,Welcome to VA University!
(text-colour:transparent)[(set: $call1 to (a:)) (set: $branch to (a:)) (set: $inventory to (a:)) (set: $GIB to (a:)) (set: $VCR to (a:))]
You got into your school and program of choice. You have just finished working with your advisor to register for your classes. Before you get too into the semester, you want to tell someone.
Who do you want to call?
You call [[Mom->Call Family]] or [[Dad->Call Family]] or [[your partner->Call Family]] or call your buddy from your time in the...
[[Army->Call Army Buddy]] or [[Navy->Call Navy Buddy]] or [[Marines->Call Corps Buddy]] or [[Coast Guard->Call CGuard Buddy]] or [[Air Force->Call Air Force Buddy]] or [[Space Force->Call Space Force Buddy]].
Note: US Armed Services listed above are in the order they were established. This does not imply any preferences on the part of the game designer.
"Hey Sweetie! I transferred some of my months of VA benefits to you for use for school. I’m not sure how it works on the school side of things. I would talk to your school if I were you."
//Very cool! Free money is always welcome!// you think.
Next you call:
[[Admissions]] or [[Your Advisor]] or
[[Veterans Services]] or [[Housing]] or
[[Dining Services]] or [[Financial Aid]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Admissions. This is Nate. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Nate. I just learned that I had some VA benefits transferred to me.]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Advising. This is Stephanie. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Stephanie. I just learned that I had some VA benefits transferred to me.]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Veterans Services. This is Tim. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Tim. I just learned that I had some VA benefits transferred to me.]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Housing. This is Jed. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Jed. I just learned that I had some VA benefits transferred to me.]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Dining Services. This is Tobey. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Tobey. I just learned that I had some VA benefits transferred to me.]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Financial Aid. This is Manuel. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Manuel. I just learned that I had some VA benefits transferred to me.]]"That sounds cool, but I don't know anything about that. Let me transfer you to ..."
[[Admissions]] or [[Financial Aid]] or [[Veterans Services]] "Great! I'm new, so let me transfer you to ..."
[[Financial Aid]] or [[Your Advisor]] or [[Veterans Services]] "That sounds cool, but I don't know anything about that. Let me transfer you to ..."
[[Admissions]] or [[Financial Aid]] or [[Veterans Services]] "Great! Since you may have more going on, who would you like to talk with next?"
[[Financial Aid]]
[[Veterans Services]]
[[Stephanie's Suggestion->SCO]]"Hello! You have reached the School Certifying Official for VA Education Benefits. This is Katherine. How can I help?"
"Hi, Katherine. I just learned that I had some VA benefits transferred to me."
"Gotcha. Have you applied to activate you VA Education benefits on VA's website?"
"No," you answer. "I just found out, but my family might have already done that."
"Okay. No worries; I can tell you the overall process. Don't worry about furiously taking notes about what I'm about to tell you because I'll send you a follow-up email with this same information."
"That would be helpful."
"Absolutely! Minimize the typos for websites, right?"
"Oh, yeah. For sure!" you respond.
"Okay. First, you have to apply for benefits on the VA's website or they will definitely not pay anything. Then, you have to tell the school that you want to use your benefits through our Veteran's Certification Request (aka the VCR). VA doesn't tell us who has benefits until after the fact, so this step is really important. Then, School Certifying Officials (S-C-Os) certify, or verify and submit, your class enrollment to the VA for the semester. The VA processes and checks to see what benefits you have and they start to pay out, but that can take weeks or months, especially the first time you use benefits. Only the VA can determine who has benefits and what they will pay, but after they do their process, you should receive an email or a letter in the mail that tells you what benefits (if any) you are entitled to. The school needs a copy of that when you get it. And then the process starts again with the VCR for the next semester you want to use benefits."
"I'm not gonna lie," you say. "That was a lot."
"No worries. Check in as often as you need to," Katherine tells you. "Are you ready to get you started?"
[[Listen to How to Apply]] "Great! I'm not the right person to talk to about that, but I know who is. When you're ready to talk about filling out your FAFSA, be sure to call me back."
[[What's a FAFSA?]] or [[Let Manuel Transfer You->FA2SCO]]"Great question. It's the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and we recommend it for all students. If you search FAFSA.gov, your web browser will take you right to the application."
(link-goto:"Are you ready to be transferred to the person who can help you with VA Education Benefits?","SCO")"Very cool! Have you already applied for benefits on VA's website?"
[[I don't know.->Not Sure If Applied]]
or
[[Yes->Has Applied]]
or
[[No->Has Not Applied]]"Totally fair. Sometimes you hear about having benefits available, but the VA doesn't tell you a whole lot about what to do next. And the VA doesn't tell the school whether you even have benefits until after you're already using them."
[[You're kidding, right?]] or [[I'm not surprised.]]"Very nice! If this is your first time using benefits, it might take a couple of months before you receive your Certificate of Eligibility, but our SCOs won't let that slow you down. They will need to know that you want to use benefits, and they'll need your certification request each semester."
[[Why will the school need a certification request?->Why Assume Yes]] or
[[Fill out certification request->VCR Assume Yes]]"No worries. Let's get you started."
[[Listen to How to Apply]] "Nope. Not kidding. The VA is currently not set up to tell schools about all of the folks who might choose to use benefits in any given semester. Don't worry though. Let's walk through how to apply to get you started."
[[Listen to How to Apply]]"Thanks for understanding. Let's get you started with the first step."
[[Listen to How to Apply]] After the staff member walks you through how to apply, waiting patiently as you go through the screens on the VA webpage...
[[You have applied->Just Applied]]The form asks for your name, school ID number, school email, major, advisor's name, and some of it autofilled.
