Veteran Benefits
Before offering, recommending, arranging, signing-up, dispersing, or enrolling service members in any federal or private loan programs, the service member may work with a financial aid counselor. The financial aid counselor will be able to offer individual loan counseling, including, but not limited to:
- Providing a clear and complete explanation of available financial aid, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended;
- Describing the differences between private and federal student loans to include terms, conditions, repayment, and forgiveness options;
- Explaining that students have the ability to refuse all or borrow less than the maximum student loan amount allowed.
For more information about financial aid and student loan counseling at EIU, please contact:
Jenny Stout
Associate Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships
Veteran Coordinator and School Certifying Official
Student Services Bldg – West Wing Room 4115
jlstout@eiu.edu
Phone: 217-581-7510
Fax: 217-581-6422
Institutional
Eastern Illinois University is committed to serving it's veterans, military personnel, and their families and supporting their academic success. As benefit to our veterans - All EIU student veterans have priority class registration regardless of classification. Registration dates can be found here: https://www.eiu.edu/registra/schedule.php.
For an overview of specialized services and policies pertinent to veterans, please refer to the EIU Veterans Services webpage. See below for a complete listing of State and Federal financial aid programs for veterans at EIU.
Accreditation
Eastern Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of College and Schools and by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparedness (CAEP). Additional accreditation information is available at https://www.eiu.edu/about/ and https://www.eiu.edu/acaffair/accredited_programs.php.
EIU will obtain approval of the accrediting agency for any new course or program offerings and approval is obtained before the enrollment of any Service member into the new course or program offering. /all accredited programs are submitted to the VA for approval and EIU has a current VA Form 22-1998 (WEAMS).
Degree requirements and evaluated educational plans will meet educational requirements for credentialing in stated career field and graduates of a program will be eligible for relevant professional license or certification. Educational institutions will disclose any conditions (state or agency limitations) or additional requirements (training, experience, or exams) required to obtain relevant credentials. Degree requirements can be found in the course catalogs.
Veteran Affairs Pending Payment Compliance
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.
Pending Payment Compliance
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Eastern Illinois University adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. Eastern Illinois University 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.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:
- Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
- Provide a written request to be certified;
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies
Marketing, Recruiting & Advertising
Eastern Illinois University adheres to program integrity requirements consistent with regulations issued by the Department of Education (34 C.F.R 668.71-668.75 and 668.14) related to restrictions on misrepresentation, recruitment, and payment of incentive compensation. As part of efforts to eliminate unfair, deceptive, and abusive marketing aimed at Service members, EIU will:
- Refrain from providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance. This prohibition shall also apply to third party contractors’ action on EIU’s behalf.
- Refrain from high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Service member enrollments.
Eastern Illinois University does not condone fraudulent and aggressive recruiting practices. The university will continue to uphold its high recruiting standards. EIU’s recruiting strategies utilize self-reported contact information; if a student is contacted by EIU and they wish to unsubscribe from future communications, they have the ability to unsubscribe their own accounts.
Career Services
All EIU students and alumni are encouraged to use our Career Services resources to assist them with the transition into a meaningful career post-graduation. EIU’s Career Services staff is available to assist student in finding jobs and internships. The Associate Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships can also offer and assistance in finding jobs on and off campus.
Career Services is located on the 1st floor of the Human Services Center, Room 1301, on the south end of EIU's campus.
Career Services
Eastern Illinois University
1301 Human Services Center
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
Phone: 217-581-2412
Fax: 217-581-2222
Email: careers@eiu.edu
State
Illinois National Guard Grant
Members of the Illinois National Guard are eligible to receive a grant to assist with the cost of education. Applicants must:
- be full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate students at Illinois public colleges, universities, or community colleges,
- have served for at least one year in the Illinois National Guard (Army or Air Force),
- apply yearly to receive benefits, which covers cost of tuition and a university mandated activity fee.
- More Information on Veteran Programs in Illinois
Illinois Veterans Grant
The Illinois Veterans Grant is available to those who have served one year of active duty in the United States Armed Forces as a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, or Coast Guard. This grant is available to both undergraduate and graduate students at all Illinois public colleges, universities, and community colleges.
- Applications for IVG can be submitted anytime during the academic year for which assistance is being requested, and need to be submitted only once to establish eligibility.
- The grant can only be used to cover the cost of tuition and certain fees.
- Applicants must have resided in Illinois six months before entering the service.
- Applicants must have returned to Illinois six months after discharge.
Federal
Eligibility for GI Bill educational benefits can be extended to veterans, members of the Selected Reserves or National Guard; and children or spouses of service-connected deceased or totally and permanently disabled veterans under one of the following programs. Some veterans qualify under more than one program. You are encouraged to review the VA Web site to determine the best benefit package for you.
Montgomery GI Bill-Chapter 30
Individuals who entered active duty after July, 1984, and participated in the pay reduction program (pay reduced $100 a month for 12 months) and served honorably for two years or more are eligible. Veterans or service persons cannot withdraw money paid into the fund. More information here.
Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation Program-Chapter 31
This program is available to certain veterans who have a service-connected disability of 10 percent or greater. It provides a monthly stipend and also covers the cost of tuition, books, and supplies. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis. More information here.
Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP)-Chapter 32
Individuals who entered active duty service between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985, served a continuous period of 181 days or more and contributed financially toward the education program are eligible. Monthly benefits are determined by adding the amount of personal contributions and DOD contributions made during the years of active service. More information here.
Post-9/11 GI Bill-Chapter 33
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. More information here.
Chapter 33 (Transfer of Entitlement – TOE)
Available to service members to transfer unused education benefits to spouses and dependents. The service member must establish eligibility for the entitlement and the Department of Defense (DOD) determines eligibility for transferability. More information here.
GI Bill for Dependents-Chapter 35
A child or spouse of a service-connected deceased or 100 percent disabled veteran may be eligible for VA educational benefits. Benefits may be used until the dependent has reached the age of 27 or 8 years from the date of eligibility is determined, whichever is later. More information here.
Chapter 33 Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
This is available to children of active duty members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. Eligible children may receive up to 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits at 100% rate after their 18th birthday. More information here.
Montgomery GI Bill for Reservists-Chapter 1606
An individual who enlisted, re-enlisted, or extended an enlistment in the Selected Reserve or National Guard for a period of 6 years after July 1, 1985, and has completed the initial active duty training is eligible for VA benefits. This program does not require a contribution by the service person. More information here.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program-Chapter 1607
REAP was established effective for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits. More information here.
National Call to Service Program – NCS
This is available to members of the National Guard, Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve, AmeriCorps or other national service to be eligible for education benefits under Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606 as designated by the Secretary of Defense. More information here.
