Chapter 31 benefits
Watch this video for details on how to use your Chapter 31 benefits.
The information contained in the video is also available through the links below.
How to use your Chapter 31 benefits
- Students must apply for Chapter 31 benefits on the .
- After being accepted into the VR&E program and you have signed your education plan with your VR&E counselor, you will be issued an authorization to attend the university. This authorization is typically valid for one year, and it is the student’s responsibility to renew the authorization annually with your counselor.
- Please scan and email a copy of your DD-214 member 4 to John Pratt.
- If you have any questions about VR&E or to submit documents, contact John Pratt at jlpratt@unr.edu or (775) 682-8040. His office is located in the Veteran and Military Center in the Pennington Student Achievement Center room 310.
- A monthly stipend based on your remaining entitlement. Your assigned counselor can provide specific details regarding amounts.
- Tuition and fees for all certified courses will be paid to the university directly. All Chapter 31 students who submitted their Semester Enrollment Form by the Wednesday prior to the start of the term will have their student financial account protected and will not be dropped for nonpayment. If you accrue late fees because your Semester Enrollment Form was not submitted in a timely manner, you will be responsible for those fees. We are unable to estimate when the student or the university will receive payments from VA.
- Required textbooks and miscellaneous supplies are paid for by VA through the Barnes and Noble College bookstore located in the Joe Crowley Student Union. Your counselor will provide an authorization number that is specific to the Barnes and Noble College bookstore on campus. You can provide that number to the bookstore to get your books or ask the store supervisor to look that number up in their computer. All required equipment and supplies stated on the course syllabus can be obtained at the Barnes and Noble College store. If they do not have the materials, you can work with your counselor on reimbursement for purchases from other stores. You will also receive $50 worth of miscellaneous supplies, which are obtained at the bookstore with the same authorization number.
- A University parking pass is also provided to you. Prior to picking up your pass from Parking Services, please confirm with John that your account is updated.
- Graduate students using Chapter 31 must opt out of graduate health insurance since you are provided health insurance from the VR&E program. You must complete the waiver form located on the graduate school website. Generally, the deadline to complete the waiver is the first week of term. If this is not completed by the posted date, there are no appeals and VA will not pay for it.
The most important thing you must remember is to fill out your Semester Enrollment Form (SEF) every semester that you would like to use benefits. The Semester Enrollment Form is the student’s official request to Veteran Services to process a VA educational claim.
We process claims in the order we receive the Semester Enrollment Form. To avoid possible delays in processing, please submit your form as soon as possible. It will be available 24 hours after the day you enroll in courses. Enrollment changes can be made after submission, but please be advised that this could result in a possible delay in your monthly stipend or create a tuition debt.
These are the steps to fill out the SEF:
- Log in to your MyÂ鶹ӳ» account.
- Navigate to "Tasks" from the home screen (the box with the green check mark).
- Select "Supplemental Forms" from the task list on the left hand side of the screen.
- Select the SEF corresponding to the upcoming semester.
- Answering all questions should take about 3 minutes.
- Check the box at the bottom of the SEF.
- Click "Save" and then "Submit."
You do not need to inform us of enrollment changes. We track all enrollment changes for our students once the SEF is submitted.
The VA will only approve and pay for what it considers a certifiable course.
So, what is a certifiable course? Veteran Services can only certify courses that are directly degree-applicable, or classes that fit within your degree plan. Courses for a minor can only be certified if a minor is required for your major. Dual majors are acceptable as well. Additionally, remedial or prerequisite courses are acceptable if they are needed. For example, if you need to take MATH 96 to get into MATH 126, we can certify MATH 96.
Veteran Services recommends that you maintain a strong relationship with your academic advisor to ensure all of your courses are degree applicable, but if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office.
- Tuition and fees will remain on your account until the week prior to the start of term – do not be alarmed by automated communication from the university regarding unpaid fees. As long as you have turned in your Semester Enrollment Form, prior to the Wednesday before the start of the term, your account is protected.
- Students that obtain books from the campus book store will not pay out of pocket. You are welcome to obtain your books and supplies from another vendor and pay out of pocket, but you will need to work with your VR&E counselor for reimbursement.
- VA will only pay for required books and supplies. If the book is only recommended and you feel it would be helpful, you will need to pay out of pocket.
- Graduate students using Chapter 31 must opt out of graduate health insurance.
- Veteran Services encourages all students to complete FAFSA annually for potential financial aid (Pell Grants, state access grants, etc.). Most federal financial aid applies concurrently with VA educational benefits and will not impact your VA claim. The link to the FAFSA webpage is found on the University's Financial Aid website.
Visit us at the Veterans and Military Center
The Veterans and Military Center (VMC) is a comfortable space to connect with like-minded individuals, develop camaraderie with fellow student veterans, study and grab coffee.