VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER ONLINE ORIENTATION

“The mission of the Veterans Resource Center is to provide a pipeline of information including resources, support, and advocacy for student Veterans and dependents to utilize in order to create successful leaders on campus, in the community, and Smith County.”

Table of Contents VA Contact Information UT Tyler Contact Information Veterans Resource Center Information How to use your benefits at UT Tyler Resources at UT Tyler Community Involvement Student Veterans Organization “Never Forget What We Fight For”

VA Contact Information Veterans Affairs Regional Office Information Mailing Address: P.O. Box 8888 Muskogee, Oklahoma Contact Information: Toll free number: GI-BILL-1 (888) Fax No.: Veterans Affairs online address: Verification of enrollment: Telephone No.:

The University of Texas at Tyler Contact Information Mailing Address: The University of Texas at Tyler 3900 University Blvd UC 2140 Tyler, TX UT Tyler Web page: Enrollment Services Center Phone: (903) Fax: (903) VA Certifying officials Tonya Woodrow (Post 9/11 G.I. Bill) Travis Longino (All Other Education Benefits) As President of The University of Texas at Tyler, it is my privilege to welcome veterans, military service members, and their families to this website. Thank you for your service to our country and your sacrifice in preserving our freedom. We consider it an honor to serve you, the men and women of our armed forces. Thank you, too, for choosing UT Tyler. It is an outstanding institution, and we are committed to being one of the most veteran and military friendly campuses in the UT System and in the State of Texas. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to helping you achieve success in pursuit of your academic, career and personal goals. This Veterans and Military Affairs website was designed specifically with you in mind. Its purpose is to address your unique needs as well as provide general information on our enrollment process and the many services available to you on campus and in the community. The entire UT Tyler family looks forward to seeing you on our campus soon. Rodney H. Mabry President

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER INFORMATION Location: The University Center Room 2140 (Ground Floor) Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 Monday through Friday Contact Information: Phone: (903) Fax: (903) Facebook: Coordinator of Veteran’s Affairs: Chris Cox

THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE USING VETERAN BENEFITS ADMISSION:  Apply to The University of Texas at Tyler by going to Then click on “Create your account now” if you have never used this website or “login” if you have used this website before. Then fill out all required information, submit, and wait for your acceptance letter in the mail.  Submit $40 application fee.  Submit $100 Freshman confirmation fee if you have under 30 credit hours from other colleges.  Turn in all military and college transcripts to the Enrollment Services Center. (30hrs or more and 2.0 or above G.P.A. is required to be classified as a transfer student). REGISTRATION:  Set up appointment with your academic advisor in order to set up a degree plan and to receive your signed degree plan from your academic advisor. Academic advising phone number: (903)  Register for classes through myUTTyler every semester. Tutorial link bellow. ( FINANCIAL AID:  Apply for financial aid by going to Then click on “Start A New FAFSA” if you have never used this website or “Login” if you have used this website before. Then fill out all required information and submit. We highly recommend that you do this because you could possibly get a grant on top of your Veteran Benefits. OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS:  Research other scholarships to see if you qualify for any extra help

HOW TO USE YOUR BENEFITS AT UT TYLER All VA and Hazlewood forms to be turned into the VRC STEP ONE: Applying for VA Benefits Submit one of the following applications on the GI Bill website ( depending on your educational benefit request. You may identify the specific benefit program on the application (ex: Ch. 33 Post 9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill). Form – Veterans applying for educational benefits for the first time Form – Veterans who are changing their place of training Form – Dependent of a Veteran applying for the first time Form – Dependent of a Veteran changing their place of training Form – Veterans eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation benefits

HOW TO USE YOUR BENEFITS AT UT TYLER STEP TWO: Documentation Required for all Benefit Types All students utilizing benefits at UT Tyler must submit the following: Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (mailed to you after you apply online for G.I. bill benefits) DD-214, (any copy except member-1) Degree Plan (signed by your academic advisor for VA benefits) Enrollment Certification Request Form – on-line form found on the UT Tyler Veteran’s Benefits webpage, This form must be submitted every semester you wish to use educational benefits at UT Tyler.

