Military and Veterans Services

Alliant International University is proud to continue to serve Veterans, Active Duty Military, Reserve, National Guard and Military Affiliated students while attending school to achieve their higher education goals.

Many of our programs are approved to use Federal and State benefits. Our Veteran Services Office is here to serve our students with certification of Federal GI Bill® benefits and connections with campus and local resources.

Alliant International University
Veteran Services Office
veteranservices@alliant.edu

Each of our locations has a primary Point of Contact (POC) that you can turn to for assistance and to get connected to University resources and support services. Please visit the Veterans Services in the Student Portal for the most current list of POCs.

Military Student Applicants

Military students must satisfy the same admission requirements as all other applicants. Additionally, military transcripts are required of all current or former service members attending Alliant International University.

Military Transcripts, Credit Practices and Information

Alliant accepts military transcripts from the below sources:

1. Official Joint Service Transcripts (JST)
2. Community College of the Air Force

Transfer credit unit recommendations for service branches are made by the American Council on Education’s Commission on Education Credit and Credential (ACE Guide).

Alliant awards credit for military education, MOS Rankings (Military Occupational Specialties) and Military Experience with ACE recommended baccalaureate/ associate or graduate degree category units. Alliant awards lower and/or upper division units as specified in the ACE credit recommendations. 

Military basic training is awarded for the initial basic training completed when the individual entered the military branch. Basic training credit is contingent upon the completion of the required number of weeks of training. A DD-214 does not constitute credit, length of credit does.

Course equivalencies and credit hours awarded for an Alliant degree are determined by our schools and/or academic departments. Credit hours may be awarded for specific courses toward degree requirements or as elective credit.

Joint Service Transcripts (JST)

Joint Services Transcript (JST) is part of an automated transcript system that combines Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard detailed personal service member data, military course completions with descriptions, military experience and other learning experiences. The transcript includes college credit recommendations for ACE Guide completed evaluations. The transcript also includes college-level test score data for exams such as CLEP, DSST, DLPT and Excelsior/Regents credit. Alliant will award credit based on our established guidelines for CLEP, DSST, DLPT and Excelsior/Regents credit when these exams are listed on an official “Institutional Copy” of a JST transcript. They are available for all Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy Active Duty, Reserve and Veterans.

Additional information regarding the Joint Services Transcript (JST) can be found below:

Currently active service members or those who have a Common Access Card (CAC) and were prior enlisted can order a JST transcript through the JST system website. For those who are not active duty or do not have a Common Access Card (CAC), you must register for a JST account. Additional information and instructions can be found on the JST system website.

Non-Traditional Credit/Transcripts

BOOST (Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training)

Naval Education and Training Center, Newport Rhode Island

Students must submit an official BOOST transcript to receive military credit for BOOST units. Military credit is awarded based on completed tracks and course numbers listed on the transcript and referenced to course numbers within the NV-0400-0001 course description of the ACE Guide. Alliant requires the official BOOST transcript for credit awards.

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)

Alliant requires an official transcript or posting on a Joint Services Transcript (JST) to award credit for approved CLEP exams. In 2008, a subsidiary of Educational Testing Services (ETS) called PROMETRIC began issuing official transcripts for CLEP. Refer to the Transfer Credit  section for information on exam credit limits.

DSST Program tests by PROMETRIC

Alliant awards up to 24 units of DSST exam credit based on ACE Guide credit recommendations in effect at the time the exam was completed. Alliant may award lower division and upper division credit consistent with ACE Guide lower or upper division baccalaureate credit recommendations.

Veteran Education Benefits

Alliant’s Veteran Services Office operates as the primary and initial resource for most military affiliated services. Our mission is to assist military connected students- veterans, active-duty service members, reserve, National Guard and military spouse and children- with processing of VA related benefits under a variety of different programs. These include:

1. Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
   1. Transfer of Education Benefits (TOE) (Chapter 33 Dependents)
   2. Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (“Fry” Scholarship)
2. Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30)
3. Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR Chapter 1606)
4. Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP Chapter 1607)
5. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Vet Success Program (Chapter 31)
6. Survivors and Dependents Assistance (Chapter 35)

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

For information on these benefits to include eligibility, please visit the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website.

