Students may only receive VA Benefits for classes that are required for their program of study. If a student is enrolled in a class that does not meet for the entire semester, he or she will not receive benefits for that class when it is not in session.
In order to receive full-time VA Benefits for fall or spring semester, students need to be enrolled in at least 12 credits. Students who are enrolled in 9 to 11 credits are considered to be 3/4 time. Students who are enrolled in 6 to 8 credits are considered to be half-time. If students are taking less than 6 credits, students will only be reimbursed for tuition expenses. In order to receive full-time VA Benefits for summer semester students need to be enrolled in at least 6 credits. Students who are enrolled in 5 to 3 credits are considered to be half-time.
Students receiving VA benefits through Chapter 30, Chapter 1606 or Chapter 1607 must verify their attendance each month. Students can verify their enrollment by calling 1-877-823-2378 or by using the online WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment) system at the following link: https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.cfm.
When attendance is verified, a payment is generated for the previous month. Students should verify their attendance on the last day of the month or the first day of the following month to assure their payment is processed in a timely manner.
If students decide that they want to change their program of study, they need to complete VA Form 22-1995 if they are using Chapter 30, 1606, or 1607. If they are using Chapter 35, they need to complete VA Form 22-5495. These forms are available at the CSI Office of Admissions and Records from Carol Carlile or click here to submit online. Students need to supply Carol Carlile with a hard copy of the form. A student also needs to change his or her major with the CSI Office of Admissions and Records.
Students need to notify Carol Carlile, CSI’s Veterans Certifying Official, if they change their name, phone number, and/or address. Students also need to notify the CSI Office of Admissions and Records.
Students can repeat and receive VA Benefits for courses that they have failed or courses in which they need a higher grade to graduate (this includes prerequisite courses that require a "C" letter grade or higher). Students may not receive VA Benefits for courses that they have already passed and a higher grade is not required to graduate.
If a student withdraws from courses he or she is receiving VA Benefits for, those benefits may be reduced effective the date the withdrawal occurs. A student must notify Carol Carlile, CSI’s Veterans Certifying Offical, when they drop or add a course.
Courses that are audited (AU) are not eligible for VA educational benefits.
If a student receives an incomplete (I) grade in a course, he or she has one year to complete the course. If after one year the course is not completed, the Department of Veterans Affairs will be notified and an overpayment may exist.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will only be notified of a failing grade (F) if the student stopped attending the class or if the student did not complete course assignments (as reported by the instructor).
Students who are receiving VA educational benefits through Chapters 30, 35 and 1606 may be able to receive an advanced payment for the first partial month and the second full month of benefits. Students who would like to receive an advanced payment need to notify Carol Carlile, CSI's Veterans Certifying Official, no earlier than 120 days, but no later than 60 days before the start of the semester.
Students who are receiving VA educational benefits must supply the CSI Office of Admissions and Records with all their military transcripts. Students must also supply official transcripts from other colleges they have attended. For information on how to acquire military transcripts, contact Carol Carlile, CSI’s Veterans Certifying Official.