HOW TO USE YOUR BENEFITS AT UT TYLER STEP THREE: Additional Documentation Needed If you are a dependent, using vocational rehabilitation, or attending another college or university while going to the following documentation is needed: Dependents – a copy of a Marriage License or Birth Certificate indicating dependent status Vocational Rehabilitation - the VA Form must be submitted (an approval letter from a Vocational Rehabilitation Office will be accepted in place of the Form ) If you are also attending another college or university, you must submit a copy of your schedule from that institution to the UT Tyler Enrollment Services Center. A Parent Institution Letter will be sent to the other college or university authorizing them to certify you for those courses.

ELIGIBLITY If you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged Veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this VA-administered program. BENEFIT Provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. Full tuition and fees are paid directly to the school. Monthly housing allowance. (Full-time: $1350) Annual books and supplies stipend. ($1000) WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN  Submit Application on GI Bill website, Form to apply for the first time, Form to change place of training, at the website bellow to apply online. (  Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from VA, Mailed to you from VA after completion of Vonapp application online from above.  DD-214 From Veteran, Any copy except member-1 as indicated on bottom right of the DD-214.  Degree Plan, Signed by your academic advisor.  Complete Enrollment Certification Request Form, link bellow (  If Dual Enrollment with Other College, Copy of schedule from other institute and parent letter needed. USING POST 9/11 G.I. BILL (CH.33)

ELIGIBLITY If veteran has at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged Veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this VA-administered program. Go to ( to determine if dependent is eligible. BENEFIT Provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. Full tuition and fees are paid directly to the school. Monthly housing allowance. (Full-time: $1350) Annual books and supplies stipend. ($1000) WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN  Determine if Dependent is Eligible, Go to webpage bellow (  Submit Application on GI Bill website, Form to apply for the first time, Form to change place of training, at the website bellow to apply online. (  Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from VA, Mailed to you from VA after completion of vonapp application online from above.  Copy of VA Form e, Can be found at webpage bellow (  DD-214 From Veteran, Any copy except member-1 as indicated on bottom right of the DD-214.  Degree Plan, Signed by your academic advisor for VA benefits.  Complete Enrollment Certification Request Form, link bellow (  Proof of Dependency, tax return from veteran, birth certificate of child, or marriage license for spouse.  If Dual Enrollment with Other College, Copy of schedule from other institute and parent letter needed. USING YOUR TRANSFERRED POST 9-11 G.I. BILL (CH. 33)

WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN  Submit Application on GI Bill website, Form to apply for the first time, Form to change place of training, at the website bellow to apply online. (  Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from VA, Mailed to you from VA after completion of vonapp application online.  DD-214 From Veteran, Any copy except member-1 as indicated on bottom right of the DD-214.  Degree Plan, Signed by your academic advisor for VA benefits.  Complete Enrollment Certification Request Form, link bellow (  Verify Monthly Enrollment Status, link bellow (  Proof of Dependency if Dependent is Using Benefit, tax return from veteran, birth certificate of child, or marriage license of spouse.  If Dual Enrollment with Other College, Copy of schedule from other institute and parent letter needed. ELIGIBILITY Continuously served for three years or two years, if that is what you first enlisted for or if you entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served four years (the 2 by 4 program) and had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months. BENEFIT Eligible Service members may receive up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. Full-time without $600 buy-up: $1, Full-time with $600 buy-up: $ USING MONTGOMERY GI BILL ACTIVE DUTY (CH.30)