***A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

***Alliant International University will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet their financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

VA Education Benefit Documents to Submit Before Registering for Classes

Students utilizing Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill or the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship must submit their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to Alliant’s Veteran Services Office, through the Veteran Services student portal. If the COE is not provided before payment is due, students may be required to pay their tuition and fees early and will then be reimbursed after payments have been disbursed by the VA to the University.

Students utilizing Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment must ensure their assigned counselor submits the necessary Purchase Order via Tungsten to Alliant’s Veteran Services Office in order to have tuition and fees deferred and to be able to register for classes.

Students utilizing Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®, Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance, or Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve: Reserve Educational Assistance Program do not have to submit any documentation prior to registering for classes and are required to make arrangements to pay tuition and fees.

Steps to use GI Bill® at Alliant International University

Step 1: Determine the Type of GI Bill® Benefit(s) You Intend to Use

1. Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
2. Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®
3. Chapter 35: Dependent Education Assistance
4. Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
5. Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® - Selective Reserve
6. Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

For information on these benefits to include eligibility, please visit the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Step 2: Apply for Your Benefits

Visit Vets.gov website to apply for the benefit you intend to use.

The VA will make a decision on your benefits application and send you a Certificate of Eligibility, usually by mail to the address used on the benefits application. If you have an ebenefits.va.gov account, you may be able to locate your educational benefits status.

Step 3: Register for Your Classes

Work with your designated Student Advisor and register for classes in the same manner as a non-military student.

The University provides Academic Plans of Study [aka Degree Progress Audit (DPA)] to every student. We encourage all military students to review their DPA of study along with their transfer evaluations to determine their remaining requirements for degree completion.

Only courses that satisfy requirements outlined in a student’s Degree Progress Audit can be certified for VA benefits. If a student enrolls in a course that does not fulfill a program requirement, it cannot be certified for VA benefits.

A student can round out a course schedule with non-required courses to bring their course load up to full-­time schedule in their last term only. This allows students to continue to receive benefits at the full­­-time rate in their last term of enrollment. This procedure can be done only once per program. In rounding out a full­-time schedule, students may use any credit hour unit subject, including a subject that has previously been successfully completed (received a passing grade).

Step 4: Submit a Request for Certification of GI Bill® Benefits

Submit Student Responsibility Agreement to veteranservices@alliant.edu. Students wishing to utilize federal VA education benefits must provide Alliant’s Veteran Services Office the Student Responsibility Agreement documentation each semester after registering for classes. Students wishing to utilize federal VA education benefits must provide Alliant’s Veterans Service Office the Student Responsibility Agreement documentation each semester after registering for classes. Students do not have to provide a class schedule. The University cannot process VA Education Benefits without the Student Responsibility Agreement.

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®

1. A completed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will not be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.

Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

1. If the VR&E counselor has not already done so, provide a Purchase Order via Tungsten authorizing the student to pursue training.
2. A completed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will not be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.

Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®

1. If not already submitted, provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility in order to have tuition and fees deferred for future terms.
2. A completed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will not be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.

Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance

1. A completed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will not be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.
2. Additionally, the VA Claim Number (with assigned suffix) must be indicated on the Student Responsibility Agreement.

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve

1. A completed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will not be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

1. If not already submitted, provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility to Alliant’s Veteran Services Office in order to have tuition and fees deferred for future terms.
2. A completed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will not be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.
3. This benefit is not eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program.

The Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. It provides funding to veterans who have served at least 36 months of active duty following September 10, 2001, veterans who were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-related disability and who served 30 continuous days following September 10, 2001, and dependents eligible for Transfer of Entitlement of the Post ­9/11 GI.

The University is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program and eligibility is determined on a first come, first­ served basis. Applicants must have 100% eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill to qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Additionally, active-duty service members are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program. Additional information and application materials may be found on Veteran Services website.

Questions regarding eligibility, contact Alliant’s Veteran Services Office.

When tuition costs are fully covered by the Post­ 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program, no other institutional scholarships or grants that are specified to cover tuition costs (such as academic scholarships or grants) will be awarded. The Yellow Ribbon funds that are provided by the University are tied to tuition costs. If tuition costs are refunded or reduced, the Yellow Ribbon award from Alliant International University and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be reduced at the same percentage.

