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Veterans Affairs

How to Find the Office of Veterans Affairs
The University of Buffalo’s Office of Veterans Affairs is located in the Ellicott Complex, Rooms 172 – 178 Fillmore (past the Food Court) on the North Campus. There are a few ways to find our office:

Using Campus Busses/Parking Shuttle:
Take the bus or shuttle that goes to the Ellicott Complex go inside to the Food Court. Once inside, walk to your left through the Food Court and keep going (bearing right) down that hallway. Once you’ve passed Perks, the Package Pick-up mailroom and the Mildred Blake Student Center, turn to your right in to a little hidden hallway. We’re in rooms 172 – 178.

From Spaulding Lot:
Spaulding is the first parking lot off Frontier road. It is at the end of the Ellicott Complex. Walk to your left as you face the Ellicott Complex, and walk into the tunnel. Enter the first entrance on your left and walk straight, past the Mildred Blake Student Center. Almost immediately past the Mildred Blake Center, on your right, is a little hidden hallway. We’re in rooms 172 – 178.

From the Student Union:
If it’s a nice day, you can walk over from the Student Union. Walk along Lee Road (past the bookstore) towards the Ellicott Complex. Cross Audubon Parkway (watch out for traffic and visiting geese!) and walk through the Fargo Parking Lot. Once you get to the end of Fargo lot, to the right is the Fargo Extension Parking Lot. Walk through the extension lot between the building and Lake LaSalle, through Marshall Court. You’ll see a large American Flag in a window on your left. Walk to the end of that building and enter through the outside door. Room 178 is immediately to your left as you enter the building.

How to Apply for Benefits
New students to the University at Buffalo who have not used any VA educational assistance programs should apply in person at the University’s Office of Veterans Affairs. Veterans who have not used any of their Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty Educational Assistance (Chapter 30) benefits, will need a copy of their Member 4 of their DD Form 214 to send to the VA. Reservists who have not used any of their Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve Educational Assistance (Chapter 1606/1607) benefits, will need the original DD Form 2384, or Notice of Basic Eligibility, from their Reserve Unit. Dependent’s who have not received Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits, will need to apply using VA Form 22-5490 or provide a Certificate of Eligibility. New Chapter 30 & 1606/1607 recipients will need to complete a VA Form 22-1990. All Chapters will need to complete a green Veterans’ Coordinators Card.

• Transfer students who have received VA educational assistance benefits at other institutions of higher education should also apply in person. Transfers students would only need to complete a Change in Place of Training form and a green Veterans’ Coordinators Card.
• Continuing students can be certified for benefits as soon as they have pre-registered for the semester. Continuing students need to complete the green Veterans’ Coordinators Card prior to the beginning, or at the beginning of each semester.
• Disabled veterans must apply for Vocational Rehabilitation at the VA Regional Office, 130 S. Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202. You will receive authorization directly from the VA. You need to bring this authorization to our office and complete a green Veterans’ Coordinators Card, and we will notify the VA that you are enrolled and in attendance at the University.

Withdrawing or Resigning from Classes
The law prohibits payment of VA benefits for a course from which the student withdraws or resigns, or for a course that the student completes, but receives a grade which will not be used in computing requirements for graduation. The University is required to promptly report any change in enrollment, or receipt of a non-punitive grade, that affects the receipt of VA educational benefits. Students are required to report within 30 days any change in enrollment or the receipt of a non-punitive grade to our office to avoid an overpayment.

Reporting Change of Enrollment
If you drop or add a course, even if you resign from a class after the semester is completed, please inform us immediately by completing a Change in Credit Hour form. The yellow Change of Credit Hour forms are available at the Office of Veterans Affairs.

Chapter 30 Monthly Verification
Veterans receiving benefits under Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606/1607 must verify their enrollment each month to the VA in order to receive payment for that month. This monthly verification can be done by one of two systems:

• A telephone system using Interactive Voice Response (IVR), by dialing 1-877-823-2378 and following the instructions provided, or
• An Internet program called WAVE, Web Automated Verification of Enrollment), by logging onto the WAVE link and follow instructions.

Once either system tells you that you are certified for the month, payment can be expected within 10-14 days, or 3-5 days if direct deposited. Chapter 30 veterans and Chapter 1606/1607 reservists must still notify the UB Veterans Affairs Office when their enrollment changes, even though the change has been reported to the VA on WAVE.

