Enrollment and Courses

Enrollment Status

The VA determines enrollment status by the dates of your enrollment, not by the amount of hours of enrollment for the entire semester. Enrollment dates can vary based on the sessions you are enrolled in during the semester. Information about session dates can be found on the academic calendar.

You must be enrolled over half time to receive eligible Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) benefits.

See Financial Aid requirements for full-time status

Undergraduate Enrollment Examples

Example 1: During the fall semester Kasey Roo is enrolled in 6 hours during the regular 16-week session, 3 hours in the 8-week 1 session and 3 hours in the 8-week 2 session. As an undergraduate, the VA would not consider her full time, but instead 3/4 time at 9 hours when the sessions overlap.

Example 2: During the spring semester Kasey Roo is enrolled in 9 hours during the regular 16-week session, 3 hours in the 8-week 2 session. As an undergraduate, the VA would not consider her full time until the second 8-week session began. During the first 8 weeks of the regular 16-week session the VA would consider her in 3/4 time at 9 hours.

Example 3: During the summer semester Kasey Roo is enrolled in 6 hours during the regular 8-week session. As an undergraduate, the VA would consider her full time during those 8 weeks.

Example 4: During the summer semester Kasey Roo is enrolled in 3 hours in the 4-week 1 session and 3 in the 8-week regular session. As an undergraduate, Kasey would be considered full time during the time her 4-week 1 session overlapped with the 8-week regular session, but not after the 4-week session ended.

Graduate Enrollment Examples

Example 1: During the fall semester Kasey Roo is enrolled in 6 hours during the regular 16-week session, 3 hours in the 8-week 1 session. As a graduate, the VA would consider her full time at 9 hours when the sessions overlap. After the 8-week 1 session ended Kasey would be at 3/4 time at 6 hours.

Example 2: During the spring semester Kasey Roo is enrolled in 3 hours during the regular 16-week session, 3 hours in the 8-week 1 session and 6 hours in the 8-week 2 session. As a graduate, the VA would not consider her full time until the second 8-week session began. During the first 8 weeks of the regular 16-week session the VA would consider her in 3/4 time at 6 hours.

Example 3: During the summer semester Kasey Roo is enrolled in 3 hours during the regular 8-week session. As a graduate, the VA would consider her 3/4 time during those 8 weeks.

Example 4: During the summer semester Kasey Roo is enrolled in 3 hours in the 4-week 1 session and 3 in the 8-week regular session. As a graduate, Kasey would be considered full time during the time her 4-week 1 session overlapped with the 8-week regular session, but after the 4-week session ended she would only be considered 3/4 time.

Questions about your enrollment status can be directed to the UMKC VA Certifying Official.

Major Requirements

Once you have received GI Bill benefits for 2 semesters at any school, you must declare a major and be degree seeking. Any majors with "pre" are not considered degree-seeking majors and would not be eligible for certification after 2 semesters of benefits.

Repeating a Course

Courses that are failed, or if the grade does not meet the minimum requirements for graduation in the degree program, may be certified to the VA. You may repeat a course and receive VA payment for it if you received an F, NR or W grade on the original attempt.

The VA does not pay for repeats of D or better grades, or for incomplete grades, unless the incomplete is changed to an F grade. Exception: if a class is required for a major and must be passed with a certain grade level to progress to another required class (prerequisite), then the VA will pay for the repeat. For example, if Nursing requires a C+ or better in Biology, then that course may be repeated if a C+ was not earned.

If a course is repeated and the original grade is replaced with the Request for GPA Adjustment Form, the original grade becomes non-punitive and will no longer be considered degree applicable.

Request for GPA Adjustment Form

Dropping a Class

Changes in enrollments are reported to the VA on a weekly basis. Any dropped class(es) could result in a debt owed to the VA depending on when the course is dropped for a term. There are several options to consider before dropping one or more of your classes.

Please contact the School Certifying Official (SCO) to review the options available to you and their related impacts to your benefits for the term. The SCO can be reached at Email Student Veteran Support Services or by phone at 816-235-1121. For questions related to creating a debt, you can also contact the GI Bill Educational Call Center at 1-888-442-4551.

Taking Classes at Another School

A student may take courses at more than one school that apply to their degree. The school that will grant the degree is the student's "parent" school. All other schools are "secondary" schools. The Parent Institution Letter needs to be completed with your advisor and returned to the UMKC Certifying Official. Please provide the contact information and fax number for the certifying official at the "secondary" school you are planning to attend.

For more information on completing the Parent Institution Letter, please contact the School Certifying Official.