Veterans Benefit Certification for Dissertation Courses

The format for dissertation courses (research, sequence, and extension) cannot be certified as on-ground until a student has attended at least one meeting, on-campus, with their instructor within the term start and end dates. Once a meeting has occurred, the dissertation units can be certified as on-ground.

This meeting may be necessary for students receiving VA benefits while enrolled only in a dissertation course. This requirement is needed for the student to qualify for their full monthly housing benefit. Faculty at Alliant are expected to accommodate on-campus meetings with students at least once each session.

Alliant will continue to certify all dissertation units as online unless a “VA Dissertation Verification Form” is approved. This form is accessible on the Veteran Services homepage and students should initiate the form after their on-campus attendance requirement is met (https://alliantintluni.sharepoint.com/studentaffairs/military/libraries/SitePages/Home.aspx).

The student will be notified if their form is approved or denied. Questions on this policy can be directed to the Veteran Services Office.

VA Work-Study Program (San Diego Campus)

Alliant offers GI Bill recipients, who are ¾ time or greater the opportunity to apply for positions as a VA Work-Study at the San Diego campus. Interested students may apply using VA form 22-8691 to VeteranServices@alliant.edu or Kaz.lockett@alliant.edu.

If you are a GI Bill using student who certifies for at least three-quarter time (3/4 time) and can work 12-25 hours a week, you can be eligible for the VA work-study program at Alliant’s San Diego campus. The program is an extension of the GI Bill, giving a student up to 100 hours a month or 25 hours a week, paid at minimum wage for California. The wage is not taxed, like the GI Bill, and is a great way to maximize the GI Bill®. The wage should increase as minimum wage increases in California every year. The type of work is mostly day to day office work: filing, student interactions, initial GI Bill® certification processing, answering phone calls and emails and assisting with rebuilding the Veterans Service program at Alliant. 

Military Tuition Assistance & Military Dependent Tuition Assistance

Alliant accepts other tuition assistance offered by various programs for the funding of your educational goals. Our Service Members and Military families are very important at the University and there are many programs that offer benefits to eligible active duty military, military spouses and their dependents. For more information about Military Tuition Assistance please contact Student Finance, SF@alliant.edu.

1. Army Tuition Assistance (TA) Program (GoArmyEd portal)
2. Tuition Assistance Top-Up (Top-Up)
3. My CAA: Spouse Education Programs
4. Military Tuition Assistance Grant: the Military Tuition Assistance Grant is a grant applied to student tuition charges at Alliant International University who are utilizing military Tuition Assistance. The grant has the net impact lowering undergraduate tuition to $250.00 per credit hour and graduate tuition to $325.00 per credit hour. The value of the grant is variable in accordance with University programmatic tuition rates. All degree programs are eligible for this grant except Doctorate programs in Clinical Psychology (PhD and PsyD).
   1. Eligibility Requirements​
      1. Must be a member of the United State Armed Forces or United States Coast Guard, utilizing Tuition Assistance
      2. Must be a current student or new student who meets all admission requirements and has been fully admitted and confirmed into an Alliant degree program.
      3. Students who receive Alliant tuition waivers are not eligible to receive this grant
      4. Student must be in good academic and conduct standing to maintain continued eligibility for the grant award year
5. Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
6. Coast Guard Foundation
7. Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)
8. VADM E.P. Travis Scholarship and Loan Program (VADM E.P.) 
   1. Spouse of an active duty member or the dependent child of an active or retired member of the Navy or Marine Corps. You must also be a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university.
      1. 1000 grants are awarded each academic year at $2000 each.
      2. Applicants are also evaluated for an interest-free student loan of up to $3000.
      3. The loan repayment begins within 30 days of award and must be repaid by allotment within 24 months.
      4. Application deadline is 1 March of each year.
9. General George S. Brown Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)
   1. The purpose of the Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) is to provide partial tuition assistance for spouses of Active Duty airmen or officers, who accompany members to overseas locations and will be attending college programs. The focus of the program is on the completion of degree or certificate programs that provide increased occupational opportunities for spouses.

