Veteran Participation in Courses Pending VA

Policy

Veteran Participation in Courses Pending VA Payment- Policy.pdf

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Minnesota State University, Mankato adopts the following provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 Veterans education benefits (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA.

Minnesota State University, Mankato 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.

To qualify for this provision, such students must:

• Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) through the Department of Veterans Affairs online portal;
• Provide a copy of the approved COE from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the University’s VA Benefits team.;

Once this contact is initiated and the COE copy received, the VA Benefits Team will provide the student with the link to complete the VA Certification Intake Form.

Students are encouraged to apply for the Certificate of Eligibility as soon as necessary and contact the MSU Mankato VA Benefits Team promptly upon receipt of the approved COE to complete the certification process.

Such students may also be required to:

• Provide a written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment.

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Rationale

Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 115-407, ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018,’ amends Title 38 US Code 3679 by adding a new subsection (e) that requires disapproval of courses of education, beginning August 1, 2019, at any educational institution that does not have a policy in place that will allow an individual to attend or participate in a course of education, pending VA payment, providing the individual submits a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33.

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History of Revisions

• Effective Date of Last Review: August 1, 2026
• Date of Last Full Review: March 2023
• Revisions Made:
  
  • July 2026: Expedited review to clarify student responsibilities and align to federal language.
    
    

Procedure

Rationale