//Sweet//, you think to yourself. //If I have to fill out a form, at least this one is not complicated.//
From the form:
"Would you like for SCOs to certify all of your classes to the VA?"
[[Yes->Certify Everything]] or No"Because the school can't assume that you have benefits or that you necessarily want to use them right now. Your benefits are like a bank account. The school shouldn't charge that account without your permission."
[[Fill out certification request]] "Very nice! Since this is your first time using benefits, it might take a couple of months before you receive your Certificate of Eligibility, but our SCOs won't let that slow you down. They will need to know that you want to use benefits, and the school will need your certification request each semester."
[[Why will the school need a certification request?]] or
[[Fill out certification request]]They anticipate your next question, saying, "As soon as you click [[Submit->Submit VCR]], the form will go to the SCOs, and we'll process your request as soon as we can. You won't stay in the queue for very long, and if there is a problem, someone will reach out to you to let you know what's wrong and what your options are. Go ahead and [[Submit->Submit VCR]] that now."Okay. You just clicked Submit. "What should I do while I wait?" you ask.
"Great question. You should reach out to your advisor and Financial Aid to see what else you can tap into, and you should watch your email."
Next you ...
[[check your email]] You call your buddy from your time in the Army.
"Hey hey! How've you been?" they say. You tell them about how you were just accepted into your school of choice, and you're about to go back to school.
"That's awesome, Joe! Same here. Have you gotten any emails from the VA lately?"
Whoops. You haven't checked your email. You'll do that as soon as you get off this call. Better wrap it up. Back in the barracks, you were the one who was a step ahead. You agree to check in after a couple weeks to see how the other is doing.
"Sounds like a plan. Later!" (Silence)
Better [[check your email->buddy check email]].You call your buddy from your time in the Navy.
"Hey! How've you been?" they say. You tell them about how you were just accepted into your school of choice, and you're about to go back to school.
"That's awesome, Chief! Same here. Have you gotten any emails from the VA lately?"
Whoops. You haven't checked your email. You'll do that as soon as you get off this call. Better wrap it up. Back on the boat, you were the one who was a step ahead. You agree to check in after a couple weeks to see how the other is doing.
"Sounds like a plan. Anchors aweigh!" (Silence)
Better [[check your email->buddy check email]].You call your buddy from your time in the Marine Corps.
"Errr! How've you been?" they say. You tell them about how you were just accepted into your school of choice, and you're about to go back to school.
"That's awesome, Jarhead! Same here. Have you gotten any emails from the VA lately?"
Whoops. You haven't checked your email. You'll do that as soon as you get off this call. Better wrap it up. Back in the barracks, you were the one who was a step ahead. You agree to check in after a couple weeks to see how the other is doing.
"Sounds like a plan. Semper Fi!" (Silence)
Better [[check your email->buddy check email]].You call your buddy from your time in the Coast Guard.
"Hey! How've you been?" they say. You tell them about how you were just accepted into your school of choice, and you're about to go back to school.
"That's awesome, Coastie! Same here. Have you gotten any emails from the VA lately?"
Whoops. You haven't checked your email. You'll do that as soon as you get off this call. Better wrap it up. Back on the boat, you were the one who was a step ahead. You agree to check in after a couple weeks to see how the other is doing.
"Sounds like a plan. Stay ready!" (Silence)
Better [[check your email->buddy check email]].You call your buddy from your time in the Air Force.
"Hey there! How've you been?" they say. You tell them about how you were just accepted into your school of choice, and you're about to go back to school.
"That's awesome! Same here. Have you gotten any emails from the VA lately?"
Whoops. You haven't checked your email. You'll do that as soon as you get off this call. Better wrap it up. Back in the barracks, you were the one who was a step ahead. You agree to check in after a couple weeks to see how the other is doing.
"Sounds like a plan. Aim high!" (Silence)
Better [[check your email->buddy check email]].You call your buddy from your time in the Space Force.
"Hey there! How've you been? It feels like only yesterday we switched to Space Force, but I'm still not used to being out already," they say. You agree that if only that UAP hadn't... um...your mind suddenly goes blank on the memory.
You tell them about how you were just accepted into your school of choice, and you're about to go back to school.
"Yeah, um. Not talking about that either. I was relieved when the VA said that was enough to keep my feet on the ground. Have you gotten any emails from the VA lately?"
Whoops. You haven't checked your email. You'll do that as soon as you get off this call. Better wrap it up. Back in the barracks, you were the one who was a step ahead. You agree to check in after a couple weeks to see how the other is doing.
"Sounds like a plan. Keep your head up." (Silence)
Better [[check your email->buddy check email]].You have a few unread messages. You should read those.
[[Read first unread email.->Card A Applied]]
"Because the school can't assume that you have benefits or that you necessarily want to use them right now. Your benefits are like a bank account. The school shouldn't charge that account without your permission."
[[Fill out certification request->VCR Assume Yes]] The form asks for your name, school ID number, school email, major, advisor's name, and some of it autofilled.
//Sweet//, you think to yourself. //If I have to fill out a form, at least this one is not complicated.//
From the form:
"Would you like for SCOs to certify all of your classes to the VA?"
[[Yes->Certify Everything Assume Yes]] or NoTim anticipates your next question, saying, "As soon as you click [[Submit->Submit VCR Assume Yes]], the form will go to the SCOs, and they'll process your request as soon as they can. You won't stay in their queue for very long, and if there is a problem, they will reach out to you to let you know what's wrong and what your options are. Go ahead and [[Submit->Submit VCR Assume Yes]] that now."Okay. You just clicked Submit. "Hey Tim," you ask. "What should I do while I wait?"
