Veterans' Benefits

The University of Miami maintains a Veterans' Affairs (V.A.) Office in the:

Office of the University Registrar
1306 Stanford Drive
Whitten University Center, Room 1230
Coral Gables, FL 33146

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 248026
Coral Gables, Florida 33124-6914

This office assists veterans and dependents of veterans who are entitled to V.A. educational benefits under Chapter 30, 31, 33, or Chapter 35 of Title 38, U.S. Code, or Chapter 1606. The University of Miami participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for qualified Chapter 33 recipients.1 Anyone needing information on Veterans' Benefits is advised to contact the Office of the University Registrar or visit their website.

V.A. students with previous post-secondary educational training/experience must request an official transcript(s) be sent to the university. If the transcript has not been received prior to the end of the student’s initial semester, or as specified in the guidelines under the program he/she is enrolled in, the Veterans' Affairs Office will not re-certify the student for V.A. educational benefits. The Veterans' Affairs Office may re-certify the student after the transcript has been received.

The V.A. student’s previous training and/or experience will be evaluated by the university. Should credit(s) be accepted and/or awarded, the V.A. student’s tuition and training time may be reduced proportionally. The V.A. and the student will receive a written notice of the credit(s) allowed.

1

 The University of Miami's Yellow Ribbon Program is available to students in the Fall and Spring semesters only.

Standards of Progress Policy for Veterans

Satisfactory progress is indicated by a Satisfactory Progress Average (SPA), which is a variation of the Quality Point Average (QPA). The SPA is computed by the following formula:

A 4
B 3
C 2
D 1
E 0
IE 0
F 0
IF 0
NG 0
  • Note that “E’s”, “F’s”, “IE’s” and “IF’s” are included in the SPA.
  • A grade of CR will be counted as CR=2.
  • The SPA is determined by dividing the total quality points earned by the credits attempted.

When a course is dropped with a grade of "W", the V.A. requires a student to repay any benefits received for that course unless the V.A. determines there are mitigating circumstances involved.

Benefits will not be paid for courses in which a student receives an NG or NC or IPs that do not convert to a letter grade.

  • An SPA of 2.0 or greater for undergraduate students, or 3.0 or greater for graduate students, is satisfactory progress.
  • Less than 2.0 for undergraduate, and less than 3.0 for graduate students, is not satisfactory.
  • Law and M.D. students will be considered to be making satisfactory progress as long as they meet the academic standards set by their schools for retention in their degree programs.
  • The SPA is non-cumulative. It is computed each term on a one-term basis.
  • Any term a student’s SPA is less than 2.0 for undergraduate or 3.0 for graduate, he/she will be notified that he/she is not making satisfactory progress. He/she will be certified, in a probationary status, for only one additional semester.
  • If, at the end of this additional semester, his/her SPA for that semester is still below the satisfactory level, the V.A. will be notified of the unsatisfactory progress and his/her educational benefits will be terminated.
  • A student whose V.A. educational benefits have been terminated for unsatisfactory progress may petition the Veterans' Affairs Office to be re-certified after one semester has elapsed.  Please address your request to:

VA Certifying Official
c/o Office of the University Registrar
University of Miami
P.O. Box 248026
Coral Gables Florida 33124-6914

  • The Veterans' Affairs Office may re-certify the student for V.A. educational benefits only if there is a reasonable likelihood that the student will be able to attain and maintain satisfactory progress for the remainder of the program.

University of Miami VA Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:

  • Prevent the student's enrollment
  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student
  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding
  • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

  • Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class
  • Provide a written request to be certified; this must be done each semester the student intends to use VA benefits.
  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies

For V.A. Payment of Benefits Purposes

All V.A. Students are required to notify the V.A. Certifying Official, every semester, in writing, their intent to use their benefits, and therefore to be certified for that semester.

  • An “I” (incomplete) designation for a course must be converted to a credit grade counting toward graduation, or a failing grade, by the end of one calendar year unless permission for a delay is granted by the Academic Dean.
  • An “NG” (no grade) designation for a course must be converted to a credit grade counting toward graduation, or a failing grade, by the end of one regular semester unless permission for a delay is granted by the Academic Dean.
  • If permission is obtained, a memo signed by the Academic Dean must be given to the Veterans' Affairs Office during the semester in which the “I” or “NG” was to be removed. This memo should also state the period of time for which the delay is approved.
  • If a memo giving permission for a delay in the “I” or “NG” removal is not received by the end of the semester in which the “I” or “NG” was to be removed, the V.A. will be notified of the incomplete grade resulting in a loss of educational benefits for that course.

Please consult with our office regarding regulations for “IP’s” received in Thesis, Research, or Dissertation.

There is an official period after each registration in which a student may drop a course without a “W” appearing on his/her grade report. This period is not to be confused with the last date to drop a course with a “W” grade. Please check the academic calendar on the University Registrar’s website for dates.

Class Attendance and Absences

  • Regular and punctual class attendance is vital for all students.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to know the instructor’s policies regarding examinations, penalties for absences, and late or missed work.
  • A copy of the student’s transcript will be placed in the student’s permanent file maintained by the Veterans' Affairs Office.

Because of the far-reaching effects of these revisions in the V.A. educational benefits program, it is suggested that you exercise care and judgment in your program planning and in the selection of your courses. V.A. educational benefits will only pay for courses that are toward the program in which you are enrolled.

Veterans and children of deceased or totally disabled veterans receive training allowance in proportion to the schedule carried. The full load required to receive full training allowance is 12 credits in undergraduate school (9 credits in Graduate School).