Advance Payment
Veterans may request an Advance Payment for the first two months prior to being certified, if they are eligible. Advance payment must be requested no sooner than 120 days and no later than 45 days before the new semester begins. Advance payment checks are mailed directly to our office and can be picked up at the office during usual office hours. Students should be aware, however, that after receiving an advance check they will not receive another check for several months.

The VA Work-Study Program
The VA has a Work-Study Program which offers employment to those attending school at least three-quarter time and receiving educational benefits. You may work at the Office of Veterans Affairs on campus, as well as any VA facility, including the VA Hospital or VA Regional Office. Payment is hourly at the minimum wage. An advance check for the first 50 hours can be sent to the student who is accepted, if requested. After the advance is worked off, a check is generated for each additional 50 hours worked.

Veterans under Chapters 30, 31, 32, and 1606/1607 can apply, as can children and spouses of veterans under Chapter 35. For more information, stop by the office or give us a call.

Direct Deposit
Veterans receiving Chapter 30 benefits and reservists receiving Chapter 1606/1607 benefits have the option of having their Montgomery GI Bill educational benefit check deposited directly into their designated financial institution. To sign up for direct deposit if it has not already been arranged, both Chapters can call the VA Regional Office in Muskogee, Oklahoma, at 1-877-838-2778. You will need the following information:

• Your VA File Number (which is usually your SSN);
• Your Account Number, and type of account;
• Your financial institution's 9-digit Routing Transit Number (which is obtained from your financial institution)

Deferred Payments
By agreement with the Office of Student Accounts, students receiving VA educational assistance benefits are allowed to make three deferred payments per semester without penalty. If you wish to take advantage of this deferred payment opportunity, you need to indicate your desire on the green Veterans Coordinator's Card, which is completed before each semester when you apply for benefits. The Office of Veterans Affairs then notifies the Office of Student Accounts of those students who requested this option. Please remember that you must make your payments on or before the dates specified to avoid any late charges.

Credit for Military Experience (CME)
The University will consider granting for experiences gained while in the military, including military training. For more information to see if you qualify, DUE students should contact Tommie Babbs, Student Advising Services, 109 Norton Hall, at 645-6013 to make an appointment.

National Veterans Fraternity
Phi Chi Sigma is a national veterans fraternity dedicated to veteran scholarship, service to the community and camaraderie. Members are linked together by a common experience and desire to make the college years fulfilling and rewarding. The Zeta chapter at the University at Buffalo is involved in charitable work, intramural athletics, veteran awareness and social functions. More information on Phi Chi Sigma is available in the Office of Veterans Affairs.

General Information
For general information on benefits available to veterans, call or visit the Buffalo Regional Processing Office:

The Department of Veterans Affairs
111 West Huron Street
Buffalo, New York 14202
1-888-442-4551

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) & Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP)
The University at Buffalo is a SOC institutional member. SOC is a consortium of national higher education associations and member institutions that functions in cooperation with the Department of Defense (DOD) and the military services to help meet the higher education needs of servicemembers. SOC institutional members subscribe to principles and criteria to ensure that high-quality academic programs are available to military students.

The University at Buffalo is also a participating institution in ConAP. ConAP is a joint program of the Army Recruiting Command and participating colleges. ConAP goals are to increase college enrollment of veterans and reservists, and help recruiters enlist college-capable men and women who are postponing college, usually for financial reasons. Recruiters help new soldiers select a college, apply for admission, and make a plan to enroll in college when their enlistment or active-duty training is completed.

For further information on SOC or ConAP, contact the SOC Institutional representative, Dr. Stephen Wallace.

ROTC at UB
Army ROTC at UB develops great students into great leaders. This program allows all qualified individuals to achieve an officer's commission into the US Army, Army Reserves, or National Guard. Four-year, Three-year, and two-year scholarship opportunities exist for qualified students in all academic majors. The classes are offered on the UB Campus to all students with no obligation for the first two years of the program. For more information on how to increase your options and opportunities as a college student contact Captain Bryan Hyer, US Army, Canisius College, (716)888-3239 or ROTC1@Canisius.edu.

Additional Veterans Resources
Veteran Affairs Department
Information on The Department of Veteran Affairs

Federal Benefits
Information on benefits for Federal Dependents and Veterans

WAVE
(Web Automated Verification of Enrollment)

Contact Information
Veterans Affairs
175 MFAC
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 14261-0026
Tel: (716) 645-2271
Fax: (716) 645-3873
Director: Dr. Stephen Wallace
E-Mail: ub-vets@acsu.buffalo.edu