VA Education Benefits

All VA Education benefit chapters must complete the Veteran Benefit Request Form to request their VA Education benefit.  Be sure to meet with your academic advisor and follow your Degree Completion Tracker to ensure you are taking classes that are required for your program, to help lessen processing delays due to scheduling issues. Once you are enrolled in your required courses, navigate to your MyIvy and follow the steps below.

• Log into MyIvy
• Search “Veteran”
• Select Veteran Benefit Request Form (add to your favorites)
• Fill out the required sections
• Submit

When you complete and e-sign the document it is then routed to our office. Generally, we can have your enrollment processed to the VA, within a week. In peak enrollment time please give us up to 14 business days to get this sent to the VA.

If you have any questions please reach out to your VMBS.

HOW TO FILL OUT FORM

The VA will only pay for classes that go toward your major.  To verify, please see your academic advisor and consult your Degree Completion Tracker on your MyIvy.

You can remain undecided for a maximum of two semesters and still receive your GI Bill^®. After two semesters you must select a major or you will not be able to use your GI Bill^®.

It is important to understand when you withdraw from the class, you must actually withdraw from the class via My Ivy or the Registrar’s office. 

Withdrawing, or failing to withdraw from the class will result in a W or FW and you will owe money to the college, as the VA will request a refund of unearned tuition and fees from Ivy Tech.  This may also impact your GPA as well as your financial aid eligibility.

Financial aid full-time and VA benefit full-time is not the same. Having 12 credits for the entire term is full-time for Financial Aid, but not necessarily full-time for VA benefits. If you have questions please be sure to reach out to your VMBS.

LA form

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Enrollment

The VA pays for the time you are in classes and the rate of pursuit during that time period. Your rate of pursuit is based on the number of credits you are enrolled in during a given term and is expressed as a percentage of full-time status.

We understand this is a lot of information, so please do not hesitate to ask your VMBS about full-time status after you are enrolled in class. Follow the helpful examples below of common schedules.

If you are a student from another college and wish to use your VA benefits at Ivy Tech:

Your home college needs to send us a parent letter indicating the course(s) you are taking at Ivy Tech will transfer to your degree at your college.

If you are using CH33 benefits, you will not need to set up a payment plan to keep from being dropped for non-payment but will need to satisfy any outstanding balance the VA does not cover prior to the end of the term. To include  Books.

If you are using CH31 benefits, you will need to receive permission from your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, as we will need to receive a Purchase Order so we can invoice the VA for your tuition and fees.

All other VA education benefits (CH1606, CH30, CH35), you will need to set up a payment plan since the VA pays you directly and not the college.

If you are a college and need to send a parent letter:

Send an email to statewide-ta@ivytech.edu. For CH33 students, please be sure to include their percentage eligibility.

All VA Education benefit chapters must complete the Veteran Benefit Request Form to request their VA Education benefit.  Once you are enrolled in your required courses, navigate to your MyIvy and follow the steps below.

• Log into MyIvy
• Search “Veteran”
• Select Veteran Benefit Request Form (add to your favorites)
• Fill out the required sections
• Submit

When you complete and e-sign the document it is then routed to our office. Generally, we can have your enrollment processed to the VA, within a week. In peak enrollment time please give us up to 14 business days to get this sent to the VA.

Since students can now opt out of  Textbooks, the VA will not pay this fee.

• You are financially responsible to pay Ivy Tech for the fee
• The VA does send $41.67/credit in book money directly to the student (not to exceed $1000 in a year – and adjusted for your percentage eligibility)
• At 50% Post 9/11 eligibility the VA sends $20.84/credit
• Although you will be using VA education benefits, you will still see a balance due on your account for  Textbooks
• You may also qualify for Financial Aid to help defray the cost. Apply for the FAFSA online with Ivy Tech's federal school code

Here are some steps to assist you with receiving your VA.

Student Checklist

This VA benefit is for Guard and Reserve members with NO active-duty time.

How It Works

Be sure to meet with your academic advisor and follow your Degree Completion Tracker to ensure you are taking classes that are required for your program, to help lessen processing delays due to scheduling issues.

You must submit the Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy.

You are required to verify your attendance with the VA at the end of every month before your monthly stipend is sent to you.  Please note you will need an ID.me or Login.gov account to verify attendance online.

