The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is committed to facilitate the transition of veterans from military to university life and provide continuous support to their ongoing academic success. We are available to assist veterans, guardsmen, reservists, spouses, and dependents with their military education benefits.
The Office of the University Registrar works with the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as other federal and state agencies to provided educational assistance to those who have served our country.
If you have questions regarding your VA benefits or how we can help you, please contact David E. Williams at 501-686-6499 or by email at vaservices@uams.edu or come by our office in CHP Building 2, Suite 100.
Apply for VA Education Benefits
It is recommended that all veterans review the VA Military. For comprehensive VA Education Benefits counseling, send an email inquiry, or call the VA at 1-888-442-4551. If you have questions pertaining to payment, availability of benefits, or approvals, please call the regional VA Office at 1-800-827-1000.
Standard of Operations for VA students (SOP)
Veteran and Military Services Communication & Guidance for New Students (VA Facility Code: 11811904)
UAMS follows all provisions for Service Members as provided in the Federal Student Aid Handbook and is a participant in the Principles of Excellence program. While individual college readmission policies vary, UAMS follows institution-wide guidelines for the readmission of Service members called to active duty, as outlined in UAMS Academic Affairs Policy 2.2.4 https://academicaffairs.uams.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2021/09/2.2.4-Student-or-Students-Spouse-Called-into-Military-Duty_2021.09.28.pdf
VA Chapter Benefits
Make sure to familiarize yourself with the VA Chapter of Benefits you are using. The more you know, the more you can benefit. https://www.va.gov/education/
Chapter 30 (Montgomery)
Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program)
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11)
Chapter 35 (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program)
Chapter 1606 (Montgomery Selected Reserves)
New monthly enrollment verification option for students
In March 2023, Department of Veterans Affairs introduced online verification as an additional option for Post 9/11 Chapter 33 students to verify their monthly enrollment.
VA still recommends students use text verification as the preferred option to verify their enrollment. However, this new method will allow students to verify directly online at VA.gov if they have a fully verified account through ID.me or Login.gov.
If students cannot verify through text or email, or their text or email link expires, this new option will allow students to verify directly online instead of having to call the Education Call Center.
For more information on the online verification method head to the Enrollment Verification webpage. If you have questions about creating a verified ID.me account, check out this step-by-step video.
State Scholarship for Arkansas Military Dependents (MDS)
If you are Dependents/Spouse of 100% Total and Permanent Disabled Veterans’, please click this link to determine if you are eligible for the Military Dependent Scholarship. Also, if you are a stepchild or under the veterans’ guardianships apply. https://sams.adhe.edu/Scholarship/Details/MDS . Applications open November 1st and deadline is July 1st. Any additional question can be referred to the UAMS Veteran Certifying Official.
Veterans Certification
Veterans and Military Benefits are certified on a per semester basis. Students must complete the UAMS Veteran Affairs – Student Certification and Data Form before the beginning of each semester (Fall, Spring, and/or Summer).
UAMS is required to notify the Department of Veteran Affairs of any of the changes listed below to prevent delays in receipt of benefits.
• Change of Program
• Change in Enrollment
• Term of Graduation
• Academic Probation or Dismissal
• Leave of Absence
Using Your Benefits At Another School:
If you would like to take courses at another college to meet the prerequisite(s) requirements for your degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, you may do so by having an approved Parent Letter sent from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to the school in which you wish to take classes. In order for this to happen you must contact the UAMS VA Certifying Official to have this letter sent to the other school you will be attending as well. You will need to fill out this form UAMS Parent Letter Request Form.
How does a Parent Letter affect your VA Benefits?
- Allows you to complete a class that is not offered at your primary school that term/semester.
- Allows you to stay on track for graduation.
- Allows you to count these credit hours towards full time if course is needed.
- Allows the VA to still pay benefits at both institutions.
Please contact school VA Certifying Official for more information dewilliams@uams.edu.
Veteran or Active Duty Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Programs
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences offers an Active-Duty Military Non-Resident Tuition Residency Exception and a Veteran Non-Resident Tuition Residency Exception. Each Non-Resident Tuition Exception has specific criteria. Please review each policy below.
