Incoming Veteran & Military-Affiliated Student Guide

New Veteran Student Guide

Your guide to PSU as an Incoming Veteran or Military-Affiliated Student

Haven't Applied Yet?

Quick Navigation

People & Places to Note
Before Registering for Courses
After Registering for Courses
Summer Term Tips
Incoming Student FAQs

Important Links

Portland State Welcome Handbook

New Veteran Student Checklist

By: The Veteran Certification Office

Veteran Forms and Resources

By: The Veteran Certification Office

State & Federal Benefit Information

By: The Veteran Certification Office

People and Place of Note

Veteran Certification (Vet Cert):

Vet Cert is the place to go for benefit certification questions. Make sure to check with Vet Cert to see if the courses you want to take can be certified. Also, check with your academic advisor to make sure the classes count towards your degree plan.

Office Location: Fariborz Maseeh Hall, First Level
Phone: 503-725-8380
Email: vetcert@pdx.edu

Vet Cert Website

3rd Party Billing

3rd Party is the office that processes tuition funding that comes in from the VA, Military, and other sources (scholarships, grants, etc.). If you run into a benefits billing problem, first check with Vet Cert to see if there is a delay or problem with your certification**. If the problem remains, 3rd Party Billing may be able to help as well.

Email: 3rdparty@pdx.edu

**Please note that the VA cannot pay you for courses that cannot be certified nor for certifications that have not been completed or turned in on time

Alexandra Birmingham: VetSuccess on Campus

Alexandra is our VA Counselor here on campus, and she is here to help you navigate through everything VA education benefit-related, and more.

Office Location: The VRC | Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 018
Phone: 971-279-9361
Email: alexandra.birmingham@va.gov

VetSuccess

What to do after being admitted

Before Registering for Courses:

If you haven't yet applied, click here

Unsure of what benefits you're using or want to double-check? Contact Alexandra Birmingham (VetSuccess)

The Welcome Packet and Veteran-specific New Student Checklist by the Veteran Certification Office (Vet Cert), will have a list of things for you to complete, however there are some steps we want to highlight

You must complete online pre-orientation before being able to register for classes
It is highly recommended that you meet with both an Academic Advisor and Vet Cert to double check that the classes you want to count towards your degree plan and can be certified
It will be beneficial to get your PSU ID as soon as possible, as it gives you access to all buildings, including the library, gym, and easier access to Vet Cert

After Registering for Courses:

For all benefit and certification questions, please contact the Veteran Certification Office (see contact information in the "People & Places of Note" section.)

Forms:

Make sure you turn these in on time, or else you may owe PSU money for the term.

PSU Veteran Certification Form:

You must fill out this paper form before your first term. After your first term, you will fill out the same document online. Navigation Instructions

Other Forms:

Your chapter will determine which forms you will need to complete. A list of all forms is located in the Helpful Links section.

Most VA funding methods will require monthly enrollment verification via text (1-888-442-4551 if you haven't received it yet)

Summer Term

Summer is the most complicated term for getting paid; make sure you're prepared for it. Talking to Vet Cert and your Academic Advisor as soon as classes are announced for Summer is highly recommended.

Incoming Student FAQs

VA Benefit Questions

Q: Why wasn't I paid?

Step 1 : Ensure that you have completed the online Veteran Certification Form on myPSU.

If: you are unsure, check with Vet Cert to see if they have received your online certification.

Step 2 : Check your PSU Email for a notification from Vet Cert or 3rd Party Billing, and follow the instructions listed.

Q: Will the VA pay for books, parking, and incidental fees charged for specific courses (e.g., Art Supplies)
A: This depends on your specific chapter of VA benefits. Contact VSOC (Alexandra Birmingham, see "People & Places to Note" above) or look on the VA website to determine what you're entitled to

Q: What VA Education benefits am I entitled to while attending PSU?
A: This is a question for Alexandra Birmingham, our wonderful VA Counselor on campus. You can find her contact information above in the "People & Places to Note" Section

Q: Is there a tuition fee waiver program?
A: Yes, however, it depends on your benefit chapter and residency. The State of Oregon offers additional fee remission programs, which can be found here: Veterans Certification Benefits. Additional questions about tuition and fees should be directed to the Veterans Certification Office.

Q: I can't get my electronic Veteran Certification form on myPSU to work
A: Tips for troubleshooting:

Try a different browser or device
Clear your cache and cookies
Do not change the catalog year, this should be the year you started, not the current year
If all else fails, Veteran Certification may not have updated their form yet; contact Vet Cert to check

One of these will fix the issue 99% of the time

Don't see your VA Benefit Question? Contact the Veteran Certification Office for more information

Vet Cert Contact Information

Non-VA Related Questions

Q: What is the VRC, and what do they do?
A: Our resource center offers computer and printing access, a food pantry, and a place where veterans can meet with other veterans, hang out, and do homework. Our work-study can help answer any general questions you may have and help you navigate the complicated world of the VA and the University. However, we do not have access to your benefit information, and all specific cert and benefit-related questions will need to be answered by Vet Cert.

Q: How is Oregon residency determined?
A: Please refer to the Registrar's Residency page to see the current policy and procedures on determining residency at PSU. Please contact our residency officer if you have any questions regarding your residency status - askres@pdx.edu

Q: Does VA Healthcare satisfy the health insurance requirement for students taking 5+ hours?
A: Yes, you must submit a waiver every academic year to not be billed for the University’s health insurance plan. If you do not submit the waiver on time, you will be billed at a rate of $1,108/term at the time of writing.

Q: What scholarships or grants are available for me or my family?
A: There are numerous scholarship and grant opportunities available to students. We consolidated some of those opportunities on our Grants and Scholarships page. Note: If your tuition and fees are 100% covered by the VA, then a tuition-based scholarship will be the first to apply to your tuition and fees, then the VA will pay the remainder. You will not receive that money, but the VA will receive a discount.

Q: All Army IgnitEd 2.0 (Army Tuition Assistance) Questions:
A: Contact your Unit Education Counselor or Education Liaison for all questions regarding Army Ignited 2.0 funding, and verify through Vet Cert. For any questions about billing, please contact 3rd Party Billing. Please note that this benefit is very time sensitive

Don't see your non-VA benefit question listed?

Click Here For Our Complete FAQs

Click Here to Email Us

Connect with Us!