The monthly stipend the VA sends you is intended to help pay your tuition and may not cover your entire tuition amount. You will need to have financial aid or set up a payment plan prior to the start of your classes. Visit the financial aid section of this webpage below to learn how to apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you are enrolled in any courses that have certification, or licensing, visit the VA website to request reimbursement for a portion of the charges.

Service Members 

To qualify, you would have contributed $100 per month for the first 12 months of your contract or made a $1,200 bulk payment to your GI Bill^®.

How It Works

Be sure to meet with your academic advisor and follow your Degree Completion Tracker to ensure you are taking classes that are required for your program, to help lessen processing delays due to scheduling issues.

You must submit the Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy.

You are required to verify your attendance with the VA at the end of every month before your monthly stipend is sent to you.  Please note you will need an ID.me or Login.gov account to verify attendance online.

The monthly stipend the VA sends you is intended to help pay your tuition and may not cover your entire tuition amount. You will need to have financial aid or set up a payment plan prior to the start of your classes. Visit the financial aid section of this webpage below to learn how to apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you are enrolled in any courses that have certification, or licensing, visit the VA website to request reimbursement for a portion of the charges.

This benefit is for Service members. Apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits. You will be contacted by the VR&E office for review.

Once we receive a purchase order (P.O.) from your VR&E counselor, we will code your account so you will receive any financial aid you are entitled to upon disbursement of aid.

How it works

Be sure to meet with your academic advisor and follow your Degree Completion Tracker to ensure you are taking classes that are required for your program, to help lessen processing delays due to scheduling issues.

You must submit the Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy.

Upon receipt of your Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy your account will be coded so you will not be dropped for nonpayment.

If you need books from the bookstore, you are provided a Purchase Order number that you will need for your purchase.

Service Members 

If you have at least 90 days of active-duty time after September 11, 2001 (Not Counting Training) you may be eligible for CH 33.

Dependents

The service member would have had to transfer a portion of their GI Bill^® benefits (transfer of benefits) to you while they were on active duty.

If you are a child of a disabled Veteran who is also an Indiana resident, you may also qualify for Child of a Disabled Veteran state tuition waiver. Visit the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to learn more.

How it works

Be sure to meet with your academic advisor and follow your Degree Completion Tracker to ensure you are taking classes that are required for your program, to help lessen processing delays due to scheduling issues.

You must submit the Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy.

Upon receipt of your Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy your account will be coded so you will not be dropped for nonpayment.

If you are NOT 100% for Post 9/11 you are responsible for the remaining balance the VA does not pay.

If you are enrolled in any courses that have certification or licensing tests you are financially responsible for those fees. The VA has deemed them ineligible since we use a 3^rd party. You may request reimbursement for a portion of the charges. Visit the Veterans' Administration website for more information.

Since students can now opt out of  Textbooks, the VA will not pay this fee.

• You are financially responsible to pay Ivy Tech for the fee
• The VA does send $41.67/credit in book money directly to the student (not to exceed $1000 in a year – and adjusted for your percentage eligibility)
  • At 50% Post 9/11 eligibility the VA sends $20.84/credit
• Although you will be using VA education benefits, you will still see a balance due on your account for  Textbooks
• You may also qualify for Financial Aid to help defray the cost. Apply for the FAFSA online with Ivy Tech's federal school code

Verify your attendance

You are required to verify your attendance with the VA at the end of every month before your monthly stipend is sent to you.  This can be done via text or online.  Please note you will need an ID.me or Login.gov account to verify attendance online.

If you’re not sure if VA has your phone number and/or email on file, you can also contact them to update your contact information, 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

This VA benefit is for the dependents of a Veteran that has a 100% permanent and total service related disability.

How it Works

Be sure to meet with your academic advisor and follow your Degree Completion Tracker to ensure you are taking classes that are required for your program, to help lessen processing delays due to scheduling issues.

You must submit the Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy.

The monthly stipend the VA sends you is intended to help pay your tuition and may not cover your entire tuition amount.

You will need to have financial aid or set up a payment plan prior to the start of your classes. Visit the financial aid section of this webpage below to learn how to apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), federal school code 009917.

If you are enrolled in any courses that have certification, or licensing, visit the VA website to request reimbursement for a portion of the charges.

If you are a child of a disabled Veteran who is also an Indiana resident, you may also qualify for Child of a Disabled Veteran state tuition waiver. Visit the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to learn more.

