VA Benefits at SWAGÊÓƵ
The SWAGÊÓƵ (SWAGÊÓƵ) is strongly committed to supporting men and women who have served our nation through military service. SWAGÊÓƵ serves veterans, service members, and their families, who are accessing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits, often referred to as the GI Bill®.
Students attending SWAGÊÓƵ who are eligible to receive VA Educational Benefits may qualify for one of the following Chapters of the GI Bill® of Educational Assistance:
- CHAPTER 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
- CHAPTER 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
- CHAPTER 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®
- CHAPTER 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® FRY Scholarship
- CHAPTER 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program
- CHAPTER 1606 Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve
Student Responsibilities
Review the application and enrollment checklist for using VA Education Benefits (PDF) at SWAGÊÓƵ.
You must complete a Certification Request Form each semester you wish to use education benefits.
You are responsible for any and all charges due to late submission of the request form and any other required documentation.
Any changes in enrollment must be communicated to the School Certifying Official (SCO) immediately. You will be responsible for any and all charges owed to the VA and/or to the University as a result of these enrollment changes.
Should the VA deny payment for any reason, it is your responsibility for making payment arrangements with Student Accounts for all outstanding charges.
If you have any questions, please email uneveteranaffairs@une.edu or see our FAQ (PDF).
Forms
Science Prerequisite Courses for Health Professions
If you wish to use VA Education Benefits (CH 30, 31, 33, 35, or 1606) for the Online Science Prerequisites Courses for Health Professions, please email uneveteranaffairs@une.edu and you will be provided with the information, documentation, and steps necessary for using your benefits.
If you wish to use Federal Tuition Assistance for the Online Science Prerequisites Courses for Health Professions, please complete the . If you have any questions, please email uneveteranaffairs@une.edu. If you have an approved TA voucher include it in your email.
If you have questions about the courses visit the website at or email prehealth@une.edu.
Tools
Resources
Military Tuition Assistance
The SWAGÊÓƵ is prepared to assist our nation’s Military Service members in utilizing Military Tuition Assistance with integrity and transparency. We hope to provide a clear and informative process for potential students from our Armed Services in conformity and consistency with the Department of Defense’s policies.
Recruitment Policy Guidelines
The SWAGÊÓƵ (SWAGÊÓƵ) is committed to ensuring a no-pressure environment for any service member that may be interested in, or seeking to use, the University in their efforts to achieve a higher level of education by using their Military Tuition Assistance (TA). SWAGÊÓƵ certifying officials are aligned with the SWAGÊÓƵ Admissions Recruitment Policy which only allows for contact with those individuals who have themselves initiated contact with the University. We will not make any unsolicited calls or efforts to contact prospective students and will not engage in same-day recruiting of any service member for the purpose of securing their enrollment.
For additional information review the current University Policy on High-Pressure Recruitment Tactics.
Obtaining and Using Your Military Tuition Assistance
- Using your military tuition assistance (TA) starts with your branch of service. You need to identify and contact your Education Services Officer (ESO), which will be unique to your area of operation, and review your branch’s website for the appropriate information and guidance in obtaining TA.
- Your ESO will help you obtain a signed and approved TA form that you will email to the University’s School Certifying Official (SCO) at uneveteranaffairs@une.edu.
- Complete the to let us know that you need assistance with registration. This will require you provide your contact information, as well as the desired start date of the course(s), the specific SWAGÊÓƵ course code information, and number of of credits.
- Before your course start date, we will provide you with a voucher code valued at the government portion indicated on your approved form. This is currently $250 per credit.
You will need to register for your TA before the course start date. If you are taking Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals or Post Baccalaureate Pre-Health Certificate Program online courses you are required to pay when you register for the course.
If you are a matriculated student using TA you may have additional options to assist with the cost of your education.
The following online prerequisite courses have transferable credits, but you cannot use Federal Financial Aid to pay for them because they are not part of an accredited degree program.
Disclosure of Program Cost and Fees
The SWAGÊÓƵ strives to provide accurate and consistent information related to the costs of its academic programs, including tuition, fees and, other costs related to attendance, which can be found on the SWAGÊÓƵ website.
An inclusive list of fees associated with our programs can be found in our Academic Catalog, this information is updated annually and available on the SWAGÊÓƵ Website.
- Undergraduate Programs Tuition and Fees
- Graduate Programs Tuition and Fees
- Professional Programs Tuition and Fees
Additional inquires can be made by contacting Student Financial Services at sfs@une.edu or (207) 602-2342.