- Active-Duty Military Non-Resident Tuition Residency Exception
- Veteran Non-Resident Tuition Residency Exception
Applicants must submit a completed Veteran and/or Active-Duty Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Application to the UAMS Office of the University Registrar.
Note: If you are a spouse or dependent of an Active-Duty Service Member still on orders please refer to the above forms as well. If you are unsure, please contact the UAMS VA Certifying Official.
UAMS VA Student Overpayment information
Student’s Using VA Benefits– Debt process for reducing hours!
When you enroll in school and take classes, you enter into an agreement with the school to pay for your classes and the associated fees. VA pays the tuition and fees to the school on your behalf when the School Certifying Official (SCO) certifies that you are enrolled in classes. By law, you are responsible for any debt incurred while receiving benefits under Post 9/11 military benefit. VA is required by law to recoup any debt.
If you decrease your training time (i.e., drop classes, withdraw, leave school, etc.) and we have already processed a payment for tuition and fees, an overpayment will occur. When the School Certifying Official (SCO) notifies VA Regional Processing Office (RPO) of a change in your enrollment, a debt is created against your UAMS account. The school will then issue a hold on your school account for tuition and fee repayment. Any remaining amount for this debt outside of tuition and fees, are the student responsibility.
- If the school refunds money directly to the VA, we will credit your benefit account any amount the school refunds.
- School will receive 2 letters when a debt to VA has been established.
- First letter will state why this debt was created and how much will be repaid back to VA.
- Second Letter from VA will be the official debt letter from Debt Management
- Student will also receive a letter stating whether BAH and book stipend is to be repaid as well. If the student has a been for any other benefit (Ch 30, Ch 35, Ch 1606) you will receive the same type of letter to repay your stipend.
- Any student using VR&E (Ch 31) will receive notification from their VA VR&E counselors.
A decrease in your credit hours could also result in changes to your housing allowance and books & supplies stipend. If VA has already issued, you a payment for the term a debt will be created on your account.
You are responsible for keeping track of your tuition and fee account balance and payments. Visit your schools’ financial office regularly to review your account, ensure the charges are correct and that payments and refunds are processed correctly, contact your SCO to ensure the certification information they send to us matches your schedule.
Please contact the Debt Management Center if you receive a debt notification from the VA. The Debt Management Center is the authoritative source of debt collection information. You can reach them at 800 827-0648 or e-mail them atdmc.ops@va.gov.
If a student has a mitigating circumstance to report if reducing hours!
If a student drops a course or withdraws from school after the drop period and receives a non-punitive grade, VA will reduce benefits effective the first day of the term unless mitigating circumstances are found. Mitigating circumstances are circumstances beyond the student’s control that prevent the student from continuing in school or that cause the student to reduce credits.
Examples are:
- An illness or injury afflicting the student during the enrollment period.
- An illness or death in the student’s immediate family.
- An unavoidable change in the student’s conditions of employment.
- An unavoidable geographical transfer resulting from the student’s employment.
- Immediate family or financial obligations beyond the control of the claimant that require him or her to suspend pursuit of the program of education to obtain employment.
- Discontinuance of the course by the school.
- Unanticipated active military service, including active duty for training.
- Unanticipated difficulties with childcare arrangements the student have made for the period during which he or she is attending classes.
When a student terminates or reduces after the drop period and a non-punitive grade is assigned, mitigating circumstances are an issue. If mitigating circumstances are needed and adequate evidence of mitigating circumstances is not received with the Notice of Change in Student Status; VA will not pay for the course or courses in question.
If the student has already been paid for the course or courses, VA will may create an overpayment (subject to the 6-credit hour exclusion) from the beginning of the term, quarter, or semester. If you know what the student’s mitigating circumstance is, concisely describe the circumstance in remarks.
Information About VA Military Benefits Overpayments and Debts
When an account has an overpayment or debt you can expect us to take the following steps to collect the debt:
- The Regional Processing Office (RPO) that processed your payment will send a letter to you and/or your school explaining the debt and amount. The letter also indicates that you will receive further communication from the Debt Management Center (DMC) Note: Make sure the address we have for you is up to date.