For dependents of a Veteran who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, while serving in the Armed Forces, or was a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability.

How it works

Be sure to meet with your academic advisor and follow your Degree Completion Tracker to ensure you are taking classes that are required for your program, to help lessen processing delays due to scheduling issues.

You must submit the Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy.

Upon receipt of your Veteran Enrollment Request Form found on MyIvy your account will be coded so you will not be dropped for nonpayment.

If you are enrolled in any courses that have certification or licensing tests you must pay those fees. The VA has deemed them ineligible, but you may request reimbursement for a portion of the charges. Visit the Veterans' Administration website for more information. 

Since students can now opt out of Ivy+ Textbooks, the VA will not pay this fee

You are financially responsible to pay Ivy Tech for the fee

The VA does send $41.67/credit in book money (not to exceed $1000 in a year – and adjusted for your percentage eligibility)

At 50% Post 9/11 eligibility the VA sends $20.84/credit

 Textbooks is $17/credit hour

Although you will be using VA education benefits, you will still see a balance due on your account for  Textbooks

You may also qualify for Financial Aid to help defray the cost. Apply for the FAFSA online with Ivy Tech's federal school code 009917.

You are required to verify your attendance at the end of every month with the VA before your monthly housing allowance (MHA) is sent to you. Students who receive MHA/kicker payments will have their payments withheld if they fail to verify or report that they are no longer enrolled in their courses or training.

To verify your enrollment each month to receive your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments without any interruptions.

Did you know there are three ways you can verify your enrollment? Text message, email, and now online through your verified VA.gov account are all valid methods.

Pro tip: If your email or text message verification link expires, you may log in to your VA.gov account, verified by ID.me or Login.gov, and verify your current and previous months enrollments.

For more information and tips, check out our Enrollment Verification site and watch our step-by-step video to learn how to verify your enrollment. (provided

Where do I apply for VA Educational Benefits?

You will apply online.

Visit va.gov 

Scroll down to “How do I apply”

Pull down the “Find your education benefits form”

Answer the questions and then “apply now”

Can I transfer benefits to my dependents under the Post 9/11 GI Bill?

You may be able to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a dependent family member if you’re on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and you meet all of these requirements.

All of these must be true:

• You’ve completed at least 6 years of service on the date your request is approved, and
• You agree to add 4 more years of service, and
• The person getting benefits is enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)

Learn about the eligibility requirements for family members to use transferred benefits

Note: If you received a Purple Heart, you don’t need to meet a service requirement. But you’ll need to request to transfer your benefits while you’re still on active duty. 

How can I get an official transcript for the courses and exams I completed while active duty?

You can request a copy of your official CLEP and DSST transcript be sent to the college for evaluation through  www.getcollegecredit.com.

How can I request transfer credit for my military training and experience?

The VA requires your official military and prior college (if applicable) transcripts be evaluated with the current college you are enrolled.

To request your official military transcripts, please click on the appropriate link below and have your official transcript sent to Ivy Tech Community College.

ARMY, COAST GUARD, MARINE CORPS, and NAVY

AIR FORCE

Where can I take CLEP and/or DANTES exam for college credit?

Ivy Tech Community College testing center provides CLEP and DANTES (DSST) testing.

How can I retrieve my DD214?

Submit a military records request to get your DD214 or other military service records through the milConnect website.

You’ll need to sign in to milConnect to get your military service records

To use this feature, you'll need a Premium DS Logon account. Your My HealtheVet or ID.me credentials won’t work on the milConnect website. Go to milConnect to sign in, register, or upgrade your DS Logon account to Premium.

Once I’ve signed in to milConnect, how do I request my DD214 or other military records?

Follow these steps to submit a military records request.

1. From your signed-in homepage, click or tap on Correspondence/ Documentation. Then select Defense Personnel Records Information (DPRIS)from the drop-down menu.
2. Choose the Personnel File
3. Select Request My Personnel File.
4. Fill out the form. In the Document Index section, check the boxes next to the document(s) you’d like to request.
5. Click or tap on the Create and Send Request

What if I am unable to retrieve my records via milconnect?

You can request through National Archives.

Can I use my VA Educational Benefits to repeat a class for a better grade?

If you previously failed a course, and it is required for your program, yes you can repeat the course.  If you previously passed a course (C or better) you cannot retake the course.  If you previously passed a course with a “D” but a C or better is a pre-requisite for another course, or program, then you can retake the course.