Cohort Default Rate Policy of Disclosure
It is SWAGÊÓƵ’s policy to ensure transparency and accountability by mandating the disclosure of the Cohort Default Rate (CDR) for the University when it exceeds the national average. This disclosure is intended to provide prospective and current students with important information regarding student loan repayment outcomes.
SWAGÊÓƵ is committed to providing accurate and timely information regarding the financial obligations of its students. As part of this commitment, the university will disclose its CDR when it exceeds the national average as determined by the U.S. Department of Education.
View the current Policy on Disclosure of Cohort Default Rate Statement
University Policy for the Return of TA Funds
SWAGÊÓƵ provides a Return Policy for military-connected students that is transparent and in in compliance with the Department of Defense (DoD) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), paragraph 4.f.(2)(d).
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded under the assumption that you will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When you drop or withdraw, you may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the DoD policy, SWAGÊÓƵ will return any unearned TA funds to the military service on a pro-rated basis through the 60% portion of the period for which funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon the week a student stops attending.
Eight-Week Course Withdrawal
| Withdrawal Timeframe | Refund Received |
|---|---|
| Before or during week 1 | 100% return |
| During week 2 | 80% return |
| During weeks 3–4 | 60% return |
| During week 5 | 40% return (60% completion) |
| During weeks 6–8 | 0% return |
Sixteen-Week Course Withdraw
| Withdrawal Timeframe | Refund Received |
|---|---|
| Before or during week 1 | 100% return |
| During week 2–3 | 80% return |
| During weeks 4–5 | 70% return |
| During week 6–7 | 60% return (60% completion) |
| During weeks 8–9 | 50% return |
| During week 10 | 40% return (60% completion) |
| During weeks 11–16 | 0% return |
Re-admission Policy for Service Members and Reservists using TA
The SWAGÊÓƵ strives to ensure that Service Members and Reservists are provided the opportunity for Readmission should their Service Requirements cause them to be withdrawn from their course of study. The University has aligned its Policy for Readmission with the Department of Defense (DoD) Memorandum of Understanding paragraph 3.i.(1) and Chapter 3 of Volume 2 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, which specifically the procedure for readmission under these circumstances for Service Members and Reservists.
Section 1018 of Public Law 116-315
Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, adds new requirements for educational institutions participating in the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
These new provisions became effective June 15, 2021, and will apply to Institutions of Higher Learning and Non-College Degree institutions beginning August 1, 2021. Many of the requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Principles of Excellence, currently in Executive Order 13607; however, there are requirements in addition to those embodied in the Principles of Excellence that schools must also satisfy to maintain approval for GI Bill® participation.
Schools must provide a covered individual (a student using benefits under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 1606 of title 10, U.S.C.) with a personalized shopping sheet that contains:
VA approved tool for veterans to be able to review their benefits and make decisions on choosing their benefits.
Information on pre-planning, eligibility, types of aid, and how to apply.
- Assists prospective students as they evaluate school selection.
- Provides school information to include tuition and fees, retention and graduation rates, use of financial aid, student loan default rates and features a cost calculator and school comparison tool.
- Can be used by prospective students to enter the names of up to three schools and receive detailed financial information on each one. You can also enter your financial aid offer information for schools you are considering for comparison purposes.
- Assists VA educational benefit recipients explore higher education opportunities based on their educational goals and benefit use.
Cost information is based on current rates. Direct costs may fluctuate from year to year depending on many factors. We encourage students to review new rates as they come available to calculate the overall cost of their programs.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Website at .
Yellow Ribbon
SWAGÊÓƵ is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon program.
The Yellow Ribbon program is used in conjunction with Chapter 33 Post 9/11 benefits and allows for additional funding for students who are 100% eligible for Chapter 33 Post 9/11 benefits and have met the tuition and fees cap for the academic year.
SWAGÊÓƵ will pay up to $5,000 and the VA will match SWAGÊÓƵ's payment not to exceed the total cost of tuition and fees.
In order to be eligible for Yellow Ribbon, a current Certificate of Eligibility must be submitted to the School Certifying Official.
Yellow Ribbon benefits cannot be applied until the annual tuition and fees cap has been exhausted.
Any questions regarding the Yellow Ribbon Program should be directed to the School Certifying Official.
Active duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for Yellow Ribbon.
As of August 1, 2022, active-duty service members who qualify at the 100% level or the spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member who qualifies at the 100% level may become eligible for the Yellow Ribbon.
Contact
SWAGÊÓƵ’s VA Representative is available by appointment. Please email or call to make an appointment.
(207) 602-2342
SWAGÊÓƵVeteranAffairs@une.edu
Portland Campus for the Health Sciences
104 McDougall Hall
Portland, ME 04103
Biddeford Campus
107 Decary Hall
Biddeford, ME 04005