"Great question. You should check your email."
Next you ...
[[check your email->Check Email Assume Yes]] You have a few unread messages. You should read those.
[[Read first unread email.->Vet Email]]
From: VA.Education(text-style:"blurrier")[@va.gov]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Application Confirmation
We have received your application for benefits. VA will look over your records and send a letter with your education benefits decision in 6-8 weeks.
That will be awesome for your paper trail, but you still have too many unread meessages that look like they might be important. You open [[next email->Email 2 Applied V Card]]From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Honorable Discharge
Thank you for your service. Attached is your DD-214, which will be used to determine your VA Education benefits eligibility. Apply at va.gov to see what you qualify for.
//Very cool! Free money is always welcome. What else do I need to know//, you wonder.
Next you call:
[[Admissions->Vet Admissions]] or [[Your Advisor->Vet Advisor]] or
[[Veterans Services->Vet Cottage]] or [[Housing->Vet Housing]] or
[[Dining Services->Vet Dining]] or [[Financial Aid->Vet Financial Aid]]From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: VA Cert Request
Thank you for submitting your Veteran's Certification Request (VCR). If you haven’t already applied for benefits (or updated benefits if you’re a transfer student), you’ll need to do that before VA will pay out.
You think to yourself, //Good thing the last email was from the VA saying they received your application for benefits. Hmm... // [[Open next email->Email 3 Applied M Card]]From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Student Account is Due
Your student bill is due on the drop date. Please call us if you have questions about your statement. Financial Aid may also be available to you.
//The VCR and VA application were just submitted. It might take a few weeks to get this processed,// you think to yourself. //Since I'm almost finished reading new email, I can wait a moment before calling offices for an update.//
Ping! You just got a new email.
[[Read the Next Email->Email 4 Applied X Card]]
or
[[Read the Email You Just Received->Email 4 Applied U Card]]From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: CertID Number
This is to let you know that your VCR has been evaluated, and we have certified your enrollment to the VA. SCOs do not determine eligibility of VA benefits. Certifying your enrollment does not guarantee benefits. If you have questions, please call the VA and give them your CertID number: ''12345678''.
//Wow. These SCOs are fast! Does this mean I'm good to go? Maybe the last email will give me a clue.//
[[Open Final Email->Email 5 Applied S Card]]
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Welcome to School!
Are you military affiliated? Come join us for a Back to School Military Social at the Veterans Cottage the week before the drop deadline.
Come socialize! See you there!
//Will they be able to help me figure out who to talk to next?//
You start a list of options for your next step.
[[Start writing your options->Applied Options AVMXS]]
There are some places you could go to try to ask questions, and there are other places where it will be easier to call.
Places to Go...
[[Go to Veterans Cottage for the Social->Social Applied AVMXS]]
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMXS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMXS]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMXS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMXS]]
[[Call the VA->VA Applied with CertID]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] As you walk up to the Veterans Cottage, you notice a porch with a grill. The smell of hamburgers wafts to you. You see some people around the couple of people working at the grill, some of them standing, others sitting on patio furniture. Lights and sounds are also coming from inside the cottage.
[[Go over to the grill->Grill AVMXS]]
[[Go inside the cottage->Cottage AVMXS]]
"This is Manuel in Financial Aid. How can I help?"
You tell him that someone just told you that you can fill out something called a FAFSA.
"Did you speak with Katherine? Are you using VA benefits?"
You agree that you are.
"Fantastic. Yes, you can use both at the same time. Have you filled out a FAFSA?"
[[What's a FAFSA?->FAFSA AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] "You have reached the VA. How can I help?"
You tell the customer service person that you got a statement from your school, and you want to make sure your benefits will cover the charges.
"Your school hasn't submitted anything. Ask them to take care of that."
You're shocked! You have an email saying your school SCOs have certified your enrollment.
[[Contact your SCO->SCO Applied AVMXS]]
[[Go to Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMXS]]
[[Give VA your CertID number->CertID Applied AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] "Hello! Thank you for calling your School Certifying Officials. This is Katherine speaking. How can I help?"
You ask, "Why did I get an email with a CertID number saying my classes were certified to the VA, but then I called the VA and they said you haven't sent it?"
"Sure, I can help answer that. Could I have your name and student ID number?"
You tell her your name and school ID number.
"You said that we emailed you a CertID number. I'm guessing that you probably didn't tell that number to the VA, right?"
"Right. He seemed to be in a hurry to get me off the phone."
"Hmm. That's what I figured. Their standard answer is to say that the school needs to submit paperwork."
[[Go to the Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMXS]]
[[Ask SCO what to do next->SCO Advice AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] "Could you check again?" you ask. "I have a CertID number from my school's SCO. Would that help?"
"Sure. Next time, lead with that, okay? I can see if that number gets us anywhere."
You hear some keystrokes as you recite your CertID number to the VA person.
"Okay. I found that. It looks like you applied for benefits recently, and your school has, in fact, submitted your enrollment. VA is still evaluating your application, and you should have an email or a letter in 6-8 weeks."
You thank them and hang up. You still don't know whether your bill will be paid, but they're clearly not the right place to check right now.
[[Check your options->Applied Options AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] "So, what should I do next?" you ask.
"A few things. You can call Student Accounts to see what charges, if any we're not expecting the VA to cover. I also hear that the Veterans Cottage is having a Back to School social. It would be good to connect with other veterans on campus to start your campus connections, to share what you know, to make connections, and to send people my way when benefits aren't working they way they thought they would. Studies show that you're more likely to finish your degree if you make those connections, so I encourage you to go if you can."
