Veteran Certification

Veterans intending to use their education and training benefits at Portland State must obtain and submit proper certification forms. This process should be started at least one month prior to registration.

Certified veterans must complete a minimum number of credits to maintain satisfactory progress:

The cumulative G.P.A. required to maintain satisfactory progress is 2.00. Incompletes, withdrawals, and audits do not count toward credits completed, and may result in a V.A. overpayment.

For reporting purposes, the last date of attendance is the same as the date of official withdrawal from a course or courses, date of student notification of a change in credits to the Veterans Certification Office, or the date of determination of unsatisfactory progress, whichever is earliest. This date determines the amount of overpayment, if any, incurred by a student not maintaining satisfactory progress standards.

Courses may be dropped during the drop periods, but student veterans are still responsible for reporting any changes in credits that affect the rate of V.A. certification. The number of credits completed is checked against the number of credits for which the veteran is certified each term by the Veterans Certification Office.

Failure to maintain satisfactory progress standards at Portland State will result in the termination of GI benefits.

Portland State University is approved for the training of veterans under Title 38, U.S. Code, Section 1501 (for disabled veterans), Section 1651 (Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966), and Section 1700 (Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance).

Yellow Ribbon Program

Portland State University (PSU) is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP), part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), during the academic year 2009-2010. Eligibility for the YRP benefit at PSU is limited to admitted, undergraduate students in good standing. PSU will make contributions to a maximum of 50 individual students at any given time, for a maximum amount per student of $920 per academic year. These awards will be granted to eligible students on a first-come-first-served basis.

This program was designed to cover expenses that exceed the highest resident rate tuition in the state of Oregon. While all Chapter 33 students are eligible to receive YRP benefits, PSU students receiving resident rate tuition charges may not require this benefit, as PSU's current resident rates are lower than the highest resident rate tuition established in Oregon.

See YRP Policy and Procedures and application form for complete details.

If you are interested in receiving more information about veteran benefits, please visit the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs website.

House Bill 2571 - Non-Resident Veteran Tuition and Fee Remission

Portland State University (PSU) is participating in the State of Oregon Non-Resident Veteran Fee Remission program.  The program provides a tuition and fee remission for qulified undergraduate students who are not residents of Oregon.  Certain program limitations apply. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• You must be an admitted, undergraduate student, enrolled in credit bearing courses at PSU.
• You must be classified as a non-resident of Oregon for tuition purposes.
• You must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
• You must be relieved or discharged for that service under honorable conditions as defined by ORS 408.225 and as shown on an original or certified copy of your DD-214.
• Veterans who receive vocational rehabilitation education benefits are not eligible.
• Self-Support programs, such as the Online Criminology & Criminal Justice Program are excluded from eleigibilty for this tuition and fee remission program.

Inititial Application:

Submit the following documents to the Office of Admission, Registration, and Records, Veterans Certification Office, 104 Neuberger Hall, 724 SW Harrison St.

• Original or certified copy of your DD-214
• Veterans receiving Chapter 33 benefits must provided their Certificate of Eligibility.

Awards:

Qualified students are charged tuition and fees no greater than the resident rate, plus 50 percent of the difference between the resident tuition and fee total and the non-resident tuition and fee total.  Veterans who receive federal tuition benefits in excess of the tuition and fees charged under this policy shall pay tuition and fees equal to the federal tuition benefits received.

If you have an questions about the program or application procedures, please contact:

Robert Hindahl at 503-725-5523 or hindahl@pdx.edu or
Angela garbarino at 503-725-8145 or garbara@pdx.edu