OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS and SERVICES 
for VETERANS and DEPENDENTS

Tuition Assistance (TA) for Reservists: A Federal tuition payment program that pays up to 100% of tuition. Paperwork is initiated through the Reserve unit; payment is made to your student account. Students who receive an additional tuition waiver (e.g. staff waiver or graduate assistant waiver) may not be eligible for TA payment. Students who are eligible for TA are eligible for Chapter 1606 GI Bill.

Educational Assistance Program (EAP) for National Guard members: A state-funded program which awards an education grant in the amount of tuition to qualifying National Guard members. Paperwork is initiated through the Guard unit, and should be submitted at least 2-3 months prior to the term. When eligibility is determined, the student receives an award letter indicating the amount of tuition payment; payment is made directly to the student’s account. Students who receive EAP are also eligible for the GI Bill.

       Criteria for eligibility

• PHEAA approved. must be enrolled in an accredited Commonwealth of PA college that is PHEAA approved

• must be enrolled in approved program of education

• must be a member in good standing of the National Guard with an obligation to serve for 6 years from date of entry into the program. This obligation may be incurred through enlistment/reenlistment/extension.

• must be a resident of Pennsylvania 12 months prior to enrollment

• must be a Private through Sergeant major, Warrant Officer 1 or 2, or Lieutenant

• may not possess a Bachelors degree or higher degree, if full-time

• may not be an ROTC Scholarship participant

• failure to complete the 6 year service agreement of being deemed an unsatisfactory participant will result in repayment of all monies paid under the EAP, plus interest & fees.

• Eligibility is limited to five years of full-time or part-time grants, or the equivalent.

       Application Process

• enlist, reenlist or extend enlistment for 6 years

• obtain application from PANG Education Officer, submit application, cost and promissory note for the EAP to the PANG Education Officer

• enroll in an approved program at a PHEAA approved school

• have PANG Education Officer verify eligibility and send application to PHEAA

• school and student are notified of student’s EAP eligibility; school verifies enrollment; PHEAA disburses monies to the school

Kicker: An incentive program for qualified soldiers which pays between $100-350 per month in addition to the GI Bill. Kicker & GI Bill payments are delivered in the same monthly check. A copy of the kicker contract must be presented to the SRU Veterans Affairs.

Student Loan Repayment (Reserves/Guard): Members of the Reserves or National Guard may be eligible for annual loan repayment of 15% of eligible loans or $500, whichever is greater. Maximum payment will not exceed $10,000 in most cases; maximum annual payment will not exceed $1,500 plus interest. Contact the National Guard or Reserve recruiting station.

• Basic eligibility: enlisting for 6 years, 8 years, or extending enlistment of 3-6 years; AFQT score of 50+ for NPS only; not a permanent technician or AGR; MOS qualified, and have a position vacancy; must execute form through Reserve/Guard unit to select Student Loan Repayment (SLR).

• Which loans qualify for repayment: Stafford, Perkins, parental (PLUS), Federally Insured Student Loans (FISL), Auxiliary Loans (ALAS).

• Scope of repayment: loans secured prior to, on, or after date of enlistment, or those which have been secured for at least one year. SLR can be combined with enlistment bonus, retention bonus, GI Bill, Tuition Credit or ACES programs.

• How to apply: Soldier completes Part I of form DD2475 (DOD Annual Loan Repayment Application) obtained from Reserve/Guard unit; unit completes Part II and sends to lender (bank); bank completes part III and returns form to unit for payment processing.

• Termination of repayment: termination will occur if soldier completes term of service, is reclassified to ineligible MOS, becomes an unsatisfactory participant, or separates from the Reserve/Guard as an enlisted person, fails to extend term of service for period of non-availability, or is enrolled in the Active Duty portion of the Montgomery GI Bill.

Tutorial Assistance:  Tutorial assistance is available if the student is receiving VA educational assistance,  attending at least ½ time and has a deficiency in a subject making tutoring necessary.   Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551.

