Enrollment and Benefit Guidelines for
Students and Academic Advisors
The Department of Veterans Affairs sets strict regulations on which programs and courses are eligible for VA education benefit payments. It is the responsibility of each student—working closely with their academic advisor—to ensure that all enrolled courses apply directly toward an approved degree plan.
Your degree plan must include only the courses required to graduate in your chosen field of study.
When students meet with their academic advisors to plan the courses needed for degree completion, the plan of study should closely follow the program requirements outlined in the Wichita State University Program and Course Catalog. Each semester’s enrollment should be built in alignment with the official program structure in the WSU Catalog to ensure that all courses apply directly toward the student’s approved degree path.
WSU Military and Veteran Services can only certify courses that apply directly toward a student’s approved degree program. To ensure compliance, students must work with their academic advisors each semester to verify that all enrolled courses meet degree requirements.Students and advisors are required to use the Enrollment Certification Request Form (see Forms page) every semester to confirm that the selected coursework aligns with the student’s official program of study.
In addition to the requirement of coursework aligning with necessary degree guidelines, below are several more important things to remember in regards to enrollment and your education benefits:
• VA education benefits are paid based on your training time/rate of pursuit, and your payment may be adjusted if your enrollment does not equal a full‑time course load for the entire semester.
• For students using Chapter 33 Post‑9/11 GI Bill® benefits, WSU Military and Veteran Services will certify the net in‑state tuition and fee charges for your courses to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Any remaining tuition not covered by the VA is the student’s responsibility. State Tuition Assistance may be used alongside Chapter 33 benefits; however, any tuition‑paying resource—including tuition assistance—will be deducted from the amount the VA pays. If additional tuition‑paying resources are applied to your WSU account after your Chapter 33 certification has been submitted, it may result in a debt owed to the VA or WSU.
• Changes to your schedule—such as adding or dropping classes, enrolling in courses outside your degree plan, repeating courses, or taking classes that do not span the full semester—can affect your VA education benefits. Failure to report these changes may result in an overpayment and require repayment of funds.
• Courses may be certified for one repeat if the original grade was punitive (such as a failing grade). Courses that have been successfully completed cannot be certified again for VA purposes. Academic advisors must indicate on the Enrollment Certification Request Form when a course is being repeated and provide the reason for the repeat.
• Audited courses cannot be certified.
• Remedial courses may be certified for VA education benefits if they are required and taken in person. If a remedial course is needed, your academic advisor must provide a valid reason—such as placement exam results or test scores—on the Enrollment Certification Request Form. Please note that online remedial courses cannot be certified under VA education benefits
• WSU Military and Veteran Services is required to report all non‑punitive grades, such as W (Withdrawn), to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Reporting these grades may result in a repayment of funds from the student to the VA. If you withdrew from a course due to a mitigating circumstance—such as deployment, military transfer, or a significant medical or personal situation—please contact our office. With appropriate documentation, we may be able to report mitigating circumstances to the VA on your behalf.
•WSU Military and Veteran Services is required to report all grades of I (Incomplete) to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Students have one year to complete the coursework and receive a final letter grade; failure to do so may result in repayment to the VA. If you receive an Incomplete in a course, please contact WSU Military and Veteran Services once the final grade is posted so we can ensure the VA is properly notified
• The WSU Military and Veteran Services is required to report academic probation, dismissal, and graduation to the VA.
If you have questions regarding the guidelines for benefit-eligible enrollment, please contact the WSU Military & Veteran Services in the Shocker Success Center 318; by phone at (316) 978-3856; or by email to Veterans.Services@wichita.edu.