Per VA regulations:

Classes that are successfully completed may not be certified again for VA purposes if they are repeated. However, if a student fails a class, or if a program requires a higher grade than the one achieved in a particular class for successful completion, that class may be repeated and certified to VA again. 

Example 1: if a Nursing program requires a “B” or better in Biology, then that class may be repeated if a “B” or better was not earned. That requirement must be in the school catalog. 

Example 2: If a course is required for graduation, a student may repeat the course and be certified for it until it is successfully completed. No further information needs to be provided to VA regarding those courses. 

Example 3: If a student chooses to repeat a course that was successfully completed, just to improve their GPA, that course cannot be certified to VA.  (SCO handbook 2023, Repeating Courses.)

What do I do if I want to change my program of study or major?

You need to meet with your assigned academic advisor and discuss a path that is best for you.  CH31 (VR&E) you must discuss this with your VR&E counselor before changing your program.

I took the placement exam and am told I need a remedial course, will the VA pay for that?

Yes the VA will pay for a remedial course if there is a need for the course.  You must attend the course in person, as the VA does not allow remedial course work to be taught virtually.  If you are in a Learn Anywhere (LA) course, you must attend one class session in person before we can submit that course to the VA.

Per VA regulations:

Remedial and deficiency credit should be put in the R/D column, rather than the credit column. When students have both credit and R/D credit, VA combines the credit to determine training time. R/D credit is used to correctly charge entitlement for Chapter 35 students. Deficiency courses do not need to be listed in remarks. 

Remedial and deficiency courses are courses designed to correct deficiencies in basic mathematics, English, and reading at the elementary or secondary level. These courses can be certified as part of an approved program, but only for students for whom a verifiable need has been established. Keep test results and other documents in the student’s file that support the student’s need for remedial and deficiency courses. 

Chapter 30, 33, and 1606: Entitlement is charged for remedial and deficiency training. 

Chapter 35: Entitlement is not charged up to 5 months of full-time remedial and deficiency training. If you certify a Chapter 35 student for 6 standard credits and 6 remedial credits the student is paid at the full-time rate, but entitlement is charged at the ½-time rate. 

Remedial and deficiency courses offered as an independent study (online) cannot be approved and cannot be certified to VA. (SCO handbook 2023, Remedial Courses.)

I am taking a course that is not required for my degree, why am I being told to change it?

You are unable to take courses outside your declared program if they do not satisfy graduation requirements.

Per VA regulations:

Only courses that satisfy the requirements outlined by the curriculum guide or graduation evaluation form can be certified for VA purposes. A curriculum guide or graduation evaluation form should be kept in the student’s file and courses certified should be checked. If a student takes a course that does not fulfill a program requirement, it cannot be certified for VA purposes. Excessive free electives, for example, cannot be certified. (SCO handbook 2023, Course Applicability.)

How can I use my VA Educational Benefits to pay for tutoring services?

If you need assistance outside of Ivy Tech’s free tutoring services, you may use your VA education benefit for reimbursement for your tutor.

What benefits can I get?

We’ll pay up to $100 per month for tutoring. We’ll pay up to a total of $1,200. 

• How do I get this benefit?
• Your course instructor (or teacher) at your school must agree that you need a tutor and write a letter on your behalf. The instructor should send the letter to your school’s certifying official and add a copy to your VA student file.
• If your school approves your need for a tutor, it will assign you a tutor and confirm the tutor’s hourly pay.
• After you get tutoring, you, your tutor, and your school’s certifying official must fill out and sign an Application for Individualized Tutorial Assistance (VA Form 22-1990t). If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, your instructor must also sign section 18 of this form.
  Get VA Form 22-1990t to download
• The form must be signed and dated on or after the date of the last certified tutoring session (item 12b on the form).

If you’re using the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), you can get up to $600 before we charge your benefits. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), we won’t charge your GI Bill benefits.

Can I use my VA Educational Benefits and only take a few classes each semester?

Yes

CH33 & CH31 – your tuition and fee eligibility is not impacted, your MHA is impacted and you must be more than ½ time for each 8 week session – 4 credits or more, or at least 7 credits or more for all 16 week courses.