 VA Work Study: The VA Work Study program permits eligible Chapter 30, 1606 or 35 students to perform VA-related services in return for payment based on the higher of the Federal or State minimum wage. An eligible person may work up to 25 hours times the number of weeks in the enrollment periods, and must have remaining entitlement under one of the above GI Bill programs.  Students may work at a school VA office, VA regional office or medical facility, or approved State employment office.

               Work study sites: 
               VA Medical Center, Butler, PA Ph: 724-287-4781
               Butler County Veterans Affairs Ph: 724-284-5353
               Mercer County Veterans Affairs Ph: 724-662-3800
               Also contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551.

ROTC Scholarship: ROTC scholarships may be awarded to cover tuition and/or books. These scholarships may have an effect on GI Bill and financial aid eligibility. Click here to learn more about the SRU Army ROTC program.

• ROTC & Chapter 1606: Chapter 1606 benefits are not payable for the same period the soldier receives an ROTC scholarship. Chapter 1606 benefits may be resumed at a later date.

• ROTC & Chapter 30: Chapter 30 benefits are not payable if student is commissioned as a result of an ROTC scholarship. Chapter 30 benefits are payable if Chapter 30 benefits were earned based on prior (enlisted) active duty service, and the student subsequently receives an ROTC scholarship. In this situation, the student may receive both GI Bill and ROTC scholarship.

• ROTC & Financial Aid: In some situations, financial aid awards may be adjusted so that the student’s aid (grants, loans, GI Bill benefits) does not exceed the amount of aid allowed by state and federal regulations. Adjustments may be made to reduce grant and loan eligibility.

• ROTC & Veteran Status: To be considered a "veteran" for state and federal financial aid purposes, a "veteran" is one who has served on federal Active Duty in the regular Armed Forces (not Reserves or National Guard). An individual who never served in the regular Armed Forces, is an ROTC student, Reserve or National Guard enlistee and was never activated for duty in the regular Armed Forces, is not considered a veteran. In most cases, the veteran must have been released from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions.

ACES (Army Continuing Education System):

»may fund tuition assistance (ACES – T.A.) through Education Centers for those currently on active duty in the RA/AGR. TA may be for up to 6 credits. Ph: 717-245-3943.

»DANTES – Exam programs through which soldiers can earn GED, college credit or professional certification. Tests include GED, CLEP, DANTES (subject standardized tests), ACT/PEP, ACT, SAT, GMAT, LSAT, NTE, ASE,

»ICCP and are administered at the 99^th ARCOM facility at no (or low) cost to soldiers. Ph: 1-800-635-1290

Credit for Military Service: Those who have served on Active Duty in the regular Armed Forces for one year (not Reserves or National Guard) may present their DD214 and any service school transcripts to the Director of Academic Records, 107 Old Main, to obtain or be considered for:

»credit for military service schools
»3 credits for military service experience
»waiver of 2 required physical education courses

(additional details can be found in the SRU on-line Undergraduate Catalog in the section titled "Academic Procedures and Policies".

Education Gratuity Grant (Chapter 35): The applicant must be the child of a veteran whose 100% disability is war or armed conflict service-connected, or who died while on active duty as as a result of servicei-connected disability, hostile fire, or a terrorist attack during peactime, as determined by the Dept of Military Affairs. The applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 24, a Pennsylvania resident for 5 years immediately prior to filing for the benefit, attend an approved PA state institution and demonstrate financial need. Contact the PA Dept. of Military Affairs at 717-861-8910.

REPS (Restored Entitlement Program for dependents): REPS benefits are a restoration of Social Security benefits that were reduced or terminated by the Omnibus Act (1981). The DVA pays the benefits to certain surviving spouses or children between the ages of 18-22 of a veteran who died on active duty before August 13, 1981. Contact the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (DVA) at 1-800-827-1000.