FAQ

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for certifying your attendance to the VA. The office has a School Certifying Official (SCO) available to assist you with inquiries regarding your benefits certification. Students can call 410-455-2500 to schedule an appointment or ask any GI Bill-related questions via an RT ticket.

The VA takes between 6-9 weeks to process your certification once the school files it electronically.

Once the Office of the Registrar certifies your semester to the VA the Bursar’s Office will receive a copy of the certification and hold your bill for tuition and fees pending payment by the VA. You will not be charged late fees.

The SCO updates the VA after the drop/add period and runs a report on a regular basis to reflect any changes to a student’s schedule that should be reported to the VA.

Yes, for each semester that you want reported to the VA for payment, you must complete the Semester Certification Request form.

If you change your benefits from Chapter 30 to 33 you must stop by the Office of the Registrar and give the Certifying Official a copy of the VA Letter of Eligibility for the new Chapter. This letter is sent to the student approving the change in Chapter. Please be advised that you cannot change Chapters after being certified. Once you are certified under one chapter, that chapter remains for the given semester.

Yes. If you wish to change your major at UMBC you must submit a Change of Major Form to the Registrar’s Office. The VA Certifying Official will use the major that is declared in our records system to report to the VA.

You may stay undeclared for two semesters. After two semesters the VA requires you to choose a major.

All Chapter 30, 33, and 1606 students must report their attendance using the WAVE system at the end of every month during the semester. Did you report on WAVE on time?

Yes, this and other forms for veterans can be found on the Registrar’s Forms page.

Not necessarily. Persons with the following status shall be accorded the benefits of in-state status for the period in which they hold such status:

1. An active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in Maryland resides in Maryland or is domiciled in Maryland, or the spouse or a Financially Dependent child of such an active duty member. Spouses and children who qualify for exemptions under this provision will retain in-state status for tuition purposes as long as they are continuously enrolled, regardless of whether the active duty member’s station assignment, residence, or domicile remains in Maryland.
2. A veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who provides documentation that he or she was honorably discharged and currently resides or is domiciled in Maryland.
3. A veteran who lives in Maryland and was discharged from a period of at least 90 days of service in the active military, naval, or air service less than three years before the date of the veteran’s enrollment and is pursuing a course of education with educational assistance under the Montgomery G.I. Bill (38 U.S.C. §3001) or Post-9/11 G.I. Bill (38 U.S.C. §3301). A veteran so described will continue to retain in-state status if the veteran is enrolled prior to the expiration of the three-year period following discharge, is using educational benefits under either chapter 30 or chapter 33, of title 38, United States Code, and remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same school.
4. Anyone who lives in Maryland, and:
   1. Is using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. §3319) and enrolls within three years of the transferor’s discharge or release from a period of at least 90 days of service in the active military, naval or air service; or
   2. Is using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. §3319) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed services who is serving on active duty; or
   3. Is using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b) (9)).

An individual as described in D(1) will continue to retain in-state status if the individual is enrolled prior to the expiration of the three-year period following the veteran’s discharge, is using educational benefits under chapter 33, of title 38, United States Code, and remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same school.

UMBC actively supports our veterans and their families by proudly participating in the Veterans Administration Yellow Ribbon Program. UMBC’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program provides additional funding to a non-resident, 100% eligible Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients who are not on active duty. To be eligible for award consideration, students must have a VA Certificate of Eligibility and a UMBC Semester Certification Form on file in the Registrar’s Office.

Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis; a maximum of five (5) participants (four undergrads and one graduate) are provided up to $500 per semester, which is matched by the VA (for a total benefit of up to $1000 per semester). Yellow Ribbon funding is only available for the fall and spring semesters at UMBC. To apply for the UMBC Yellow Ribbon Program submit a request.

1. Please type “Yellow Ribbon Program” in the subject box.
2. In the message portion, please state your request to be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
3. Please Note: Semester Certification Form & Certificate of Eligibility must be turned in prior to submitting a request for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Requests must be made during the registration period for the upcoming semester. Requesting participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program through this process does not guarantee funding. A waitlist will be kept each semester until all funding has been awarded.

If you have questions about this or other veterans programs and services, please email vacertifying@umbc.edu.

You must notify the Registrar’s Office immediately to withdraw and contact the VA Certifying Official to alert them that you will need to stop the use of your VA benefits due to official orders for mobilization.

Ensure your professors, department, and advisors are aware of the situation. You may be able to complete some courses online.

To re-enroll, you will need to register for classes again and complete a Semester Certification Form requesting the use of your benefits. You will also need to submit a new Certificate of Eligibility to the VA Certifying Official.

Students with completed UMBC coursework, as degree-seeking undergraduates, who have interrupted continuous registration for two regular semesters due to military service obligations must apply for readmission, following the instructions here.

They may feel free to reach out to Lori Smith-Watson, Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation or via email at ljsmith@umbc.edu if they have questions or need assistance.