ELIGIBILITY Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, If you are an officer, you must have agreed to serve six years in addition to your original obligation. For some types of training, it is necessary to have a six-year commitment that begins after Sept. 30, Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT). Meet the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT. You may not use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet this requirement. Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit. You will also retain MGIB-SR eligibility if you were discharged from Selected Reserve service due to a disability that was not caused by misconduct. Your eligibility period may be extended if you are ordered to active duty. BENEFIT Eligible Service members may receive up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. Full-time: $ Monthly USING MONTGOMERY G.I. BILL SELECTED RESERVE (CH. 1606) WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN  Submit Application on GI Bill website, Form to apply for the first time, Form to change place of training, at the website bellow to apply online. (  Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from VA, Mailed to you from VA after completion of vonapp application online.  DD-214 From Veteran, Any copy except member-1 as indicated on bottom right of the DD-214.  Degree Plan, Signed by your academic advisor for VA benefits.  Complete Enrollment Certification Request Form, link bellow (  Verify Monthly Enrollment Status, link bellow (  Proof of Dependency if Dependent is Using Benefit, tax return from veteran, birth certificate of child, or marriage license of spouse.  If Dual Enrollment with Other College, Copy of schedule from other institute and parent letter needed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN  Submit Application on GI Bill website, Form to apply for the first time, Form to change place of training, at the website bellow to apply online. (  Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from VA, Mailed to you from VA after completion of vonapp application online.  DD-214 From Veteran, Any copy except member-1 as indicated on bottom right of the DD-214.  Degree Plan, Signed by your academic advisor for VA benefits.  Complete Enrollment Certification Request Form, link bellow (  Verify Monthly Enrollment Status, link bellow (  Proof of Dependency if Dependent is Using Benefit, tax return from veteran, birth certificate of child, or marriage license of spouse.  If Dual Enrollment with Other College, Copy of schedule from other institute and parent letter needed. ELIGIBILITY REAP provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the president or Congress. Certain Reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after Sept. 11, 2001, may be eligible for benefits. BENEFIT Eligible Service members may receive up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. FULL TIME STUDENT WHO HAS CONSECUTIVELY: Served Between 90 DAYS-1 YEAR: $ Served Between 1YEAR-2 YEARS: $ Served 2 YEARS OR MORE: $1, USING RESERVE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CH. 1607)

WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN  Submit Application and Send to VA Office, Form link bellow ( 5490)  Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from VA, Mailed to you from VA after completion of vonapp application (  DD-214 From Veteran, Any copy except member-1 as indicated on bottom right of the DD-214.  Degree Plan, Signed by your academic advisor for VA benefits.  Complete Enrollment Certification Request Form, link bellow (  Proof of Dependency, tax return from veteran, birth certificate of child, or marriage license of spouse.  If Dual Enrollment with Other College, Copy of schedule from other institute and parent letter needed. ELIGIBILITY The Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service- related condition. BENEFIT Eligible Service members may receive up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. FULL TIME STUDENT WHO HAS CONSECUTIVELY: Served Between 90 DAYS-1 YEAR: $ Served Between 1YEAR-2 YEARS: $ Served 2 YEARS OR MORE: $1, USING SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENT ASSISTANCE (CH. 35)

WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN  Submit Application on GI Bill website, Form to apply for the first time, Form to change place of training, at the website bellow to apply online. (  VA Form , Approval letter from vocational rehabilitation office will be accepted in place of VA Form  DD-214 From Veteran, Any copy except member-1 as indicated on bottom right of the DD-214.  Degree Plan, Signed by your academic advisor for VA benefits.  Complete Enrollment Certification Request Form, link bellow (  Proof of Dependency if Dependent is Using Benefit, tax return from veteran, birth certificate of child, or marriage license of spouse.  If Dual Enrollment with Other College, Copy of schedule from other institute and parent letter needed. ELIGIBILITY Have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%, or a memorandum rating of 20% or more from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services BENEFIT Eligible Service members may receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Full tuition and fees are paid directly to the school. Monthly housing allowance. (Full-time: $1350) Books completely paid for. USING VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (CH. 31)

WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN  HAE-APP, Hazlewood Application Packet (  Benefits letter from VA if discharged after 9/11/2001, fill out the ( to show that you have used all or are not eligible for G.I. Bill.  Hours of Hazlewood Used, Print webpage that indicates how many hours (  DD-214 From Veteran, Any copy except member-1 as indicated on bottom right of the DD-214.  Degree Plan, Signed by your academic advisor for VA benefits.  Proof of Dependency if Dependent is Using Benefit, Can be a tax return from veteran or a birth certificate of dependent. ELIGIBILITY At the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces, designated Texas as Home of Record; or entered the service in Texas; or was a Texas resident; Have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions; Served at least 181 days of active duty service (excluding training); Have no federal Veteran’s education benefits, or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits; Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas; Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), unless the college’s governing board has ruled to let Veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses; and Meet the GPA requirement of the institution's satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution's financial aid policy. (Effective fall 2014) BENEFIT The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas. This does NOT include living expenses, books, or supply fees. USING HAZLEWOOD EXEMPTION

