UCF Military and Veterans Success Center: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is deeply committed to supporting its military and veteran students. The Military and Veterans Success Center (MVSC), formerly known as the Veterans Academic Resource Center (VARC), stands as a testament to this commitment. Designated as a center for excellence in veteran-student success, the MVSC offers a wide array of resources and services designed to assist veterans and their eligible dependents in their transition from military to student life and beyond. UCF has been recognized as a "Military Friendly School" since 2011 by G.I. Jobs Magazine, highlighting its dedication to creating a supportive environment for military-connected students.

Transitioning to Academic Life: VARC's Role

The Veterans Academic Resource Center (VARC) plays a crucial role in helping student veterans transition from military to student life. VARC serves all veteran students and eligible dependents who are using VA educational benefits to further their education. The office provides information concerning entitlements, filing claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), certifying enrollment at the University, and deferring tuition and fee payments. All veterans and eligible dependents are urged to consult VARC early in the UCF admissions process for information about veteran services.

Navigating VA Education Benefits

The MVSC provides comprehensive assistance in navigating the complexities of VA education benefits. VARC administers a variety of education benefit programs. The office offers guidance on entitlements, assists with filing claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and manages the certification of enrollment at the university. The MVSC also facilitates tuition and fee deferments, ensuring that financial concerns do not hinder academic progress.

Understanding Enrollment Verification

The Department of Veteran Affairs offers multiple ways to verify enrollment:

By Text: The Department of Veteran Affairs will send you a text message when you start your program. They will ask if you want to verify your enrollment by text monthly. If you respond “yes”, they will send you a text every month, asking you to verify your enrollment. If you need to update your phone number or if you do not wish to verify your enrollment by text any longer, call 1-888-442-4551. VA representatives are available Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.
Online through ASKVA: You may verify your enrollment through ASK.VA.GOV. In your message, be sure to include the dates of your enrollment in school or training.

Important Information Regarding Enrollment and Payments

Effective August 1, 2019, schools are not allowed to penalize or prohibit a GI Bill student from attending or participating in courses while awaiting VA payment (for up to 90 days). The law allows schools to require students to submit a COE in order to qualify for the protections listed in the law. If a student does not comply with their school’s requirement, the student is not protected and the school is allowed to charge a late fee. That late fee, which is due to the student’s failure, will be owed by the student.

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Common Questions and Answers Regarding Certification and Benefits:

When to Submit Paperwork: No. You can submit your paperwork as soon as your schedule is finalized.
Tuition and Fees Not Deferred: If you see through your myUCF account (under “Fee Invoice”) that your tuition and fees have not been deferred, yet you already certified with the UCF Veteran Services Office, it is because Financial Aid has not updated this yet. The reason is Financial Aid does not update this to the school until after the drop/add week of the semester, at which time they determine who receives deferrals.
Paperwork Processing Time: You may not have submitted your paperwork early enough to be fully processed. Generally, your paperwork is processed by the UCF VSO within 5-7 business days. If your paperwork was submitted near the beginning of the semester, please allow two weeks for the UCF VSO to process.
Address Updates: If you have, it will take some time for Veteran Affairs to process the change. If you receive your benefits by check, the check may have been sent to your old address.
Transient Students: In order to certify here with the Veteran Services Office (VSO), you need to make sure the classes you are taking at the transient school will count as credit toward your degree at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Go toFlorida Virtual Campus and complete the online Transient Student Form.
Chapter 35 Direct Deposit: Chapter 35 is the only chapter that cannot choose to receive direct deposit.
VA Claim Processing Time: Please allow 4-6 weeks for the VA to process your claim once we have submitted your paperwork.
Collecting Benefits with Chapter 33: Unfortunately, the list of benefit programs that Veteran Affairs (VA) allows you to collect along with the chapter 33 is not yet for certain.
Summer Session BAH: The credit requirements to receive Chapter 33 BAH during the Summer Sessions are the same as the Fall and Spring Semesters.
Certification Submission: The VARC will post when we will begin accepting certifications, usually 60 days before the first day of the term. You should submit your certification as soon as your schedule is finalized after that date.
Updating Address: You can update your address when you certify your hours. Every semester you wish to receive benefits.
Transfer of Entitlement (TOE): Once the TEB is completed, your dependent must go to VA Benefits. They will need to complete a 1990E Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) application form through the Veterans’ Online Application (VONAPP).
Required Forms: Your chapter will determine which forms you will need to complete or bring with you. All forms must be typed (except the checklist).

Academic Support Services

Recognizing the unique challenges that veterans may face in an academic setting, the MVSC provides a range of academic support services.

Student Academic Resource Center (SARC)

The Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) is a vital resource for all UCF students, including veterans. SARC hosts tutoring sessions. Regular, consistent, and constant participation in SARC Peer Tutoring each and every week will increase the chances of achieving academic goals for the semester. Each semester SARC provides all UCF students an opportunity to continually enhance their learning and study skills through a series of Academic Success Workshops. Topics include test preparation, time management, textbook reading, note-taking, and more. SARC offers Online Peer Assisted Learning (OPAL) sessions for selected UCF courses using Adobe Connect. OPAL sessions allow you to attend a study group with a SARC peer tutor or SI leader from anywhere, as long as you have access to a computer with internet connection.

Academic and Career Advising

The MVSC offers specialized academic and career advising tailored to the needs of student veterans. As a student veteran, you have special access to priority registration for your classes. Our Academic/Career Advisor can assist with development and implementation of your academic plans as well as support your transition to UCF. Dedicated to working with student veterans, our Academic/Career Advisor can help you find the right major, minor and even career. This includes learning how to gain professional experience in your field while you are attending UCF.

Wellbeing and Mental Health Support

The MVSC recognizes that the transition to civilian and academic life can be emotionally challenging. In collaboration with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), VARC works to ensure that your learning experience here at UCF goes as smoothly as possible, without concern for personal limitations, mental or emotional.

UCF RESTORES

UCF RESTORES is a renowned program that offers specialized treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related conditions. Their unique approach to treatment -using evidence-based exposure therapy, virtual reality technology and group treatment sessions - delivers results superior to national first-line treatment outcomes.

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Community and Engagement

The MVSC fosters a strong sense of community among student veterans, creating opportunities for engagement and peer support.

Private Study Rooms

Located inside the VARC are private study rooms available for use during VARC Hours.

CASTLE Framework

As you move forward this semester, remember that our office and the Military and Veteran Success Center are here to support you through every stage of your journey - from academic success and career readiness to wellbeing, transition, and engagement. These are all components of the new CASTLE framework we will be rolling out this Spring.

Additional Initiatives and Support

UCF is continually expanding its support for military-connected students through various initiatives.

Supply Vault for Student Veterans’ Success

Additional support will also expand the project’s Supply Vault for Students Veterans’ Success, a recently launched outreach program where student veterans receive items that will help ease their transition to higher education, like noise-canceling headphones, external hard drives, wireless keyboards, blue light eyeglasses and smart notebooks.

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Graduation Stoles

Additional funding will allow every graduating military-connected student to have a graduation stole, at no cost.

Veterans Legacy Program

To date, the project has interviewed more than 700 Florida veterans with a goal to reach 1,000 by 2026.

Short-Term Financial Assistance

University of Central Florida (UCF) Veteran Affairs Office (VSO) can qualify you for up to a $600.00 short-term advance meant for books. You can find this form by visiting Financial Aid, and clicking “Forms,” then the respective aid year in the drop-down list. When you filled out your application, there was a block for you to write in your financial information for direct deposit.

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