Spring Semester Updates

Below you will find several updates for a variety of sub-groups of VMSC students. We know it is LONG but there is some very important info here. Please review all the headers to make sure you get the relevant information for yourself. Here is a summary of what you will find below. Click on the link to go directly to that section:

1. Spring 2026 Certification Requests - reminders and process updates
2. General Scholarship Application for Returning Students - this is due February 15. Do not forget to submit!! You all qualify for at least one so no reason not to fill it out. 
3. Certificates of Eligibility (COE) - all students using VA benefits need to have a COE uploaded to their VA Works profile (except ch 31)
4. Joint Services Transcripts (JST) - all current and former service members using VA Benefits need to have their JST or Air Force transcript (or in some cases just a DD214) on file with the Registrar's office or sign the opt out waiver with our office. 
5. Ch 33 Post 9/11 Benefits Updates
6. Ch 35 DEA/MDS Updates
7. Text Updates from the VMSC

Spring 2026 certification requests in VA Works

We are still missing a few hundred certification requests based on previous numbers. If you have not submitted, do that ASAP. Not sure if you did? Log into VA Works and click Certification Requests to see a history of all requests you have submitted. This will also show you the date of your submission and the status. 

Follow these tips to speed up your certification: 
https://hogsync.uark.edu/VMSC/blog/tips-for-completing-your-certification-request-for-spring-2026/7771/

A quick reminder of the overview of the process:

• After you submit, VMSC staff will verify you are enrolled in the classes you submitted. 
• These classes are reviewed for approval for your specific degree plan. 
  • This step typically take 2-4 week depending on where you are in the queue and the time of semester.
• If approved, they are sent to the SCO to do the certification process. 
  • If not approved, you will receive an email from vaworks@uark.edu. 
• Once certified (or CH 33 marked for dual certification), the VA processes the certification and pays out the benefit as appropriate. 
  • This step typically takes an additional 2-4 weeks depending on how quickly the VA is moving on their process. 

• The date you submitted your original request
• If we had to return your request for correction or correct it internally
• How quickly the degree plan approval process moved 
• If you were enrolled in a class that was not part of your approved degree plan
• If you have not done your monthly verification with the VA, if applicable. (This is new for ch 35. See the section below for more info.)

• If your status is Certified or Requires Dual Certification, you should call the VA Education Hotline 888-442-4551 to get more information on your payment schedule. 
• If your status is Pending, In Progress, or Submitted, you have NOT been certified yet. Your request is still in one of the steps listed above and being processed in the order we received them (or that they were corrected.) 
  • You will still get stipends/MHA, etc, at the appropriate pro-rated amount but the payment will come later than Feb 1. 
  • Ch 33 students in Pending or In Progress have already been submitted for book stipend and MHA but your tuition and fees may not have been certified yet. See section below for more ch 33 info. 
• If your status is Draft, you have NOT submitted your request or we had to send it back to you. If we sent it back, we also sent you an email to explain how to correct it. 

Once you receive the email stating your request has been certified, you can call the VA Hotline to inquire about your payment schedule. Our office cannot answer questions about timing of payments. 

General Scholarship Application

The deadline for this application for all current UARK student is February 15. 

Most of you will qualify to apply for at least one of these scholarships:
https://scholarships.uark.edu/military-students/military-scholarships.php

Many of you will qualify for something on this list:
https://studentaffairs.uark.edu/scholarships.php

Plus there are many though each college you may qualify for as well. It is ONE application for all of these. 

*NGTW students MUST have an application on file to qualify for the waiver! Expect an email from Fernando soon with more info. 

Certificates of Eligibility (COE)

All students using VA Benefits (except Ch 31) need to have a COE on file with our office. 

This is a compliance issue and we will be checking everyone's account in the coming weeks and tracking down anyone who does not have one. So help us be proactive and DOUBLE CHECK to see if your COE is attached to your profile in VA Works. Follow the insturctions in the link below. This way if you need to order another copy of your COE, you can do that now and be prepared to send it to us when we reach out. 

https://hogsync.uark.edu/VMSC/blog/certificate-of-eligibility-(coe)/7784/?back=3

Joint Services Transcript (JST)

All cuurent and former service members using VA benefits must have their JST or Air Force Transcript on file with the university. This is a compliance issue and needs to be resolved ASAP if you have not already done it. 

• In some cases if you are only getting credit for basic, you just need to send them your DD214.

Here is the link with instructions on how to request your military transcript:
https://www.va.gov/resources/how-do-i-get-college-credits-for-my-military-service/

Here is more information about how to submit it to the Registrar's Office: 
https://registrar.uark.edu/transfer-and-test-credit/submitting_your_college_transcript.php

Once received, the Registrar's Office has a process for reviewing your transcript and granting credit for prior service or classes taken at other schools. 

If you would like to OPT OUT of submitting your JST, you will need to complete a waiver form acknowledging that you are not submitting these for your academic record. Contact our office at vmsc@uark.edu to complete this waiver. 

Again, for any service member using VA benefits, you must either have your JST on file OR complete the waiver. We will be working with the Registrar's office to assess whose is missing and contact your for compliance as needed. 

Ch 33 Post 9/11 benefits updates

We are now past the 11th day of class. So in addition to continuing to pre-certfy students for your book stipend and housing allowance, we will also begin to calculate tuition and fees so we can bill the VA. 

Make sure you have paid your non-mandatory fees to avoid a late fee on your account. 

To see more info about the Ch 33 timeline, deferred/anticipated payments sent to the TO, and a list of common non-mandatory fees, please read this article: 
https://hogsync.uark.edu/VMSC/blog/ch-33-post-9-11-process-details/7750/?back=3

Ch 35 DEA Updates

• If you are using the MDS or Arkansas Heroes Scholarship for 2026-2027 and plan to utilize the housing benefit, you need to sign your housing contract with University Housing ASAP. Look for an email from Megan in October and December for more info. Or email vmsc@uark.edu if you did not receive the email and we will forward you a copy. 

• Starting in January 2026, Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) beneficiaries are required to verify their enrollment each month to receive their benefit payments. A beneficiary must verify their enrollment for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to begin processing their monthly benefit. Once verified, payment processing can take five to seven calendar days.
  
  To verify enrollment, beneficiaries have the following options available:
   

  • Text: To verify via text, beneficiaries can opt-in when they begin using their benefits to receive a text message from VA on the last day of each month to confirm their enrollment.

  • Email: If beneficiaries choose to opt out of text verification, they will receive monthly enrollment verification messages by email.

  • Online: Beneficiaries can verify their enrollment through VA’s online tool.

  • Ask VA: Beneficiaries can verify through Ask VA by sending a message with their enrollment dates.

If a beneficiary would like to change their enrollment verification method, such as to text or email, they can call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 888-442-4551, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

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