In honor of all those who have served this Veterans Day I would like to say a special thank you to all military Veterans in our AU community. We honor your service and dedication to your country and community. It is an absolute honor and privilege to be able to help you use the education benefits you have earned through your service to pursue your degree at American University.
Thank you.
-Alicia Marsh, Associate Director, Veterans Services

Inside this Month’s Issue:

• Section 1 - Announcements: Account Balances, scheduling appointments, Fall 2022 commencement, Registration Readiness, and more!
• Section 2 – Let’s Talk About Registration Readiness: Q&A with your Veterans Services Team
• Section 3 – Calendar & Veterans Day Spotlight: Check out these upcoming events, our monthly Spotlight, and a special message to our Veterans from the Veterans Services team!
• Section 4 - AU Veterans Spotlight: Meet Bryan Gordon, Student Veteran and new member to our VA Work Study team!

Announcements

Make sure to read News You Can Use Volumes 1 through 14 for other important announcements!

Have you received a “STOP” on your Eagle Service student account?

Please be advised that the Veterans Services Team is working to lift financial restrictions on student accounts that are pending receipt of VA benefit payments which will pay your account in full. We understand the complexity of this concern, as many students are preparing to register for the Spring 2022 semester or Term 1 2022. Scroll down to the article below “Let’s Talk About Registration Readiness” for more information!

Commencement: Students who are serving on active duty, joining the Armed Forces, or authorized to wear military uniforms who have received permission from AU Commencement may wear formal dress uniforms in lieu of rental regalia. Since tickets will not be distributed to students who do not purchase regalia and their cap and gown, you must notify the commencement team in order to qualify for commencement ceremony tickets and a parking pass.

Note* Veterans Cord Distribution: This year, the red, white, and blue Veterans cord were distributed at the Cord and Stole Distribution Fair held at the Mary Graydon Center on October 26, 2022. If you are in the process of joining the Armed Forces, are a current Service Member, or a Veteran, you are eligible to receive and wear a Veterans cord for commencement! If you missed distribution, make sure to send an emails to veterans@american.edu and we will provide guidance on when and where you can pick up a cord.

Do you want to meet with a member of the Veterans Services staff in person? Schedule an appointment today!

To schedule an in-person, telephone or virtual appointment with the Veterans Services team, you can visit ourYou Can Book Me calendar. Due to the dynamics of our hybrid work schedule, we are only accepting appointments that are booked ahead of time.

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Let’s Talk About Registration Readiness: Q&A with Ben Schreiner and the American University Veterans Services Team

1. What is registration readiness?
   Registration readiness is ensuring that a student is in good standing both academically and financially so that they can register for courses on their assigned registration date. For students using VA education benefits, this means submitting your Certificate of Eligibility, Request for Certification form and Yellow Ribbon application (if applicable) at the beginning of the preceding academic semester or term, so that VA education payments are dispersed in a timely manner. For any amount due that is not covered by VA education payments, it is important to pay this amount or form an alternative plan to pay the balance, i.e. financial aid and/or a university payment plan.
2. I was charged for health insurance but didn’t know about the waiver process. Why wasn’t I notified?
   It is not part of the American University Veterans Services office protocol to identify and notify students who do not elect to waive their health insurance. However, our office does send out an email reminder at the beginning of the Academic Year in addition to posting reminders in both the Announcements section of our newsletter and on our social media pages. You will also receive multiple emails from our AU Central team regarding waiving health insurance at the start of each academic year.
3. I just registered for classes. What else do I need to do if I am using VA benefits?
   For new students, there are two steps you need to take. The first is to submit your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to our office by sending it to veterans@american.edu. Once we verify your eligibility, we will give you access to the Request for Certification form. While you only need to submit your COE once, you do need to submit a new RFC for each new semester or term for which you are enrolled. For existing students, you just need to submit your RFC. Please be advised that we only need one RFC per semester/term. If you make a change to your schedule, do not submit a new RFC. Instead, send an email to veterans@american.edu noting the schedule changes. If you are eligible for AU’s Yellow Ribbon Program, a one-time application is required within the GI Bill® year you would like to use Yellow Ribbon.
4. I registered for 12 credits. Is that enough to qualify for VA benefits? Is there a credit limit?
   Yes. For undergraduate students, 12 credit hours is considered full-time status. For graduate students, 9 credit hours is considered full-time status (4 credit hours in the summer). For our Law students, 12 credit hours is considered full-time (6 credit hours in the summer) and our Term students must be enrolled 6 credit hours per term. While there is not a set credit limit, there is a cap to the amount of VA benefit payments that a student is eligible for depending on their benefit program (Chapter 33, Chapter 31, etc.) as well as a Yellow Ribbon cap. Please refer to our knowledge base to find more information concerning payment of VA benefits.
5. Is there anything else I need to do to receive the yellow ribbon program funding?
   Yes. To apply for Yellow Ribbon Program funding, you must submit the Yellow Ribbon Questionnaire by the end of the GI Bill® year in which you would like to use funding. You will then receive a letter via email from the Veterans Services team confirming your approval as a Yellow Ribbon program participant.
6. I keep getting emails about my balance that is due. Should I be worried?
   Yes and no. There is a difference between a “Stop” and a “True Stop” concerning financial restrictions on student accounts. A “Stop” can be removed once our office confirms that your VA benefit payment will cover the cost of your Tuition and Fees that are overdue. A “True Stop” cannot be lifted by our office, since we would anticipate that VA benefit payments will not cover the remaining balance on your account. Additionally, our office tracks and works to remove “Stops” at least 48 hours prior to registration for student accounts that are anticipating payment from the VA.

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November 2022 Calendar

Don’t miss these important deadlines and upcoming events!

November, 2022: November is Military Family Month!

November 1, 2022: AU’s Veterans Alumni Network presents a Roundtable Discussion with President Burwell. The webinar will be held virtually at 6:30-7:30 PM. Register here!

November 10, 2022: Marine Corps Birthday

November 11, 2022: American University Veterans Day Observance; Starts at 11:30 AM on the Quad and will be followed by a reception and lunch held at Washington College of Law.

November 23-27, 2022: Thanksgiving holiday. No classes will be held. American University Veterans Services Office will be open on Wednesday November 23, 2022. Our office will be closed on Thursday and Friday. We will resume regular office hours on Monday, November 28, 2022.

November 24, 2022: Thanksgiving Day

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AU Veteran Spotlight

Justine Lee

Justine Lee is a current undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and is a new member of the VA Work Study team! Before starting her educational career at American University, Justine spent the majority of her life moving around as a military child. She lived in the United States for 4 years before moving to Germany for the next 10 years of her life. She later moved back to the States to Colorado, which she now calls home. Justine is excited about her time at American University and is looking forward to taking advantage of as many opportunities as possible in D.C.!

“Justine has been a welcomed addition to our VA Work Study team at AU Veterans Services. She brings innovative ideas, a consistent positive attitude, and is always pushing the bar! AU Veterans Services appreciates all the hard work and talent you’ve brought to the team. We are grateful to have someone like Justine on our team!”
- Dymeah Casey; Assistant Director Veterans Services

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