- Debt payments processed at RPOs are electronically transmitted to the DMC for the collection process. It generally takes 30 days for DMC to establish an account receivable in your name. Note: After you receive a debt notification letter from DMC, all payments should be sent to DMC.
- You will receive an initial debt notification letter including your rights and obligations regarding the debt. You have 30 days to contact DMC and repay the entire debt, establish a repayment plan, or request a waiver of debt. If you haven’t contacted DMC within 30 days, we will begin to offset the debt amounts from future VA Military Benefit payments. Note: If you did not contact DMC within 30 days of receiving the initial letter, additional notification letters will be sent from DMC explaining collection efforts and what will be expected.
- Credit reporting agencies are notified approximately 90 days after initial notification of the debt if appropriate arrangements are not made.
- Debt is referred to the Department of the Treasury Cross Servicing approximately 90 days after initial notification of the debt if appropriate arrangements are not made.
- Debt is referred to Department of the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) 120 days after initial notification of the debt if appropriate arrangements are not made.
If at any time during this process, you contact DMC to dispute the debt, request a waiver, or fulfill your debt obligation, the steps listed above are either suspended or amended.
Note: Student’s that do not submit a withdrawal from classes/school but chooses to stop attending class without communicating a mitigating circumstance to the UAMS VA Certifying Official or their UAMS professors for the current term it will result in discontinuance of VA Benefits for the semester on last day attended or submitted class work.
STEM students may be eligible to extend their benefits.
If you are pursuing a degree in a STEM major, and you aren’t sure your benefits will cover your tuition to complete your degree, check out the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. This scholarship is for Veterans using the Post 9/11 Chapter 33 and Fry Scholarship recipient. It can provide you with up to nine months or $30,000 of additional benefits to complete your STEM training.
Qualifications:
- Be enrolled in a qualifying STEM program.
- Still has remaining credit hours to complete for your undergraduate degree.
- Have 6 months or less of their Post 9/11 or Fry benefits left (if you apply too soon, you will be denied)
If you are interested in the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship, go to the VA webpage to find apply.
What Is Tuition Assistance?
As you are figuring out the costs of going to college as a service member, it’s important to consider using Military Tuition Assistance. This is another way for service members to pay for college and a good way to save their GI Bill benefits after they leave the military.
Tuition Assistance (TA) is a program where Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves can apply for education benefits while serving. These programs are run by the individual branches of the military, and each branch has its own rules and regulations for TA. This program may cover up to 100% of the tuition cost-per-credit hour for your education. However, there are limits to what the program covers.
Tuition Assistance pays tuition expenses for up to $250 per credit hour maxing out at $4500.
There is an annual ceiling of $4,500 per fiscal year, which is October 1st through September 30th. In addition, there is a 16-semester hour cap. Books and supplies are not funded with Tuition Assistance.
Find an in-depth explanation of what tuition assistance is here. Then depending on your branch, you’ll want to read the specific rules for Air Force, Army, Navy, USMC, Coast Guard, & National Guard/Reserve Tuition Assistance Programs.
Space Force also has its own Tuition Assistance Program. Contact your Base Education Office to learn how to apply. You can also receive TA if you are in the National Guard or the Reserve.
Tuition Assistance Top-Up (TATU)
The Top-Up program is a way for the VA to pay the difference of the costs of tuition if TA does not cover everything. To qualify, you must be eligible for VA Benefits (Chapter 30 Active-Duty or Post-9/11 Chapter 33 benefits).
The Top-Up program uses your VA Benefit to pay the difference between what TA covers and what’s left to pay. It does not pay the full course cost, but your benefits will be reduced by the amount paid. The Top-Up program may be a good option if you plan to:
- Use TATU to complete a degree program when you are serving on active duty and don’t plan to continue using your education after you leave the service.
- Or take a small number of classes with TA while on active duty. This will help you save most of your GI Bill benefits after military service to complete your educational program.
TATU options are limited to 36 months of payments. The amount equals the difference between the total cost of a college course and the amount that TA will be paid through your service branch.
