School Certifying Official Corner

Students Encouraged to Certify Summer Enrollment Early to Ensure Timely VA Benefits

Starting 1 April 2026: UCF MVSC is reminding all military-connected students to certify their summer enrollment as early as possible to avoid delays in receiving VA education benefits.

With the summer term approaching, timely certification is essential to ensure housing allowances and tuition payments are processed without interruption. Students utilizing VA education benefits must submit their enrollment requests promptly to allow for accurate and efficient certification.

Key reminders for students:

• Submit your certification request for summer courses as soon as you register
• Verify that your degree program and course selections align with VA requirements
• Monitor your student email for important updates or requests for additional information
• Reach out to your School Certifying Official with any questions or concerns

Failure to certify enrollment in a timely manner may result in delayed monthly housing allowance payments or disruptions in tuition coverage.

Students can submit certification requests through Certify My Benefits or by contacting the Office of Military and Veteran Success Center ([email protected]) or 407-823-2707.  We are also open Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm for walk-in customer service.  

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ROSEN COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Your On-Campus Resource Team: The Military & Veteran Success Center (MVSC) at University of Central Florida is proud to announce the opening of a new satellite office at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

The satellite office will provide military-connected students with greater access to resources, peer mentorship, and engagement opportunities while expanding the reach of the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success across the university’s campuses. By establishing a presence at Rosen College, the MVSC aims to better support student veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military family members pursuing hospitality and tourism degrees.

MVSC Ambassadors serve as peer leaders who help connect fellow military-connected students to academic support, VA education benefit guidance, campus services, and social engagement opportunities. The Rosen College satellite office will also host outreach events, information sessions, and community-building activities designed to enhance the student experience.

MONTHLY VERIFICATION OF SEMESTER ENROLLMENT

As required by Department of Veteran Affairs Education Benefits, you are required to verify your enrollment for the current semester monthly, prior to any stipend payments being released.  You may complete this online if you’re using any of these benefits:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
• Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
• Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)

You will be asked to verify these 2 details about your enrollment:

• Your credit hours or clock hours
• The start and end dates of your enrollment for the month

Ways to verify your enrollment information:

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.

By Email: if you choose not to receive text messages or you do not use texting, Department of Veteran Affairs will email you instead to verify your enrollment each month. Department of Veteran Affairs will send a message to the email address they have in their records for you. If you need to update your email address 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.

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GI Bill Tutoring Benefit

One benefit they sometimes miss is the tutoring benefit. If a student is having trouble in a required subject and needs a tutor, they can be reimbursed by the GI Bill for up to $100 a month and a maximum of $1,200, as long as they’re studying 51% or more full time.

How do I get this benefit?

• Your course instructor (or teacher) at your school must agree that you need a tutor and write a letter on your behalf. The instructor should send the letter to your school’s certifying official. The certifying official will add a copy to your VA student file.
• If your school approves your need for a tutor, it will assign you a tutor and confirm the tutor’s hourly pay.
• You, your tutor, or your school’s certifying official must fill out an Application for Individualized Tutorial Assistance (VA Form 22-1990t). All of you must sign the form. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, your instructor must also sign section 18 of this form. You can submit this form either monthly or after you’ve completed your tutoring.
  Get VA Form 22-1990t to download
• The form must be signed and dated on or after the date of the last certified tutoring session you want to be paid back for (item 12b on the form).

https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/tutor-assistance/?postLogin=true

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IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID DATES AND DEADLINES

SUMMER 2026 SEMESTER:

• Session A: 
  • Classes Begin:  May 13, 2026
  • Add/Drop Deadline:  May 19, 2026
  • Withdrawal Deadline:  June 10, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes:  June 23, 2026
  • Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete June 23, 2026
  • VA/Third Party Deferral Payment Deadline July 31, 2026
  • Commencement:  31 Jul – 1 Aug 26
• Session B: 
  • Classes Begin:  June 24, 2026
  • Add/Drop Deadline:  June 30, 2026
  • Withdrawal Deadline:  July 17, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes:  July 31, 2026
  • Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete July 31, 2026
  • VA/Third Party Deferral Payment Deadline July 31, 2026
  • Commencement:  31 Jul – 1 Aug 26
• Session C: 
  • Classes Begin:  May 13, 2026
  • Add/Drop Deadline:  May 19, 2026
  • Withdrawal Deadline:  July 8, 2026
  • Day of Classes:  July 31, 2026
  • Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete July 31, 2026
  • VA/Third Party Deferral Payment Deadline July 31, 2026
  • Commencement:  31 Jul – 1 Aug 26
• Session D: 
  • Classes Begin:  May 13, 2026
  • Add/Drop Deadline:  May 19, 2026
  • Withdrawal Deadline:  June 19, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes:  July 14, 2026
  • Classes End; Last Day to Remove Incomplete July 14, 2026
  • VA/Third Party Deferral Payment Deadline July 31, 2026
  • Commencement:  31 Jul – 1 Aug 26

Please visit the UCF Academic Calendar for updated university dates and deadlines