Welcome to Texas Woman’s University (TWU). The TWU Veterans Program Office is located in the Registrar’s Office (ADM Room 128). Our job is to assist students with their VA Educational Benefits, to ensure all necessary documents are submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and to certify enrollment in degree credit hours.

This information packet is provided by the TWU Veterans Program to answer common questions asked by Veteran students. VA regulations periodically change and in the event of conflicting information the VA’s regulations will supersede the information provided by this packet.

 Since you are responsible for the receipt of your VA Educational Benefits, it is important that you understand your duties and responsibilities as a veteran student while attending Texas Woman’s University. The TWU Veterans Program acts as a liaison between the student and the VA while operating under VA federal guidelines. The VA has the ultimate authority in determining your eligibility for VA Educational benefits. If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact the VA at 1-888-442-4551.

It will take the VA approximately six to eight weeks, from the first day of class, to process your application and certify your enrollment. If your application is incomplete or additional documents are required your first assistance check will be delayed.

Advance Pay
Texas Woman’s University participates in the advance payment program. In order to utilizes this service you must contact the TWU Veterans Program BEFORE you register. Failure to notify the TWU Veterans Program before registering can result in the denial of this service.

Certification
The main responsibility of the TWU Veterans Program is to certify enrollment for veteran students. Certification is the formal process of notifying the VA of a student’s enrollment for educational benefits. You must submit a completed Veterans Intent to Register Form to the TWU Veterans Program for each semester enrolled at TWU.

Degree Plan
A degree plan is an official document prepared in the office of your Academic Dean. It lists all required courses and departmental requirements for a particular degree.

VA regulations require that students receiving VA Educational Benefits select a degree and make satisfactory progress toward the completion of that degree. The student is responsible for obtaining a degree plan from the college of their major and submitting a copy to the TWU Veterans Program.

All VA education benefits recipients must submit a degree plan to the TWU Veterans Program within TWO academic terms, (summer terms are collectively considered one term). VA Educational Benefits will not be awarded after two terms unless your current degree plan is on file.

According to VA regulations, students can only enroll for courses listed on the degree plan. Therefore, students are advised to keep a copy of this document and refer to it prior to registration. If you have any doubts or concerns about a course, contact the TWU Veterans Program.

Change of Major/Program
If you decide to change your major or program you must complete a Change of Major form and submit a new degree plan to the TWU Veterans Program in order to receive future VA educational benefits.

Adds, Drops, Withdrawal
The TWU Veterans Program is required to report any changes in enrollment to the VA; therefore, you must notify the TWU Veterans Program Office immediately if you add, drop, or withdraw from any classes.

Students may be required to pay back portions of their benefits if they drop a course, withdraw, or receive a non punitive grade. It is the student’s responsibility to verify information certified to the VA and repay any overpayment.

Concurrent Enrollment
If you are enrolled at two or more schools in the same semester, you may apply as a concurrent student and receive benefits for the total combined hours enrolled.
If TWU is your parent institution we must have a copy of your paid tuition and fee receipt with the listing of the courses you are enrolled in at the supplemental school. Once received by the TWU Veterans Program, we will prepare a Parent Institution Letter stating which courses will transfer and apply toward your degree plan at TWU.

Break Pay
If you are continuously enrolled at TWU and have pre-registered, you should receive payment for the break period between semesters. Please note that receiving break pay will reduce your overall entitlement. If you do not want to receive Break Pay, you must notify the TWU Veterans Program BEFORE you pre-register. 

GI Bill break pay is automatically paid to students who qualify for the benefit at the rate of the ending date of the term preceding the break. TWU does not have any authority regarding VA payments; The Department of Veterans Affairs determines if students are eligible for break pay.

General eligibility requirement for VA Break pay:
The break must be less than 56 days and the term before or after the break cannot be shorter than the break period.
Students cannot be enrolled less than 1/2 time, withdraw from the preceding semester, or be on active duty.
Students cannot exhaust their remaining entitlement through break pay.

General guideline:
If the break is more than 56 days and/or your account information has changed you will not receive break pay.

Repeat or Duplication
If a student fails a course or receives a grade below departmental requirements, then they may repeat the same course and receive VA educational benefits. All other duplications can NOT be certified.