Student Responsibilities

1. Approved Courses

The only courses that may be approved for VA educational benefits are those required for the degree objective and that have not previously been successfully completed. Refer to your degree evaluation, graduate program of study (or graduate student worksheet), Alliant Advising, and/or your department advisor to ensure all classes are applicable towards your objective. Deviations from the required classes must be approved by an appropriate individual authorized to make substitutions (i.e., department advisor, department chair, dean, etc.).

2. Schedule Adjustments

Federal law requires any changes in enrollment status that may affect VA education benefits be reported. Any changes to your class schedule (i.e., adds/drops) may have an impact on your VA education benefits. If you change your schedule, notify the Alliant Veteran Services as soon as possible to avoid possible retroactive loss of benefits. Unauthorized withdrawal from courses may result in retroactive loss of benefits and a potential debt to the VA and/or university.

3. Academic Probation

Students placed on academic probation may continue to utilize VA education benefits for not more than two semesters. If the academic probation is carried into a third semester, the student will not be certified for VA benefits. Students that are on or facing academic probation should contact the Alliant Veteran Services for possible resources to improve their academic progress.

4. Change in Major

If you change your major, you must provide Alliant Veteran Services with a signed copy of VA Form 22-1995 (VA Form 22-5495 for Ch. 35). If you add a second major or more than one minor, you will need to provide Alliant Veteran Services with a copy of your degree evaluation obtained from the Student Advisor. Request this early as it can take several weeks to a few months for evaluation to be generated.

5. Payments/Refunds

If you are not rated at 100% under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, your portion of the tuition and fees must be paid by the schedule adjustment deadline each semester. If you pay tuition and fees that are then covered by the GI Bill, your refund will be processed in accordance with Alliant policy and will be refunded after payment is received from the VA. For additional information contact the Alliant Student Finance Office. Alliant will hold any Financial Aid up to the amount to cover the cost of a student’s tuition and fees for that session. If the GI Bill pays tuition on your behalf to Alliant, your student account will be credited and any excess financial aid will be refunded.

6. Remaining Entitlement

To avoid possible overpayment by the VA and additional unexpected costs to the student, all VA Benefit users (especially Post 9/11 GI Bill [Ch. 33]) are encouraged to keep track of their remaining entitlement. The information is sent each semester to the student by the VA or can be obtained from www.ebenefits.va.gov or by calling (888) 442-4551.

7. Post 9/11 Certification Process

Federal law requires the VA to be the “last payer” for tuition and fees. Financial aid (i.e., grants, loans, scholarships, etc.) specifically awarded for tuition and fees will be applied first and the VA will pay the difference. Alliant Veteran Services will report your tuition to the VA at the beginning of the semester as $0.00 in order to allow applicable housing and book stipends to be paid. Near the end of the semester, the final tuition amount will be reported to the VA for payment to Alliant. Students will receive occasional notifications from the school that their tuition has not been paid. These can generally be disregarded provided that the student has been certified to the VA and is rated at 100% under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Additional questions should be directed Alliant Veteran Service staff or by visiting the GI Bill website at www.gibill.va.gov.

Tuition Deferment

Deferred payment for the application fee and tuition deposits may be granted upon application by the student on the following grounds:

1. Deferral eligibility is granted to students receiving veterans’ educational assistance benefits from federal or state assistance programs if aid is delayed in transmission to the university through circumstances beyond the student’s control.
2. Students receiving benefits under Chapters 31 and 33 are eligible for deferred payment status as a Covered Individual.

A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Alliant International University will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet their financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

Called to Serve

The University is committed to providing the highest quality services for active military students and those affiliated with the military. It is our goal to provide a seamless transition for students deployed for national and international military service and back. Alliant realizes every student’s situation is unique dependent upon course load, financial aid status, and date called to serve, to name a few. As such, each student “called to serve” will be provided individualized service to address their specific needs.

Deployments

The University will ensure students do not face an academic disadvantage as a result of being called to national or international service. When a student (or family member) receives orders to deploy, the University works with the student to determine the best options based on the circumstance. In these circumstances, students can withdraw from the University with a 100% refund and without penalty. The University will also make every effort to restore students returning from national and military service to the status they held prior to their departure.