"So go socialize and talk to Student Accounts about my bill?" you ask.
"You've got it. Until classes start and the VA gets back to you about your benefits, those are the only VA-related things for you to work on. If I hear otherwise, I will always reach out to your student email," Katherine tells you. "One other thing: you can use VA benefits and federal financial aid from the FAFSA at the same time. If you want to see what those options are, fill out the FAFSA to see what your options are. You can always choose not to accept aid, so you have nothing to lose."
[[Ask to be transferred to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMXS]]
[[Ask to be transferred to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMXS]]
[[Go to Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] "Great question. It's the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and we recommend it for all students. If you search FAFSA.gov, your web browser will take you right to the application."
You ask, "If I fill that out, do I have to accept the aid if I change my mind?"
"No," Manuel answers. "You can always choose not to accept it, but it opens other doors, like being able to qualify for student work study jobs on campus."
"That's good to know. Thanks!"
[[Go to Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] As you walk up to the grill, you hear a familiar voice. Someone walking out of the cottage with a large platter calls to one of the people at the grill. "Hey Tim! Are you ready to switch plates?"
A man with brown shoulder-length hair looks up, and says, "Sure! I've got a full plate. Better take this inside where the buns are. Let folks know they don't have to wait to eat."
"Will do!" and they duck back into the building with a plate piled with burgers and dogs.
Looking around, you imagine that most of these folks have seen military service.
A couple of women pass you on the walk. One of them turns back to you and says, "Coming in? We're going to eat first, but if you have questions about VA Ed benefits, this'll be the place to be." Someone salutes them from the patio furniture. One of the women does a crap job of a salute and calls back, "Hey Colton! I'll be up in a sec."
"What's with the salutes?" you ask.
"Ah, don't mind him. He's one of my VA work studies, and he knows I didn't serve. I'm Katherine, one of the SCOs here."
"Oh, Katherine!" you remember, "I'm trying to figure out who to talk to if I want to know if there's anything else to do. What can you tell me?"
"Well, without looking at my notes," she says, gesturing in front of her, you assume at about where her computer would've been if she were at her desk, "If you have applied for benefits and submitted your VCR, your next possible steps would be to apply for FAFSA to see what else you could get and to call Student Accounts. They have access to our calculations, and they know more than SCOs do about when certain charges hit the accounts, so they're a really good resource to know what charges will be for VA and which you pay out of pocket."
"Thanks. That helps," you say.
"Awesome. If you have other questions, let us know. Otherwise, I think the burgers are inside." She smiles and walks to the patio where the other woman already went.
[[Go to the patio->Patio2 AVMXS]]
[[Go inside for a burger->Cottage AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] You help yourself to a burger, chips, and a soda and find a place on a couch. Some of the people here seem older than you are, but some seem fresh out of highschool. You wonder who you'll meet here.
...
What's your next step?
Places to Go...
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMXS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMXSend]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMXS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMXSend]]
[[Call the VA->VA Applied with CertIDend]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] You decide to enjoy some time on the patio, getting to know some of your fellow vets before going inside.
...
What's your next step?
Places to Go...
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMXS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMXSend]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMXS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMXSend]]
[[Call the VA->VA Applied with CertIDend]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] You decide to speak with Student Accounts. Kathi looks up your account, and she sees that you have a room in student housing, a meal plan, and a parking permit. She tells you that the VA never pays for those things, but that you might get a stipend from the VA to help you with those costs. "While we wait to see exactly how much the VA is paying," she says, "you should pay those parts. Don't set up a payment plan though. That will cost you money, and payment plans aren't set up to work with 3rd party billing like the VA. Just call me when you're ready."
Thank you for playing. I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of this interactive story.
This was the best answer for your scenario's next steps.
If you haven't gone to the Veterans Cottage to socialize, there is still time. [[Go to Cottage->Social Applied AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] You decide to speak with Financial Aid. Michael asks whether you have filled out the FAFSA yet. You haven't, but he walks you through how to do that and lets you know what information you'll need to speed up the process when you're ready. "And call me if you get stuck."
Thank you for playing. I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of this interactive story.
This was a good answer for your scenario's next steps, but you still have one other step that you should complete.
If you haven't gone to the Veterans Cottage to socialize, there is still time. [[Go to Cottage->Social Applied AVMXS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] You decide to speak with the VA. "Your school hasn't submitted anything."
//Is that their first answer?// you wonder silently.
Thank you for playing. I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of this interactive story.
This option won't tell you anything new for several weeks. You still have one other step that you should complete. There's a back arrow in the top-left of this screen, if you want to use it.
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Class Not Required
After evaluating your VCR, we determined that one of your classes is not required per the VA. We can’t certify that class to the VA for payment without a course adjustment.
//Wow. These SCOs are fast! What does this mean? There is clearly a problem. Who should I talk to?// you wonder. //Maybe the answer is in one of the emails I haven't read yet.//
[[Open Final Email->Email 5 Applied US Card]]
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Welcome to School!
Are you military affiliated? Come join us for a Back to School Military Social at the Veterans Cottage the week before the drop deadline.
Come socialize! See you there!
//Will they be able to help me figure out who to talk to next?//
You start a list of options for your next step.
[[Start writing your options->Applied Options AVMUS]]
There are some places you could go to try to ask questions, and there are other places where it will be easier to call.
Places to Go...
[[Go to Veterans Cottage for the Social->Social Applied AVMUS]]
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMUS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMUS]]
[[Go to Academic Advisor->Advisor Applied AVMUS]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMUS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMUS]]
[[Go to Academic Advisor->Advisor Applied AVMUS]]
[[Call the VA->VA Applied Course Not Required]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] As you walk up to the Veterans Cottage, you notice a porch with a grill. The smell of hamburgers wafts to you. You see some people around the couple of people working at the grill, some of them standing, others sitting on patio furniture. Lights and sounds are also coming from inside the cottage.