CH30, CH1606 & CH35 – your monthly stipend is prorated based off your rate of pursuit – ¾ time, ½ time, less than ½ time.  If you’re enrolled less than ½ time, we’ll pay you up to the amount listed here for every month you’re enrolled—but no more than the cost of your tuition and fees.

How do I use my VA Educational Benefits at Ivy Tech if I am also taking classes at another college/University?

If Ivy Tech is your home campus, you must have documentation from your academic advisor that the course(s) you are taking elsewhere will transfer to your credential at Ivy Tech.  You will then work with your VMBS to have a parent letter sent to the guest college.

If Ivy Tech is not your home campus, you must work with your home campus Veteran Services office to have a parent letter sent to Ivy Tech for your enrollment to be submitted to the VA.

Can I apply for financial aid if I receive VA Educational Benefits? 

Yes, we highly recommend applying with FAFSA, federal school code 009917. 

• CH33 - If there are any fees or tuition the VA does not cover, then you will be refunded any funds you are entitled.
• CH1606, CH35, CH30 – These funds can be used toward your tuition. If you have a remaining balance, then you can use your VA stipend to cover the difference.
• CH31 – as long all of your courses are approved by your VR&E counselor then the funds may be refunded to you directly.

Do my VA Educational Benefits have to be included as income if I am applying for Financial Aid? Please note, there are other noneducation benefits listed below that must be reported.

No. The information was taken from studentaid.gov

This is question 41g on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) PDF.

Enter the total amount of veterans' noneducation benefits you received in 2021. Veterans' noneducation benefits include Disability, Death Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and/or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Educational Work-Study allowances.

Note: Don’t include veterans’ educational benefits such as the

• Montgomery GI Bill^®,
• Dependents Education Assistance Program,
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program,
• Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program Benefits, or
• Post-9/11 GI Bill^®.

Round to the nearest dollar. Don’t include commas or decimal points.

I am a dependent child of a veteran, how can I apply for the Child of Disabled Veteran Grant?

If you are a child of a disabled Veteran who is also an Indiana resident, you may also qualify for Child of a Disabled Veteran state tuition waiver. Visit the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to learn more.

How do I let the VA know I want to use my VA education benefits?

Log into MyIvy 

• Search “Veteran”
  • Select Veteran Benefit Request Form (add to your favorites)
  • Fill out required sections
  • Submit

When you complete and e-sign the document it is then routed to our office. Generally, we can have your enrollment processed to the VA, within a week. In peak enrollment time please give us up to 14 business days to get this sent to the VA.

You can view instructions on how to fill out the form here.

How do I get paid from my VA benefit?

On the first of every month, some students need to verify their attendance so the VA will process their monthly payment.  You are always verifying for the month prior, on the 1st of November you are verifying for October.

• CH33 students – You are required to verify your attendance with the VA at the end of every month before your monthly stipend is sent to you.  This can be done via text or online.  Please note you will need an ID.me or Login.gov account to verify attendance online.
• CH1606/CH30 – You are required to verify your attendance with the VA at the end of every month before your monthly stipend is sent to you. Please note you will need an ID.me or Login.gov account to verify attendance online.
• CH35 – If you are in an Associate degree program you do not need to verify your attendance unless instructed by the VA. If you are in an NCD ONLY (CT/TC) and not an Associate degree program, then you will need to verify your attendance by calling the VA at 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551). If you have not received your monthly stipend, and you know your enrollment has been submitted to the VA, please call the VA at 888-442-4551 to inquire where your monthly stipend is.
• CH31 - if you have not received your monthly stipend, and you know your enrollment has been submitted to the VA, please reach out to your VR&E Counselor.

Will I receive MHA (monthly housing allowance for CH33 and CH31) during the Summer semester?

In order to receive MHA, you must be enrolled in at least 4 credits during an 8-week session, 6 credits are considered full-time so you must take over 3 credits to qualify for MHA. If you are enrolled in a 10-week session, 7 credits are considered full-time time so you will need to take at least 4 credits to receive MHA

If you are only enrolled in online, or virtual, classes you will receive the national online MHA rate.

Will I receive MHA (monthly housing allowance for CH33 and CH31) during the Fall semester?

In order to receive MHA, you must be enrolled in at least 4 credits during an 8-week session, 6 credits are considered full-time so you must take over 3 credits to qualify for MHA. If you are enrolled in a 10-week session, 7 credits are considered full-time time so you will need to take at least 4 credits to receive MHA

If you are only enrolled in online, or virtual, classes you will receive the national online MHA rate.

