Veterans Affairs
Veterans Affairs (VA) is located in the Office of the Registrar. We assist military veterans and their dependents who are eligible for VA educational benefits.
The Veteran Affairs Certifying Official is responsible for certifying and monitoring veterans' enrollment, academic progress, and other academic information.
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs approves applications and makes decisions about payments, issuance of checks, and eligibility. If you have questions about payments, entitlement, or eligibility, contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 
at 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551).
VA Benefits
The following is important information about your VA educational benefits.
- Advising
- Transfer Credit
- Course Registration
- Prerequisite and Remedial Courses
- Repeating Courses
- Enrollment Verification
- Change in Enrollment (ADD/DROP)
- Tuition and Fees
- Declaring a Major
- Undeclared Majors or Pre-Majors
- Changing your Major
- "F" Grades
- Academic Suspension
- Military Activation & Withdrawals
Advising
Academic advising services are available through your college or school and, in some cases, your department. Visit Advising for contact information for various Student Academic Services offices.
Transfer Credit
It is your responsibility to see that UH Mānoa evaluates transcripts from previous institutions attended to determine the number of transferable credits that will be counted toward your degree. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs mandates that all transcripts be evaluated by UH Mānoa for prior credit within two semesters, including transcripts for military training, even if credit may not be granted. Failure to do so could lead to suspension of benefits. All official transcripts must be sent directly from the prior institution to the appropriate UH Mānoa Admissions Office.
Visit How to Request Your Military Transcripts [PDF] for instructions on how to request and send your military transcripts to the University.
Course Registration
All courses used toward VA educational benefits must be required for your current degree program. You can be charged with an overpayment for any courses that do not apply toward your degree. Contact your academic advisor immediately if you are not sure whether a course is required. All courses certified for VA educational benefits must be taken for a letter grade (CR/NR permitted only if required for degree). Audited courses cannot be used toward certification.
For information on UH Mānoa degree requirements visit one of the following:
Undergraduate students: Bachelor Degree Program Sheets and Sample Four Year Academic Plans
Graduate students: Graduate Degree & Program Requirements
Undeclared or Post-Baccalaureate students: Contact the VA Certifying Official for instructions on degree requirements.
Prerequisite and Remedial Courses
If you are a Post-Baccalaureate student required to take prerequisites for your major you must have your academic advisor provide the Office of the Registrar with a list of prerequisite courses not included in your degree program. Contact the VA Certifying Official for instructions.
The VA will not pay for remedial courses unless placement test results show you need the course. The VA will not pay for any of these courses if college credit has already been granted for them.
If you are an Undergraduate student and are planning to take MATH 134 or CHEM 131, we highly encourage you to take a placement exam. Contact the VA Certifying Official for more information.
Repeating Courses
Courses that are failed or for which the grade does not meet minimum requirements for graduation may be certified if they are repeated. If you are required to repeat a course for your degree program you must obtain approval from your academic advisor. The VA will not pay for a course that has already been successfully completed with a passing grade.
Enrollment Verification
Submit veteran enrollment forms to the Office of the Registrar as early as possible to avoid delays in your payment(s) from the VA. UH Mānoa will not certify VA educational benefits unless the request is made in writing. Visit Application Process for enrollment forms and information.
Once your course enrollment is reported to the VA, you will receive a confirmation email from the VA to your Hawaii.edu account stating that your 22-1999 has been electronically received. Applicants should expect to wait approximately six to eight weeks from the date of certification for Veterans Affairs to process and send your first payment(s).
It is your responsibility to notify the Office of the Registrar of continued enrollment by completing the veteran enrollment forms each semester. Failure to do so will cause a break in the payment cycle. If you are a Chapter 30, 1606 or 1607 student, you must also verify your enrollment with the VA each month on W.A.V.E..
Change in Enrollment (ADD/DROP)
Notify the Office of the Registrar immediately if you add, drop or withdraw from a course used for certification by completing a Change in Enrollment Status form. Failure to do so may result in an overpayment charge. UH Mānoa will report dropped courses to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs within 30 days.
Tuition and Fees
For official University tuition schedules please refer to Tuition and Fees. You are responsible for your own Tuition & Fees by the payment deadline for your student classification. Once your course registration is certified by the VA Certifying Official, applicants should expect to wait approximately six to eight weeks for Veterans Affairs to process and send your first payment.
Note: Post 9/11 students should refer to Post 9/11 or contact the VA Certifying Official for additional Tuition and Fees information.
For more information on establishing residency in the State of Hawaiʻi for tuition purposes, visit Hawaiʻi Residency Requirements.
Declaring a Major
You must declare a major by the beginning of the first term of your junior year. Failure to do so will cause a break in the payment cycle. Please consult with your academic advisor to identify and declare/apply for your major on time.
Undeclared Majors or Pre-Majors
General Arts and Sciences students or Pre-Majors may only request certification for General Education courses or courses being used for Graduation Requirements. Certification requests cannot be made for prerequisite/admission courses or courses that are major requirements for an intended degree program. Please consult with your academic advisor to determine and plan for these courses ahead of time.
Changing your Major
You may only request certification for courses that are applicable toward your current degree program. Certification requests cannot be made for prerequisite/admission courses or courses that are major requirements for an intended degree program. Please consult with your academic advisor to determine and plan for these courses ahead of time.
Notify the Office of the Registrar of your change in major by submitting an updated Approval of Previous Education and Training Form [PDF].
Note: Double majors have been approved for VA educational benefits. Please notify the Office of the Registrar if you are declared as a double major.
"F" Grades
UH Mānoa will report "F" grades to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs if you received the "F" grade due to non-attendance.
Academic Suspension
UH Mānoa will report academic suspension to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Suspension will result in the termination of your subsistence check(s). Veterans or dependents who accept VA checks after being suspended will be charged an overpayment.
Military Activation & Withdrawals
If a complete withdrawal or leave of absence is necessary due to military activation, submit a copy of your orders to your college academic advisor or Advising office. You will be advised as to your options concerning your enrollment at UH Mānoa.