[[Go over to the grill->Grill AVMUS]]
[[Go inside the cottage->Cottage AVMUS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] You decide to speak with Student Accounts. Kathi looks up your account, and she sees that you have a room in student housing, a meal plan, and a parking permit. She tells you that the VA never pays for those things, but that you might get a stipend from the VA to help you with those costs. "While we wait to see exactly how much the VA is paying," she says, "you should pay those parts. Don't set up a payment plan though. That will cost you money, and payment plans aren't set up to work with 3rd party billing like the VA. More importantly, though, I see in the notes that you're in a class that the SCOs can't certify to the VA. VA says it's not required. Just call me when you're ready."
"Yeah," you say, "The email said something about a course adjustment?"
"That's right. You'll need to talk with your advisor about that, or you'll need to change your schedule. Otherwise, you'll be expected to pay for that class out of pocket."
Thank you for playing. I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of this interactive story.
This was the best answer for your scenario's next steps, but there's still another step you should complete for the best overall situation.
If you haven't gone to the Veterans Cottage to socialize, there is still time. [[Go to Cottage->Social Applied AVMUS]] "This is Manuel in Financial Aid. How can I help?"
You tell him that someone just told you that you can fill out something called a FAFSA.
"Did you speak with Katherine? Are you using VA benefits?"
You agree that you are.
"Fantastic. Yes, you can use both at the same time. Have you filled out a FAFSA?"
[[What's a FAFSA?->FAFSA AVMUS]]
[[Go to Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMUS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Advising. This is Stephanie. How can I help?"
"Hi, Stephanie," you reply, "I just received an email saying that a class wasn't required."
"Are you using VA Education benefits?" she asks.
"I am. What should I do?"
"One sec. Let me look up your classes."
//Tappety, tap tap tap//
"Still there?"
"Yes," you answer.
"Okay, I see that one of the courses that is listed under electives could substitute for a course in your major. Since you're using benefits, I just need to submit a Course Adjustment."
"Is there anything I need to do for that?"
"Not yet, I'll submit that form to my supervisor, and after they approve it, it will be applied to your degree audit. When you see it applied on your record, please let the SCOs know that it's ready to re-evaluate."
[[Go to the Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMUS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] "You have reached the VA. How can I help?"
You tell the customer service person that you got a statement from your school, and you want to make sure your benefits will cover the charges. You also have an email saying that a course isn't required. "Have you ever heard of that?"
"I have. That would mean that your school might not have submitted anything at this point, or they might have submitted only your required courses. Ask them what you need to do to take care of that."
[[Contact your SCO->SCO Applied AVMUS]]
[[Go to Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMUS]]
As you walk up to the grill, you hear a familiar voice. Someone walking out of the cottage with a large platter calls to one of the people at the grill. "Hey Tim! Are you ready to switch plates?"
A man with brown shoulder-length hair looks up, and says, "Sure! I've got a full plate. Better take this inside where the buns are. Let folks know they don't have to wait to eat."
"Will do!" and they duck back into the building with a plate piled with burgers and dogs.
Looking around, you imagine that most of these folks have seen military service.
A couple of women pass you on the walk. One of them turns back to you and says, "Coming in? We're going to eat first, but if you have questions about VA Ed benefits, this'll be the place to be." Someone salutes them from the patio furniture. One of the women does a crap job of a salute and calls back, "Hey Colton! I'll be up in a sec."
"What's with the salutes?" you ask.
"Ah, don't mind him. He's one of my VA work studies, and he knows I didn't serve. I'm Katherine, one of the SCOs here."
"Oh, Katherine!" you remember, "I'm trying to figure out who to talk to if I want to know if there's anything else to do. What can you tell me?"
"Well, without looking at my notes," she says, gesturing in front of her, you assume at about where her computer would've been if she were at her desk, "If you have applied for benefits and submitted your VCR, your next possible steps would be to apply for FAFSA to see what else you could get and to call Student Accounts. They have access to our calculations, and they know more than SCOs do about when certain charges hit the accounts, so they're a really good resource to know what charges will be for VA and which you pay out of pocket."
"That's good to know, but what about course adjustments?" you ask.
"Those come to us from your academic advisor. If you haven't talked with them yet, you should do that next. Sometimes they can't find a course that is appropriate to subsitute for your current class, and when that happens, you should ask your advisor about changing your schedule. They're the best folks to give advice about which class to take."
"Thanks. That helps," you say.
"Great. If you have other questions, let us know. Otherwise, I think the burgers are inside." She smiles and walks to the patio where the other woman already went.
[[Go to the patio->Patio2 AVMUS]]
[[Go inside for a burger->Cottage AVMUS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] You help yourself to a burger, chips, and a soda and find a place on a couch. Some of the people here seem older than you are, but some seem fresh out of highschool. You wonder who you'll meet here.
...
What's your next step?
Places to Go...
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMUS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMUSend]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMUS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMUSend]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] "Great question. It's the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and we recommend it for all students. If you search FAFSA.gov, your web browser will take you right to the application."
You ask, "If I fill that out, do I have to accept the aid if I change my mind?"
"No," Manuel answers. "You can always choose not to accept it, but it opens other doors, like being able to qualify for student work study jobs on campus."
"That's good to know. Thanks!"
[[Go to Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMUS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] "Hello! You have reached the School Certifying Official for VA Education Benefits. This is Katherine. How can I help?"