How much MHA will I receive?

Read these ten tips provided by the VA to get a better understanding of how, specifically, your MHA is calculated and paid. (GI Bill Student Newsletter - September 2023 sent via Gov delivery)

TEN MHA PAYMENT REMINDERS

My monthly housing allowance (MHA) is not what I expected, what can I do?

If you are enrolled in an LA (Learn Anywhere) course, your course is initially certified to the VA as online as you can attend virtually or in person. If you have attended at least one class session in person, we can change your enrollment to reflect an in-person course. This will change your MHA rate to the resident for that particular session (ex. 8-week 1, 8-week 2, or 16 weeks). Be sure to reach out to your VMBS on how to notify the VMB processing team of your enrollment update. Once the VA processes the change, they will backdate any MHA eligibility you may be entitled.

What is the difference between in-residence and distance learning?  This only impacts CH33 & CH31

In-residence – Regularly scheduled, conventional classroom or laboratory sessions taken on campus or at an approved Ivy Tech learning facility. (Blended or Traditional)

Distance learning – Classes where the student and the instructor are physically separated and use a form of communications technology to interact.  (Internet, Virtual and Learn Anywhere)

I am taking an LA course, how do I receive resident rate MHA?  This only impacts CH33 & CH31?

Under current VA guidance, you have to attend at least one class session in person to qualify for the resident rate. See your VMBS for required documentation.

What do I do if I am given military orders that prevent me from attending my classes during the term?

Ivy Tech has a Military Deployment – Leave of Absence policy.  Be sure to take action as soon as you are aware of active duty orders, there are requirements to be satisfied prior to your departure. Further information is found here.

Can I use VA Educational Benefits and Tuition Assistance Benefits during the same semester?

Yes.

• CH33 – the college will bill the VA for any eligible Tuition and Fees your TA authorization did not cover.
• CH1606 – you must be enrolled at least ½ time (6 credits the full term) to use TA and VA education benefits simultaneously

I have to verify my attendance to the VA, I am confused how to answer the question.

You are always verifying attendance for the month prior, and only for the days your class was in session.

If your class ends before the last day of the month, and you completed the course, your answer is YES you attended for the full month.

The same is true if your class starts after the first day of the month - if you remained enrolled from the first day of class through the end of the month, your answer is YES, you attended for the full month.

You will only answer NO, if you did not attend all classes for the month, if you withdraw or stop attending at least one of our classes. The VA will contact us and ensure your enrollment is properly reported so your housing can be issued.

I am using Post 9/11, how do I verify my attendance?

To verify your enrollment each month to receive your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments without any interruptions.

Did you know there are three ways you can verify your enrollment? Text message, email and now online through your verified VA.gov account are all valid methods.

Pro tip: If your email or text message verification link expires, you may log in to your VA.gov account, verified by ID.me or Login.gov, and verify your current and previous months' enrollments.

For more information and tips, check out our Enrollment Verification site and watch our step-by-step video to learn how to verify your enrollment. (provided by:  GI Bill Student Newsletter - September 2023 via Gov Delivery)

I am using Montgomery GI Bill (CH1606 or CH30), how do I verify my attendance?

You are required to verify your attendance with the VA at the end of every month before your monthly stipend is sent to you. Please note you will need an ID.me or Login.gov account to verify attendance online.

How do I change my banking information?

All VA education benefit recipients must contact the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to make changes to personal profile information or online.

What if my address has changed?

All VA education recipients must contact the VA at All VA education benefit recipients must contact the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to make changes to personal profile information or via ask.va.gov.

What do I do if I want to add/drop a class once I have requested VA Educational Benefits for the term?

You do not need to take any action if you make any changes to your Ivy Tech enrollment at any time.  The college will run period enrollment change reports to catch schedule changes.  If there are mitigating circumstances you need to contact your VMBS.  There may be a debt associated with your schedule change, to the VA and/or the college.

What if I am failing a class? What should I do and how does it impact me?

If you are failing a class, you need to complete the class, do NOT stop attending. Make sure you are utilizing all available resources to you, such as tutoring, your advisor, and your instructor. Failure to drop the course during the drop period means the school is entitled to tuition for that course and the college is required to report the last day in which you participated in a course.

