Tips for completing your Fall 2025 Certification Request in VA Works

Fall registration season is officially here!!

Starting with fall classes, your student records and processes will be in Workday Student, not UA Connect. If you have not watched the how-to videos yet, we highly recommend doing this prior to your registration date. It is not the most intuitive platform but the videos are helpful.

Once you have officially registered for classes, we highly recommend completing your VA Works Certification Request. As we did this year, we will be processing these in the order they are received.

And to clarify, that means the order in which we receive them without mistakes or issues. Many of you experienced a delay in your processing because we either had to manually correct your cert request on your behalf OR we had to send it back to you for correction.

Below you will find a list of the MOST FREQUENT MISTAKES AND ISSUES. If you double check these things, it will not only speed up the timeline in which you receive your benefits, but it will help everyone get theirs faster! Even if you think you did it correctly, double check. Majority of people made at least one of these mistakes.

1. The Term
   • When you start a new request, the very first question it will ask is which term the request is for. If you have a traditional full semester January to May class, you are most likely choosing 2025 Fall Full Session. If you have an 8weeks class or intercession, make sure you pay attention. There will be a drop down for other terms if you don't see yours there. They are in date order so your term may not be at the top of the list.
     • For grad students with mini or irregular terms, if you do not see your specific term with the correct dates, email vaworks@uark.edu as we will likely have to build it for you.
   • If you choose the wrong term, we cannot edit this. We will have to delete your request and you will have to start over.
   • You will submit a new form for EACH term. So if you have full semester classes and an 8W1 class, you will complete the process twice.
2. Course ID vs Subject/Course Code
   • GREAT NEWS! The Course ID or CRN does not exist in Workday Student. Leave this blank.
   • At the bottom of this email, you will find pictures showing you each field and where to find it in your Workday class list.
   • The subject is the 4-letter code abbreviating the class followed but the course code which is always 5 numbers (this is the one that used to be 4 numbers prior to Fall 24). Typically when referring to a class you will hear these said together. ISYS 11203, BIOL 10103, ENGL 10103.
   • The section number will always be a 3 number combo, ex. 001, 019, 903
   • Do not enter non-credit courses like SI or drills. In Workday, drills are called discussions.
3. Major and Minor
   • The VA will only pay for classes for 1 approved major + 1 approved minor or 2 approved majors in any given term. If you have more than that, you will need to choose which two you are certifying for this semester. Don't even list the third. That way we don't have to reach out to you and ask which two you want to use.
     • Also remember your classes must be required for your major or minor or we cannot certify them. If you are in doubt, please contact your academic advisor and verify with them. You may need to remind them you are using VA education benefits as VA requirements are sometimes different than university requirements. If your advisor has questions, they can reach out to our office for clarification.
     • The major or minor you enter on your CR form must match what is in
4. College
   • This is NOT University of Arkansas. This is the smaller entity within the UofA where your major is housed.
   • Type the 4 or 5 letter abbreviation for your college as indicated:
     • AFLS= Bumpers
     • ARCH= Architecture
     • ARSC= Fulbright
     • WCOB= Business
     • COEHP= Education and health professions
     • ENGR= Engineering
     • GRAD= Graduate school (do not worry about listing which college your grad major is in. We just need GRAD)
     • LAW= Law school
     • AGLAW= Ag law

For all other tips, please reference the full Guide that is attached to this email. It is much more in-depth and step-by-step but if you check the 4 things listed above, we will solve many of the time-consuming issues!

After you submit, you will get a confirmation email to fill out a HogSync form with questions about additional funding and projected graduation. You only need to fill this out once, so if you did it in the fall, you are good to go! Just ignore that.
 

Timing

For some context about the process, we do certify requests in the order they are received. Once we receive the request, the campus process is a multi-step process that can take 2-4 weeks depending on where you fall in the queue and the time of the semester. Once we send to the VA, it can be another 2-4 weeks depending on their timeline. Unfortunately, once we send it off, we are not privy to that information. You will get an email when we certify you. We recommend waiting 1-2 days after that and then you can call the VA Education Hotline to get an update on your payment amounts and the timeline for those payments.

• If you are using Ch 33, remember you are certified TWICE. The first time is sent to the VA and will trigger your book stipend and housing allowance. Then after the 11th day of classes, we will certify you again for your tuition and fees. This one is also sent to the Treasurer's office to put an estimated deferred payment on your student account so you do not get late fees while we wait on the VA payment.

In the meantime, if you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to our office.

vmsc@uark.edu or 479-575-8742

Examples of the Course ID vs Subject/Course Code:

What you see in VA Works