"Ah, yes," you say. "I received an email saying that a course wasn't required and something about a course adjustment?"
"Gotcha. Have you used VA Education benefits before?"
"No," you answer.
"Okay. No worries; I can tell you the overall process. First, you have to apply for benefits on the VA's website or they will definitely not pay anything. Then, you have to tell the school through our Veteran's Certification Request (aka the VCR). VA doesn't tell us who has benefits until after the fact, so this step is really important. Then, School Certifying Officials (S-C-Os) certify, or verify and submit, your class enrollment to the VA for the semester. The VA processes and checks to see what benefits you have and they start to pay out, but that can take weeks or months, especially the first time you use benefits. Only the VA can determine who has benefits and what they will pay, but after they do their process, you should receive an email or a letter in the mail that tells you what benefits (if any) you are entitled to. The school needs a copy of that when you get it. And then the process starts again with the VCR for the next semester you want to use benefits."
"So, what should I do next?"
"Great question," you can hear the smile in her voice. "The VA sets policies about what SCOs can approve for class certification. Only the classes that are required according to your catalog and program can be submitted to the VA. The VA also requires that we use the first class that can meet a requirement before we count a newer class for that same requirement. If you have a class that isn't required, that usually means that you have run out of electives or that your major doesn't require electives."
"Okay, so what should I take?" you ask.
"SCOs are not authorized to do academic advising, so you'll want to talk with your academic advisor about that. But I'm happy to be part of that meeting. Most advisors know that I will work to be there if I'm asked to join an advising meeting with a student."
[[Call your Advisor->Advisor Applied AVMUS]]
[[Go to the Veterans Cottage->Social Applied AVMUS]] You decide to speak with Financial Aid. Michael asks whether you have filled out the FAFSA yet. You haven't, but he walks you through how to do that and lets you know what information you'll need to speed up the process when you're ready. "And call me if you get stuck."
Thank you for playing. I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of this interactive story.
This was a good answer for your scenario's next steps, but you still have one other step that you should complete.
If you haven't gone to the Veterans Cottage to socialize, there is still time. [[Go to Cottage->Social Applied AVMUS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] You decide to enjoy some time on the patio, getting to know some of your fellow vets before going inside.
...
What's your next step?
Places to Go...
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMUS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMUSend]]
[[Go to Academic Advisor->Advisor Applied AVMUS]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied AVMUS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied AVMUSend]]
[[Call Academic Advisor->Advisor Applied AVMUS]]
[[Start Over->Welcome!]] Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Admissions. This is Nate. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Nate. I'll be using VA benefits to go to school. Who should I talk to?]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Advising. This is Stephanie. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Stephanie. I'll be using VA benefits to go to school. Who should I talk to?]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Veterans Services. This is Tim. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Tim. I'll be using VA benefits to go to school. Who should I talk to?]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Housing. This is Jed. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Jed. I'll be using VA benefits to go to school. Who should I talk to?]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Dining Services. This is Tobey. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Tobey. I'll be using VA benefits to go to school. Who should I talk to?]]Ring! Ring!
"Hello! Thank you for calling Financial Aid. This is Manuel. How can I help?"
[[Hi, Manuel. I'll be using VA benefits to go to school. Who should I talk to?]]"That sounds cool, but I don't know anything about that. Let me transfer you to ..."
[[Admissions->Vet Admissions]] or [[Financial Aid->Vet Financial Aid]] or [[Veterans Services->Vet Cottage]] "That sounds cool, but I don't know anything about that. Let me transfer you to ..."
[[Admissions->Vet Admissions]] or [[Financial Aid->Vet Financial Aid]] or [[Veterans Services->Vet Cottage]] "Great! I'm not the right person to talk to about that, but I know who is. When you're ready to talk about filling out your FAFSA, be sure to call me back."
[[What's a FAFSA?->Vet FAFSA]] or [[Let Manuel Transfer You->FA2Vet SCO]]"Great question. It's the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and we recommend it for all students. If you search FAFSA.gov, your web browser will take you right to the application."
(link-goto:"Are you ready to be transferred to the person who can help you with VA Education Benefits?","Vet SCO")"Hello! You have reached the School Certifying Official for VA Education Benefits. This is Katherine. How can I help?"
"Hi, Katherine. I'll be using VA benefits to go to school."
"Gotcha. Have you applied to activate you VA Education benefits on VA's website?"
"No," you answer. "But I think my base took care of it. They said I'd have it."
"Okay. No worries; I can tell you the overall process, so we can make sure you're not missing anything. I've never heard of a base taking care of it or of the VA just automatically doing anything for a veteran. Don't worry about furiously taking notes about what I'm about to tell you because I'll send you a follow-up email with this same information."
"That would be helpful," you say. "I'm kinda intimidated."
"It's what I'm here for." (She pauses before continuing.)
"Okay. First, you have to apply for benefits on the VA's website or they will definitely not pay anything. Then, you have to tell the school that you want to use your benefits through our Veteran's Certification Request (aka the VCR). VA doesn't tell us who has benefits until after the fact, so this step is really important. Then, School Certifying Officials (S-C-Os) certify, or verify and submit, your class enrollment to the VA for the semester. The VA processes and checks to see what benefits you have and they start to pay out, but that can take weeks or months, especially the first time you use benefits. Only the VA can determine who has benefits and what they will pay, but after they do their process, you should receive an email or a letter in the mail that tells you what benefits (if any) you are entitled to. The school needs a copy of that when you get it. And then the process starts again with the VCR for the next semester you want to use benefits."
"I'm not gonna lie," you say. "That was a lot."
"No worries. Check in as often as you need to," Katherine tells you. "Are you ready to get you started?"
