Academic Policies for Veterans

Special Note Regarding Veterans

1. In order to receive DVA educational benefits, veterans must be formally admitted to PSU or in the process of seeking formal admission.
2. PSU will accept some credits taken from course work completed in the military. However PSU must offer equivalent courses as those described in the ACEs guide. You must provide the Admissions with military transcipts (see "essential information") or or other records which document the course(s) completed in the military.
3. Veterans should apply for DVA educational benefits at the same time they apply for admission.

Applications for DVA educational benefits can be obtained from the Veterans' Certification Office, 104 Neuberger Hall, or from VONAPP (Veterans Online Application). Former active duty veterans must provide a certified copy of their DD 214 (member copy 4).

Members of the Selected Reserve and Guard must provide a copy of the DD 2384 (NOBE), obtained from their unit.

PLEASE NOTE: Be aware that the processing of DVA educational benefit applications may take six to eight weeks.

Academic Progress

It is important to meet the standards for academic progress required by both PSU and the DVA. Information about PSU standards are listed in the PSU Bulletin and should be reviewed in order to avoid confusion.

Additional DVA policies:

The DVA will not pay for any non-punitive grade for which credit is not received (ie., "W", "AU", "X", "NP"). This applies when a non-punitive grade received puts you below the credit status for which you receive VA educational benefits (less than half-time, half time, three-quarter-time, full-time). You will be subject to an overpayment for which the DVA will require reimbursement.

Incomplete grades which appear on academic records as an "I", must be completed within one calendar year of the date received. Failure to do so may result in an overpayment. Notify the Veterans' Certification Office as soon as your instructor has submitted a Supplemental Grade Report so the DVA can clear the Incomplete from your record.

The DVA will not pay for any courses which are not applicable to your declared academic program.

A course may be repeated and benefits received only if a grade of "D" or "F" has been received, and a "C" or better is required by the department or school. A course may be repeated only once for benefits. Be sure to complete a Notice of Repeated Course form at the Office of Admissions, Registration & Records for all repeated courses.

IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE VETERANS' CERTIFICATION OFFICE REGARDING ALL ADD/DROPS, CHANGE OF ADDRESS, NAME, DEGREE PROGRAM, ETC.

Changes in Enrollment Status

Any increase or reductions in credit hours must be reported to the Veterans' Certification Office as soon as possible. Changes, specifically reductions in certification level, may result in overpayment, which may have a direct bearing on subsequent pay checks. You may wish to file VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, to inform the DVA of any mitigating circumstances that have led to the change.

IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES - ADDRESS, MARITAL STATUS, SCHEDULE, ETC. - NOTIFY THE VETERAN CERTIFICATION OFFICE ASAP.

Withdrawals/Dropping classes

You must initiate all drops and/or withdrawals from a course. It is your responsibility to withdraw properly by the deadline dates published in the Academic Calendar in the Schedule of Classes. However, some departments may drop you for non-attendance on the first day of class. If you are receiving financial aid, dropping or withdrawing from class(es) might have an impact on your ability to continue receiving aid.

PLEASE NOTE: Veterans must be sure to notify the Veterans' Certification office of all adds and drops.

Pass/No Pass Grading Option (P/NP)

You may select the P/NP option (when allowed) during the registration period. You may change your grading option from a letter grade to P/NP, if it is available, until the deadline listed on the Academic Calendar in the Schedule of Classes. The P/NP option is usually not allowed when taking a course to complete the requirements in your major. Not all courses are offered for the P/NP option. Those available for a P/NP are noted in the Schedule of Classes. A grade of P is used to indicate successful completion of a course (with a C- or better). A grade of NP is used to indicate unsatisfactory performance and no credit is earned. P/NP grades are not used in calculation of your GPA. Undergraduates are limited to 45 hours of Pass credit and no more than 25 of the last 45 credits may be taken for a P/NP grade. Courses transferred from a institution outside the United States and/or from an institution that does not award differentiated (A-F) grades will not be considered in these limitations.

PLEASE NOTE: The Pass/No Pass grade option is considered a non-punitive grade by the DVA. Consequently, if you receive a grade of NP you may be subject to an overpayment. Check with the Veterans' Certification Officer if you have questions.

Undeclared Majors

Those students who have not yet selected an academic major should seek academic advising from the Undergraduate Advising and Support Center (UASC), Smith Memorial Student Union, Suite 425, (503) 725-4005. The DVA will allow a veteran to be an undeclared major until 90 college credits have been completed. For a current schedule of UASC's drop-in advising hours click here.

Enrollment Status

Full time enrollment at PSU

Your monthly entitlement will depend on your enrollment each term. Full time enrollment for undergraduate students is 12 credits. Full-time enrollment for graduate students is 9 credits. You may still be eligible for education benefits as a part time student. However, your monthly entitlement will be reduced accordingly.

PSU Summer Session and Education Benefits

Because summer term has multiple sessions, enrollment and entitlement are evaluated differently during this term. Consequently, a student/veteran completing 12 credits during summer term may not be considered full time by the VA. If you intend to enroll for summer school we strongly recommend you meet with PSU's Veteran Certification office to discuss your anticipated monthly entitlement.

What should I do if I am called up to active duty during the term?

If you are a guard/reserve member and are activated during the school year, contact the Veterans Adviser at (503|) 725-3876 to discuss your options. The adviser can help you make a complete withdrawal from the term, request tuition refunds, or assist you with contacting instructors to request an Incomplete (I) grade if desired. This will help make your return to PSU as smooth and hassle-free as possible. A copy of your orders will be needed to act your behalf.

What should I do if I am activated and am receiving financial aid?

If you are activated while receiving financial aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible - failure to do so may result in problems with the U.S Department of Education and disruptions to future aid. The Office of Financial Aid is located in the lobby of Neuberger Hall, (503) 725-3461.

Applying to use military experience for college credits:

PSU uses the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to Military Training to assist the Office of Admissions in evaluating whether military training is transferable as college-level credit. Academic departments have the final authority to determine whether training is equivalent to their course work. Transcripts of military training may be obtained from the following:

Army- AARTS transcripts can be ordered on-line at the following site, https://aartstranscript.leavenworth.army.mil/ or phone 1-866-297-4427

Navy/Marine Corps- SMARTS transcripts may be ordered at the following site. http://www.navycollege.navy.mil./transcript.html

Air Force- Transcripts may be obtained from the Community College of the Air Force at http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/ or call 1-334-953-2794.