Those using the Post 9/11 Chapter 33 should note the entitlement is charged based on the training time you are enrolled in.
With the Chapter 30 Active-Duty benefit, your entitlement may be charged based on the dollar amount of benefits the VA pays you. That is one month of entitlement for each payment you receive, which is equal to the full-time monthly rate for the GI Bill.
What Types of School Can You Attend?
You can go to an academic college, a technical college, a 2 or 4-year school. Distance learning may also be covered. Make sure your school is accredited and approved to receive tuition assistance funds. Click this link for additional TA and TA Top-Up information. VA Tuition Assistance, Tuition Assistance Top-Up and VA Benefits Fact Sheet.
UAMS Tuition Refund Polices
https://students.uams.edu/financial-services/tuition-and-fees/tuition-refund-policies/
UAMS Transfer Credit Policies
UAMS Academic and Professional Policies
https://academicaffairs.uams.edu/policy-search/
Financial Aid
https://students.uams.edu/financial-services/financial-aid/financial-aid-basics/
UAMS Registration Dates
https://registrar.uams.edu/registration/
Tuition and Fees
https://students.uams.edu/financial-services/tuition-and-fees/
Contacts for Financial Aid/Student Account
Bursar’s Office
Bridget Cornelious: POC
Alisha McReynolds: POC
Administration West Building
CHP 6A
4301 West Markham St., Slot 758
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-6128
Fax: (501) 686-8002
studentfinancialservices@uams.edu
Financial Aid Office
Candace Lane: POC
Alisha McReynolds: POC
Administration West Building
CHP 6A
4301 West Markham St., Slot 864
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-5451
Fax: (501) 686-8002
financialaid@uams.edu
Debt Management (and Liaison for Homeless and Foster Students)
Alisha McReynolds: POC
Administration West Building
CHP 6A
4301 West Markham St., Slot 758
Little Rock, AR 72205
https://students.uams.edu/financial-services/debt-management/
ALL students, regardless of what benefits they think they may be eligible for, are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online at studentaid.gov. This aid can be for federal grants, loans, state scholarships, and/or work study. If you have any questions about our financial aid procedures and policies, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Students applying for VA Educational Benefits for the first time must apply for education benefits online from the VA using https://www.va.gov/.
UAMS requires a copy of your DD214 or if still on Active-Duty Service Letter from you command, when submitting a Non-Resident in-state tuition waiver.
ALL students using any military or VA educational benefits here at UAMS, are REQUIRED to fill out this form UAMS Veteran Affairs – Student Certification and Data. This is required in order to begin processing your educational benefit.
All National Guard, Reservists and Active-Duty soldiers using Tuition Assistance is also, required to submit to the UAMS Veteran Service Office their (TA Approval Request). This form you will print out once your branch of service has approved your total amount of TA allowed for the classes and credit hours you have selected to have tuition paid. If you plan on using TA, you must have your request submit in the portal 1-2 weeks before the semester begins. You can contact your branch of service Education Office.
If you are in the Arkansas Army or Air National Guard, you could be eligible to use the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver (NGTW).
MSgt. Jeremy Polk
Jeremy.Polk.1@us.af.mil
(479)573-5330
Air National Guard (NGTW and TA)
SMSgt. Rachael Mills
Rachael.Mills@us.af.mil
(497)573-5205
Naomi Howard
(501)987-3418
Air Force Active Duty (TA)
Letha Vinson
letha.a.vinson.civ@army.mil
(501)212-4041
Army National Guard (TA)
Bridgette O`Connell
bridgette.c.oconnell.nfg@army.mil
(501)212-4045
(NGTW)
UAMS Disability Services
Michelle Zengulis: POC
If you would like information on applying for ADA accommodations, please go to the Disability Services website to view our process, online application, and documentation guidelines. All requests will be processed after my return. UAMS Disability Services website: https://students.uams.edu/resources/ada-disability-services/
If you would like information on reporting a Title IX incident, please go to the Title IX website to get up to date information: https://students.uams.edu/resources/title-ix/