[[Listen to How to Apply->Vet Apply]] Hold Music...
Click the screen when you've had enough music... (t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"dissolve")(click-goto:?page,"SCO")Hold Music...
Click the screen when you've had enough music... (t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"dissolve")(click-goto:?page,"Vet SCO")"Great! I'm new, so let me transfer you to ..."
[[Financial Aid->Vet Financial Aid]] or [[Your Advisor->Vet Advisor]] or [[Veterans Services->Vet Cottage]] "Great! Since you may have more going on, who would you like to talk with next?"
[[Financial Aid->Vet Financial Aid]]
[[Veterans Services->Vet Cottage]]
[[Stephanie's Suggestion->Vet SCO]]"Very cool! Have you already applied for benefits on VA's website?"
[[I don't know.->Vet Not Sure If Applied]]
or
[[Yes->Vet Has Applied]]
or
[[No->Vet Has Not Applied]]"Totally fair. Sometimes you hear about having benefits available, but the VA doesn't tell you a whole lot about what to do next. And the VA doesn't tell the school whether you even have benefits until after you're already using them."
[[You're kidding, right?->Vet Kidding?]] or [[I'm not surprised.->Vet Not surprised]]The form asks for your name, school ID number, school email, major, advisor's name, and some of it autofilled.
//Sweet//, you think to yourself. //If I have to fill out a form, at least this one is not complicated.//
From the form:
"Would you like for SCOs to certify all of your classes to the VA?"
[[Yes->Vet Certify Everything Assume Yes]] or No"No worries. Let's get you started."
[[Listen to How to Apply->Vet Apply]] "Nope. Not kidding. The VA is currently not set up to tell schools about all of the folks who might choose to use benefits in any given semester. Don't worry though. Let's walk through how to apply to get you started."
[[Listen to How to Apply->Vet Apply]]"Thanks for understanding. Let's get you started with the first step."
[[Listen to How to Apply->Vet Apply]] After the staff member walks you through how to apply, waiting patiently as you go through the screens on the VA webpage...
[[You have applied->Vet Just Applied]]"Very nice! Since this is your first time using benefits, it might take a couple of months before you receive your Certificate of Eligibility, but our SCOs won't let that slow you down. They will need to know that you want to use benefits, and they'll need your certification request each semester."
[[Why will the school need a certification request?->Vet Why]] or
[[Fill out certification request->Vet2VCR]]"Because the school can't assume that you have benefits or that you necessarily want to use them right now. Your benefits are like a bank account. The school shouldn't charge that account without your permission."
[[Fill out certification request->Vet2VCR]] The form asks for your name, school ID number, school email, major, advisor's name, and some of it autofilled.
//Sweet//, you think to yourself. //If I have to fill out a form, at least this one is not complicated.//
From the form:
"Would you like for SCOs to certify all of your classes to the VA?"
[[Yes->Vet Certify Everything]] or NoThey anticipate your next question, saying, "As soon as you click [[Submit->Vet Submit VCR]], the form will go to the SCOs, and we'll process your request as soon as we can. You won't stay in the queue for very long, and if there is a problem, someone will reach out to you to let you know what's wrong and what your options are. Go ahead and [[Submit->Vet Submit VCR]] that now."Okay. You just clicked Submit. "What should I do while I wait?" you ask.
"Great question. You should reach out to your advisor and Financial Aid to see what else you can tap into, and you should watch your email."
Next you ...
[[check your email->Vet Email]] You have a few unread messages. You should read those.
[[Read first unread email.->Card G Applied]]Tim anticipates your next question, saying, "As soon as you click [[Submit->Vet Submit VCR Assume Yes]], the form will go to the SCOs, and they'll process your request as soon as they can. You won't stay in their queue for very long, and if there is a problem, they will reach out to you to let you know what's wrong and what your options are. Go ahead and [[Submit->Vet Submit VCR Assume Yes]] that now."Okay. You just clicked Submit. "Hey Tim," you ask. "What should I do while I wait?"
"Great question. You should check your email."
Next you ...
[[check your email->Check Your Email]] From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Honorable Discharge
Thank you for your service. Attached is your DD-214, which will be used to determine your VA Education benefits eligibility. Apply at va.gov to see what you qualify for.
//Good thing I've already worked with someone to apply on va.gov. I might have missed that line,// you think to yourself.
[[Read the next email->Email 2 Applied M Card]]From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Welcome to Student Housing!
Welcome to student housing. We hope you enjoy your stay. Please make your payments to Student Accounts for your housing responsibilities.
//Well, I'm supposed to have a housing stipend, right? I should make sure the school knows about that,// you think.
[[Read next email->Email 4 GHMV]]From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Student Account is Due
Your student bill is due on the drop date. Please call us if you have questions about your statement. Financial Aid may also be available to you.
//The VCR and VA application were just submitted. It might take a few weeks to get this processed,// you think to yourself. //Since I'm almost finished reading new email, I can wait a moment before calling offices for an update.//
Ping! You just got a new email.
[[Read the Next Email->Email 3 Applied H Card]]
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: VA Cert Request
Thank you for submitting your Veteran's Certification Request (VCR). If you haven’t already applied for benefits (or updated benefits if you’re a transfer student), you’ll need to do that before VA will pay out.
//Yep. You just did this earlier today.//
[[Last email->Email 5 GHMVS]]From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Welcome to School!
Are you military affiliated? Come join us for a Back to School Military Social at the Veterans Cottage the week before the drop deadline.
Come socialize! See you there!
//Will they be able to help me figure out who to talk to next?//
You start a list of options for your next step.