If classes are in session at the time of activation, each case may be evaluated individually and professors consulted as appropriate. The Financial Aid Office has guidelines for students called to serve with student loans. Given the differences in the programs of lenders, students should coordinate with their lenders directly to obtain deferments as prescribed by federal law.

Process

1. Withdrawal: At any point in the term, a student called to serve may withdraw from the University by submitting a withdrawal request along with a copy of deployment orders to the Registrar’s Office. The student will receive a full credit of tuition and fees. The Registrar’s Office will process the withdrawal and arrange for appropriate adjustments to the student’s account.
2. Selective Drops: A student may drop one or more courses and elect to complete remaining coursework according to Option 3 or Option 4 below. A full credit of tuition and fees for dropped courses will be honored.
3. Incompletes: Students who have successfully completed the majority of work for a course may be awarded a grade of “Incomplete” at the discretion of the professor. Please see the Incomplete Policy  for specific information. Professors are strongly encouraged to grant additional time for students to make up the required work.
4. Final Grades: A final grade option becomes available if the following requirements are met:
   1. The professor determines a sufficient amount of the course work has been completed, and
   2. Sufficient information about a student’s performance in the course has been obtained.

Students must consult with their professors to determine whether these two requirements have been met for a final grade to be awarded.

Re-Admission Policy

Any student whose absence from the University is necessitated by reason of service in the uniformed services shall be entitled to readmission to Alliant International University if: 

1. The student (or an appropriate officer of the Armed Forces or official of the Department of Defense) gives advance written or verbal notice of such service to an Alliant Official, 
2. The cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences by reason of service in the uniformed services does not exceed five years, and except as otherwise provided in this section,
3. The student submits a notification of intent to re-enroll at Alliant. 

Exceptions include: 

1. No notice is required if giving of such notice is precluded by military necessity, such as: mission, operation, exercise, or requirement that is classified, or 
2. A pending or ongoing mission, operation, exercise, or requirement that may be compromised or otherwise adversely affected by public knowledge. 

Any student who did not give advance written or verbal notice of service to the appropriate university official may meet the notice requirement by submitting, at the time the student seeks readmission, an attestation to Alliant International University that they performed service in the uniformed services that necessitated the student’s absence from the university.

A student who is readmitted to the university under this section, will be readmitted with the same academic status as the student had when the student last attended Alliant. This means that the student will be admitted to the same program, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to another program (if the student’s program is no longer offered, Alliant will admit the student to the program that is the most similar). Also, the student will be readmitted with the same number of credits completed, unless the student is admitted to a different program and the hours are not transferable. For the first academic year, student will be readmitted with the same tuition and fee charges as when the student left, unless military benefits will pay the increase, but never more than the institution is charging other students.

Alliant is not required to readmit a student if it determines, after reasonable efforts, that the student is not prepared to resume the program at the point where they left off, or is unable to complete the program. In addition, Alliant is not required to readmit a student if it determines that there are no reasonable efforts it can take to prepare the student to resume at the point where they left off, or to enable the student to complete the program. 

Exception from Readmission Eligibility- upon the occurrence of the following events a student’s eligibility might be terminated: 

1. Separation of such person from the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) with dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, or 
2. Dismissal of such person permitted under section 1161(a) of Title 10, United States Code. 

Resources

E-Benefits Portal

The eBenefits portal developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense is an on­line resource for tools and benefits related information. The portal serves Wounded Warriors, Veterans, Service Members, their families, and their caregivers.

Students are encouraged to register and utilize eBenefits to assist with:

1. Obtaining up to date information on their educational entitlement
2. Updating Direct Deposit and personal contact information
3. Downloading VA Letters and Personal Documents
4. Viewing the current status of payments (both education and disability)

Students can access the web portal at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov.

Veterans Crisis Line

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. It is accessible by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and press 1 if you are a Veteran. Calls are routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 150 crisis centers. The Lifeline’s national network of local crisis centers provides crisis counseling and mental health referrals day and night.