You are here: American University Veterans Jan/Feb 2024
Contact Us
Asbury Building, Room 201-R on a map
Veterans Services 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United StatesVeterans Services News You Can Use January/February 2024, Volume 25

Inside this Month's Issue
Section 1 - Announcements: Priority Registration for Military Service Members and Veterans, Completing a Request for Certification, and more!
Section 2 – Knowledge Article of the Month: “Spring 2024 FAQs”
Announcements
Make sure to read News You Can Use Volumes 1 through 20 for other important announcements.!
- Priority Registration for Military Service Members and Veterans!
- Priority Registration for Military Service Members and Veterans (not dependents) is being offered! However, there are some steps that need to be completed first:
Non-VA Beneficiaries:
Students who are Military Service Members of the United States Armed Forces to include active-duty, reservists, national guard members, and Veterans who are non-VA beneficiaries at AU will have the option to complete a form provided through Veterans Services and attach proof of service.
Valid proof of service must be provided 30 days prior to the priority registration date in order to be eligible. Students who submit valid proof of service and are approved for priority registration only need to do so once during their academic program. We will continue to add eligible students to the form each semester/term. Students who notify AU Veterans Services of eligibility after the COB date, 30 days before priority registration, will not be eligible for priority registration adjustment for the following term.
*Acceptable proof of service includes, but is not limited to, a valid military ID card, a DD 2-14, a Veterans Healthcare ID card, a “Veteran” indicator on a valid driver’s license, and current Title 10 orders.
Please email veterans@american.edu for a copy of the form needed!
VA Beneficiaries:
VA beneficiaries will automatically be included as long as they submit their Request for Certification for the current semester/term
- It is time submit your Request for Certification!
- Did you already submit your Request for Certification to the American University Veterans Services Office? If so, then you are on track to receive your VA education benefits in a timely manner. Please be advised that final certifications for Post 9/11 GI Bill® recipients will not be processed until after the add/drop deadline. There are two places that you can see the add/drop deadline for your program or class. The first place is by looking at the university’s academic calendar. The second is the university’s “Changes in Registration” page. This is to account for any changes in enrollment that could impact your benefit payment rate. Click here for more information about our certification process!
- Are you seeing an amount due on your student account?
- Don’t Panic! If you submitted your Request for Certification for Chapter 33 (Post-9/11) or Chapter 31 (VR&E) benefits, your VA education benefits are pending approval and will be dispersed in a timely manner. Please be advised that certifications will not be processed until after the add/drop deadline. This is to account for any changes in enrollment that could impact your VA benefits eligibility. It also means that you should expect to receive your first payment around the 6th and 8th week of the semester. The VA payment will either be sent to you directly or to your student account, depending on VA education benefit type. For more information on VA education benefits, check out these helpful FAQs about different types of Veterans education benefits.
- If you are a Chapter 1606, Chapter 30, or Chapter 35 beneficiary, you need to reconcile your student bill as soon as possible. Late fees will be charged to your account if payments are not made on time. There is still time to set up a payment plan through the Student Accounts office. The deadline to set up a 3-month payment plan is February 15, 2024.
- Did you miss the Veterans’ Lounge?
- The Veterans’ Lounge is designated for all military-connected students. For access, please email veterans@american.edu from your AU email. Access to the Veterans’ Lounge is typically granted in 2-3 business days
- Still not sure how monthly enrollment verification works?
- If you have not received an opt-in text message from the VA to verify your enrollment at the end of each month, please contact the GI Bill ® hotline at: 888-442-4551 to verify that your cell phone information is on file and to opt-in to the text message monthly verification option. You can also verify your enrollment through your VA.GOV profile. Those who fail to verify their enrollment for two consecutive months will have their Monthly Housing Allowance and kicker payments put on hold. If you want to learn more, you can read the Veterans Affairs’ blog post about these changes or you can read News You Can Use Volume 6!
- Please remember, the monthly enrollment verification is not the same as the Request for Certification. The Request for Certification is a document internal to American University Veterans Services and the Monthly Enrollment Verification is a Veterans Benefits Administration requirement. Please do not send an email to our office that says “yes” or “no” after the VA texts you to verify your enrollment. You need to respond directly to the VA through text if you opted into the text option.
- Veterans Services Support Network
- The Department of Student Affairs initiated the Veterans Services Support Network (VSSN) to provide AU's military connected student population (Veterans, current Service-members, and dependents) with the necessary resources and support to achieve their educational goals. Network members will be the principal contacts for these students in their respective departments and will collaborate with one another to ensure that military connected students’ needs are being met and that problems are addressed quickly and effectively. The University recognizes the unique service and sacrifice of our military-connected community and is committed to working together to best SERVE these students through continued initiatives including the Veterans Services Support Network. Learn more about VSSN’s mission here!
- Military-Connected Student Organizations:
The American University Military-Connected Club is an official chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA), a 501(c)(3) coalition of student-veteran groups on college campuses across the globe. SVA’s parent chapter is located in Washington, DC. If you are looking for camaraderie, support, advocacy, and a deeper connection with other military-connected students, the

Connect with us on Social Media
Facebook: American University Veterans Services
Instagram: @AUveteransservices
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website: Education and Training Home (va.gov)
Spring 2024 FAQs

Q: I've completed the request for certification, but the VA has not paid tuition yet, why?
A: We certify your enrollment without tuition and fees prior to the add/drop deadline. This starts your Monthly Housing Allowance. After the add/drop deadline, final certifications with tuition and fees are sent in.
Q: It's after the add/drop deadline, the VA has still not paid, why?
A: Payments are not "instant" after the deadline. Please allow 3-6 weeks. Late payments are not uncommon. AU will not penalize you for this
Q: I've called the VA education and training helpline, and they said the funds have been paid. Why is it not showing up in my account?
A: There are a few days between the time the money is wired, cleared, and posted to your account; the payments may be in "pending" until the money posts to your account.
Q: I'm a Graduate student enrolled in a program with modular classes; why hasn't the VA paid for all classes?
A: The VA will not pay until your classes begin. If you have a class in August, then one that starts in October, your classes will not be paid until they begin.
Q: What is the GI Bill® cap for the 2023- 2024 Academic Year?
A: $27,120.05 is the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) payment rates for the 2022 Academic Year (August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024)
Q: I have a block on my account and cannot register for class because the VA has not paid. What now?
A: If the VA has not yet paid by the day your registration opens, please e-mail Veterans@american.edu
Q: I'm using VA benefits and enrolled at AU, but the VA has not yet paid tuition or BAH, why?
A: You likely have not completed the request for certification.
Q: What are the new Yellow Ribbon rates for the 2023-20234 Academic Year?
A: The new Yellow Ribbon rates can be found on our website here and differ depending on your academic program (e.g., undergraduate or graduate)
Q: Can I use my GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon?
A: Yes. But only if you are using Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits and only after your GI Bill® cap is exhausted for that semester.
Q: Which is paid first, the GI Bill® or Yellow Ribbon?
A: The GI Bill® pays first. Once that is exhausted, our office will request Yellow Ribbon funds to be paid from the VA and from the University. You will receive your YR payment in two separate increments on your student bill.
Happy Spring/Term 1 2024!

We wish all of our new & returning students a happy start to the 2024 Academic Semester!
AU's Military Appreciation Game
AU's Military Appreciation Game will take place in March 2024. More information coming soon!