[[Start writing your options->Applied Options GHMVS]]
There are some places you could go to try to ask questions, and there are other places where it will be easier to call.
Places to Go...
[[Go to Veterans Cottage for the Social->Social Applied GHMVS]]
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied GHMVS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied GHMVS]]
[[Go to Academic Advisor->Advisor Applied GHMVS]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied GHMVS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied GHMVS]]
[[Call Housing->Housing GHMVS]]
[[Call Veterans Cottage->Cottage Applied GHMVS]]
As you walk up to the Veterans Cottage, you notice a porch with a grill. The smell of hamburgers wafts to you. You see some people around the couple of people working at the grill, some of them standing, others sitting on patio furniture. Lights and sounds are also coming from inside the cottage.
[[Go over to the grill->Grill GHMVS]]
[[Go inside the cottage->Cottage GHMVS]]
You decide to speak with Student Accounts.
"Hello, this is Kathi. How can I help?"
You tell her that you will be using VA benefits to pay for your housing, and you'd like to know how to make sure the housing stipend goes to cover that.
Kathi looks up your account, and she sees that you have a room in student housing, a meal plan, and a parking permit. She tells you that the VA never pays for those things directly, but that you might get a stipend from the VA to help you with those costs. "While we wait to see exactly how much the VA is paying," she says, "you should pay those parts. Don't set up a payment plan though. That will cost you money, and payment plans aren't set up to work with 3rd party billing like the VA. Just call me when you're ready."
Thank you for playing. I hope you have enjoyed the first installment of this interactive story.
This was the best answer for your scenario's next steps, but there's still another step you should complete for the best overall situation.
If you haven't gone to the Veterans Cottage to socialize, there is still time. [[Go to Cottage->Social Applied AVMUS]] "This is Manuel in Financial Aid. How can I help?"
You tell him that you're using VA benefits and want them applied to your housing.
"Will you take my advice?"
[[Take Manuel's Advice->Accounts Applied GHMVS]] or [[Veterans Cottage->Cottage Applied GHMVS]]"This is Stephanie in Advising. How can I help?"
You explain that you are trying to make sure that your housing is covered by your VA benefits. "Who do I talk to about that?" you ask.
"I would think that it would be either [[Student Accounts->Accounts Applied GHMVS]] or [[Veterans Cottage->Cottage Applied GHMVS]].""Hello, you have reached Student Housing. How can I help?"
You explain that you're using VA benefits for school, and you'd like to know what you need to do to get those to cover your housing costs.
"I don't know much about that," they say. "One moment while I transfer you."
[[1->Cottage Applied GHMVS]] [[2->Financial Aid Applied GHMVS]] [[3->Accounts Applied GHMVS]]"You have reached Tim in the Veterans Cottage. How can I help?"
You tell him that you got an email from Student Housing, and you want to make sure your VA benefits are set up to pay for that.
"Sure thing. You'll want to talk to [[Student Accounts->Accounts Applied GHMVS]] You have a few unread messages. You should read those.
[[Read first unread email.->check your email]]
As you walk up to the grill, you hear a familiar voice. Someone walking out of the cottage with a large platter calls to one of the people at the grill. "Hey Tim! Are you ready to switch plates?"
A man with brown shoulder-length hair looks up, and says, "Sure! I've got a full plate. Better take this inside where the buns are. Let folks know they don't have to wait to eat."
"Will do!" and they duck back into the building with a plate piled with burgers and dogs.
Looking around, you imagine that most of these folks have seen military service.
A couple of women pass you on the walk. One of them turns back to you and says, "Coming in? We're going to eat first, but if you have questions about VA Ed benefits, this'll be the place to be." Someone salutes them from the patio furniture. One of the women does a crap job of a salute and calls back, "Hey Colton! I'll be up in a sec."
"What's with the salutes?" you ask.
"Ah, don't mind him. He's one of my VA work studies, and he knows I didn't serve. I'm Katherine, one of the SCOs here."
"Oh, Katherine!" you remember, "I'm trying to figure out who to talk to if I want to know if there's anything else to do. What can you tell me?"
"Well, without looking at my notes," she says, gesturing in front of her, you assume at about where her computer would've been if she were at her desk, "If you have applied for benefits and submitted your VCR, your next possible steps would be to apply for FAFSA to see what else you could get and to call Student Accounts. They have access to our calculations, and they know more than SCOs do about when certain charges hit the accounts, so they're a really good resource to know what charges will be for VA and which you pay out of pocket."
"That's good to know, but what about student housing?" you ask.
"If you have a housing stipend from the VA, they pay you that directly. Make sure to pay the school for student housing charges. You'll want to talk with Student Accounts about that. If you haven't talked with them yet, you should do that next."
"Thanks. That helps," you say.
"Great. If you have other questions, let us know. Otherwise, I think the burgers are inside." She smiles and walks to the patio where the other woman already went.
[[Go to the patio->Patio2 GHMVS]]
[[Go inside for a burger->Cottage GHMVS]] You help yourself to a burger, chips, and a soda and find a place on a couch. Some of the people here seem older than you are, but some seem fresh out of highschool. You wonder who you'll meet here.
...
What's your next step?
Places to Go...
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied GHMVS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied GHMVS]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied GHMVS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied GHMVS]]
You decide to enjoy some time on the patio, getting to know some of your fellow vets before going inside.
...
What's your next step?
Places to Go...
[[Go to Student Accounts->Accounts Applied GHMVS]]
[[Go to Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied GHMVS]]
Places to Call...
[[Call Student Accounts->Accounts Applied GHMVS]]
[[Call Financial Aid->Financial Aid Applied GHMVS]]