If you complete the course and earn a failing grade, you can retake the course as long as it is required for your program per your Degree Completion Tracker.

Be aware that the rules for retaking a course for VA purposes are not the same as Financial Aid purposes, always speak with your campus financial aid department to ensure your eligibility.

CH33 students

The VA will charge the college for any unearned tuition, which means you incur a debt with the college. You may also incur a debt for your MHA with the VA.

All other Chapters

You may incur a debt with the VA for any unearned monthly stipend based on the last date of attendance that is reported to the VA.

What is the difference between a drop and a withdraw?

A drop is an official drop from a course(s) within the 100% refund drop period.

In order to receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees, students must officially drop the course(s) during the 100% refund period. The refund period is based on length of the course and the first day the class meets. This does not incur a tuition and fee debt to the college.

There is no record of being enrolled in the course on your official transcript

A withdraw is an official withdraw from a course(s) after the 100% drop period.

Withdrawal from a course results in a “W” status for the course on the student transcript.

There is no refund for tuition/fees if a student withdraws from a course. This status does not affect Grade Point Average (GPA).

Students may withdraw from a course by selecting Add or Drop Classes from Student Dashboard in MyIvy or by submitting the necessary forms to their academic advisor, the Express Enrollment Center, or to the Registrar’s Office.

The withdrawal period for a course begins after the last day to drop with a 100% refund and ends at the 75th percentile of the course.

After the 75th percentile of the course is passed, a student who ceases to attend class after that date will receive a grade commensurate with course requirements.

This does incur a debt with the college, as the college now owes the VA for unearned tuition and fees.

What do I do if I receive a debt letter from the VA because I withdrew, or stopped attending a class and earned an FW?

If you receive a debt letter from the VA, it is very important that you call Debt Management to set up a payment plan or pay in full online. If you fail to respond to the notice the VA will send monthly reminders, and then will start the collection process. The collection process can result in withholding future monthly stipends, or MHA payments.

The semester is over and I have received FWs, what is going to happen?

At the end of every term, we are mandated to report failures and non-attendance to the VA. We report a failing grade with a last date of attendance and the VA calculates the tuition that you have “earned”. The amount you have not earned is now billed to Ivy Tech and we have to return those funds. Since we had to return some, or all, of the funds the VA sent to cover your tuition and fees for the semester, you now have to pay those funds back to Ivy Tech.

You may also incur a housing debt with the VA. If there were mitigating circumstances permitting you from attending your class(es), you can appeal that with the VA. If there is a waiver approved, it does not guarantee a waiver of tuition debt to the college.  The college may still have to return unearned tuition to the VA.

When your enrollment is first submitted to the VA, we submit $0 tuition and fees.  This is done for many reasons; the main reason is so that your MHA and book money are generated prior to submitting tuition and fees to the VA.   Since Ivy Tech Community College has flat-rate tuition after you reach 12 credits, we do not bill the VA until after the second 8-week drop period.  This allows for schedule changes and financial aid to be applied appropriately.  The college initially applies a credit to your account for what we expect to receive from the VA, which allows you to receive any financial aid refund you are entitled. 

Since MHA is based upon the ZIP code where you take most of your courses, we are mandated to report each facility separately.  This means, that if you have an LA course, at a different campus location then your main campus, we have to report this to the VA in case you attend in person to receive that MHA rate.

In many cases, the VA will send us pro-rated tuition if you run out of benefits.  When we submit your enrollment to the VA and we notice that your benefits will either expire, or exhaust, we will not apply any credits to your account prior to receiving actual funds from the VA.  If you have Financial Aid available, that will go toward your balance first.  We will bill the VA after the second 8-week drop period.  Once the VA sends any funds to the college, you will then receive any funds you are entitled as a refund.

Yes, if you satisfy any of these requirements you may qualify for instate tuition. Please be sure to follow up with the enrollment center at your campus.

The following military personnel are eligible for resident status, even if the students are non-residents of Indiana:

• Active duty assigned to the state of Indiana
• Indiana National Guard
• Reservists in a branch of the US military, where the reserve unit or duty station is located in Indiana
• US military and Indiana National Guard honorably discharged veterans
• Spouses and dependent children of the above military personnel and veterans are eligible for resident status, even if the students are non-residents of Indiana, so long as they are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees/asylees, DACA, or another status eligible for out-of-state fees waived under this policy.

Students must provide proof of military status.