details.

Direct Deposit
Direct deposit of VA benefits (paid directly to the student) is available. Contact the VA Regional Office, Buffalo, at 1.888.442.4551.

Change of College, Major, or Address

If a student wishes to change their present course of study (major), college, and/or address, they must complete the necessary forms in order to satisfy VA requirements. These forms are available in the VETS Office, office staff can assist with any questions or concerns. Contact this office as soon as possible.

If your phone number or address changes, please call the VA Regional Office, Buffalo, NY @ 1-888-442-4551 to make the necessary changes.

Change in Course Load or Semester Credit Hours

Veterans receive a monthly allowance based on their student status. In order to receive maximum benefits, a student must be considered at full-time status which requires a minimum of twelve credit hours per semester. Graduate students need only six credit hours for full-time status. Full or part-time status varies for summer session. Should a student drop a course or otherwise reduce their credit hours, they must inform the V.E.T. S. and the Office of Student Financial Aid IMMEDIATELY and complete the necessary forms in order to avoid an over – payment of benefits which will have to be paid back to the Veterans Administration.

Withdrawal from Classes or Non-Attendance

Students must be aware that withdrawing from classes (“W” grade) or non-attendance of classes (“L” grade) can result in denial of VA Educational Benefits for that semester. While payment of benefits is authorized for courses in which a failing grade or ” F ” is received, no payment will be made for courses in which the student voluntarily stops attending unless a “W F ,” withdrawal failing grade, is received. No benefits will be paid for withdrawal passing or audited courses. Students who wish to drop a course should complete the necessary forms for add/drop, available at their academic department or through MaineStreet and also notify the V.E.T.S. Office and the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Disability Support Services

The primary goal of the University of Maine Disability Support Services (DSS) is to create educational access for students with disabilities at UMaine by providing or coordinating disability accommodations, giving information about the University and available resources to students and families and educating the campus community. Some of the services provided or coordinated for students with disabilities include testing accommodations, note takers, ordering alternate format texts, classroom relocation, advisement on disability issues, and housing related accommodations.

The staff of DSS promotes self-determination and personal responsibility for students with disabilities by educating them about their rights and responsibilities so that they can make informed choices in order to meet or exceed the standards expected of all students at the University of Maine.