 Coffee  Camaraderie  Video games  Place to network  Study guides: GRE, GMAT, MCAT, SAT, ACT, etc  Place for group projects  Small business center for printing, faxing, copying  In house PTSD counseling by a Veteran  Entertainment center: spades anyone?, chess, risk, dominos  Help with all campus forms: admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits  Jobs, resume building  Peer to peer tutoring and mentoring  Throwback Thursdays: free food once a month, learn about what’s available to you on and off campus

COUNSELING FOR VETERANS We have free counselors here at The University of Texas at Tyler for any student with an active student I.D. card. Our Veteran counselor, Jahn Quattlebaum, is a Veteran himself and hangs out in the Veteran Resource Center for five hours every Thursday if anyone is interested in meeting him or are interested in having a professional to talk to. Jahn makes appointments with Veterans through the University of Texas at Tyler Student Counseling Center. Many Veterans here at The University of Texas at Tyler have gone to Jahn for military or personal related issues. Every Veteran that goes to Jahn makes another appointment for the next week, “He is just that good.” Student Counseling Center Information: Website: Phone Number: (903) Counselor Information: Name: Jahn Quattlebaum

 City of Tyler’s Mayor’s Community Roundtable  Chamber of Commerce Roundtable  Education Committee of the Roundtable  VEIN-Veterans Education Institution Network, a fancy way of saying we work with other colleges and junior colleges on benefits and helping students  Work with all Veterans who may have questions about benefits or other services

VETERANS SUPPORT PAGE  City of Tyler Veteran Round  Student Veterans of  Texas Wounded  Wounded Warrior  The Green (903) , Provide support for behavioral healthcare.  Vocational Rehabilitation Representatives Demetrice Coon (903) & Melissa Parish (903)  Survivor Outreach or (903) http://  Patriot Guard

President is Chris “Topher” Stout(Navy Vet) Vice President is Christel Reilly (Army Reserve Vet) Public Affairs Officer is Trent Clark (Army Vet) What we do: a. Give back to Veterans by having fundraisers to receive money to use toward any Veteran scholarships, ideas, wants, and needs. b. Volunteer for community service not only in Tyler but in surrounding cities in order to establish a good relationship with our community and Veterans. c. Have others to talk to. No one will ever know anything that we have been through, except the people that we have served with. Talking to each other in the group will bring not only a great stress relief, but also to bring networking for future endeavors. Schedule in VRC: a. See the Veterans Resource Center for times b. Come to VRC between 8:00-17:00 if interested in joining. Benefits: a. Honor Cord for Graduation - active participation with the organization. b. Networking - help one another not only now, but in the future. c. Camaraderie – Know others from a similar background. CONTACT INFORMATION: Facebook: Blackboard: Under organization tab once a member

STUDENT MONEY MANAGEMENT MISSION: Our mission is to assist students with improving their financial literacy and to develop good financial habits during their college experience. We assist students with becoming more fiscally responsible, aware of their financial priorities, and finding success during college and after graduation. We are here to help our students create solutions for today and tomorrow. SOME THINGS THEY DO: Creating a Budget Establishing Credit and Using Credit Wisely Saving Money Paying Back Loans Ways to Protect Your Identity Managing Expenses Before, During, and After College CONTACT INFORMATION: Location: UC University Blvd. Tyler, TX Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Phone: (903) Fax: (903) Make an appointment:

Veterans Resource Center Awards The University of Texas at Tyler is a proud participant in the Tool Kit for Veteran Friendly Institutions. Please review this link for more information. "Got Your 6" is a national campaign that supports veterans in their transition into civilian life. In 2014, The University of Texas at Tyler was recognized by Military Times as #6 out of all Texas Colleges in "Best for Vets". / /Best-Vets-Colleges-2014

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“One fight. One family.” “No Veteran Left Behind”