VETERAN STUDENTS:
YOUR CALL TO ACTION!

Siena Heights University, which has been nationally recognized as a Veteran Friendly School for several years, takes great pride in its ability to offer quality educational opportunities to our nation’s veterans, survivors, and dependents.

50+

Majors & Programs

14:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

90%

Adrian Undergraduate Students Who Receive Financial Aid

The mission of Siena Heights University, a Catholic University founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, is to assist people to become more competent, purposeful, and ethical through a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all.

Best Online Bachelor's Program for Veterans

Click the following topics to learn more about VA Educational benefits at siena heights

SHU is honored to work with our nation’s veterans, survivors, and dependents to help you achieve your educational goals. With over 75 majors, personal advising throughout your academic journey, lifetime access to our career services, and an alumni network that spans the globe, we are here to help you every step of the way.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers several educational benefits to eligible veterans, survivors, and dependents:

  • Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®
    • Available to those who have served in the armed forces. See the va.gov website linked above for eligibility requirements.
    • This chapter is not transferable to dependents.
    • A monthly payment will be remitted directly to the student in arrears. For currently payment rates, please visit the following website.
  • Chapter 31: Vocational Readiness & Employment
    • Those who have served in the armed forces and have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from the VA are eligible to apply, although approval is not guaranteed. See the va.gov website linked above for specific eligibility requirements.
    • Upon acceptance, the student will work with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to form a rehabilitation plan that may include further education, including payment for tuition, qualifying fees, and supplies.
    • This chapter is not transferrable to dependents.
    • Payment is remitted directly to Siena Heights University.
  • Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill®: this program may be transferred to your spouse or qualifying dependents, with restrictions.
    • Available to those who have served in the armed forces. See the va.gov website linked above or specific eligibility requirements.
    • This chapter is transferrable to spouses or dependents, please see above.
    • A maximum of 48 months of entitlement is possible, although most receive 36 months of entitlement.
    • The benefit is remitted directly to Siena Heights University and covers tuition and mandatory fees at the rate in which you qualify. The benefit also includes a monthly housing and a supplies stipends. For current payment rates and entitlement maximum, please visit the following website.
    • Room and board is not covered under this benefit, although a monthly housing stipend is remitted directly to the student.
  • Chapter 35: Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
    • Available to survivors and dependents. See the va.gov website linked above for specific eligibility requirements.
    • A maximum of 45 months of entitlement is possible, although most receive 36 months of entitlement.
    • A monthly payment will be remitted directly to the student in arrears. For current payment rates, please visit the following website.
  • Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill: Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)®
    • Available to those who served in the National Guard or Reserves, completed initial active duty for training (IADT), and committed to serve in the Selected Reserves. See the va.gov website linked above for specific eligibility requirements.
    • This chapter is not transferable to dependents.
    • A maximum of 36 months of entitlement is possible.
    • A monthly payment is remitted directly to the student in arrears. For current payment rates, please visit the following website.

Prospective Student Checklist:

Prospective Siena Heights University students eligible for VA educational benefits should follow these steps before enrolling at Siena Heights University:

  1. Check your eligibility for receiving VA educational benefits. If you are unsure as to what benefits chapter to which you are eligible, please see the “VA Chapter Benefits” above and consult the appropriate va.gov webpages for eligibility requirements.
  2. Visit WEAMS, a website that the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs uses to list approved programs by school. Search for Siena Heights University and make sure the program (degree and major, or certificate) in which you are interested in enrolling is listed. If the program is not on the list contained in WEAMS, you are not eligible to receive VA educational benefits towards completion of that specific program. Please contact the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) if you have any questions regarding this.
  3. Ensure that you are making an informed decision on your college enrollment. Feel free to use the following tools to compare Siena Heights University to other schools in areas of veteran enrollment, cost of attending, average college debt upon graduation, graduation rates, and the like:
  4. Visit Siena Heights University’s Office of Financial Aid Net Price Calculator Shopping Sheet. Here you can enter in personal information to estimate financial aid. Using the payment rate tools found in the above section entitled “VA Chapter Benefits,” or using the Department of Veteran Affairs GI Bill® Comparison Tool, you can enter an estimated award amount. Please note that VA benefits are complex and depend on the chapter benefits awarded to you. If you have any questions, please contact the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) at registrar@sienaheights.edu. 
  5. If you’re interested in attending our residential campus, schedule a personalized campus visit.
  6. Apply to Siena Heights University.
  7. Contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@sienaheights.edu if you would like a financial aid counseling appointment.
  8. If you have any further questions regarding your VA educational benefits, please contact the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) at registrar@sienaheights.edu.

Admitted Student Checklist:

Admitted Siena Heights University students using VA educational benefits should follow these steps as they consider enrolling at Siena Heights University:

  1. Check the current Siena Heights University Academic Catalog for current university policies as well as degree and major/minor requirements associated with your degree plan. Please be advised that only credits included in your intended degree and major/minor requirements as printed in the academic catalog can be certified to the VA by Siena Heights University.
  2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify for additional student aid.
  3. Further opportunities for scholarships, grants, and financial aid can be found at the following websites:
    • A summary of Siena Heights University-specific scholarships and grants for full-time residential students can be found here.
    • The U.S. Department of Education’s information on federal student aid.
    • Fastweb, where you can search for additional scholarships.
  4. Apply for VA educational benefits online through VA.gov. If you are unsure as to what benefits chapter to which you are eligible, please see the “VA Chapter Benefits” above and consult the appropriate va.gov webpages for eligibility requirements. Upon application approval, the VA will send you appropriate documentation. Please send a copy of this certificate to the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) to place in your file by emailing it to registrar@sienaheights.edu.
    The appropriate documentation includes:
    • Chapter 30: VA Eligibility or Certificate of Eligibility (COE) 
    • Chapter 31: A valid PO number from your VR&E counselor communicated on your Veteran Registration Intention (VRI) form. 
    • Chapter 33: Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Statement of Benefits 
    • Chapter 35: Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Statement of Benefits 
    • Chapter 1606: Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD Form 2384-1) 
       
  5. If you have prior college credits or prior experience in which you would like Siena Heights University to consider as transfer credits, please submit an official transcript of that coursework to the university. This can include an official transcript from an accredited university, a Joint Services Transcript (JST), or the like. For more information about Siena Heights University’s transfer credit policy, please consult the most current academic catalog.
  6. Your advisor will register you for courses. For any questions about this, please contact your admissions counselor or academic advisor.
  7. After you are registered for courses, please complete the Veteran Registration Intention (VRI) form and email to the SCO whose email is listed at the top of the form. Please note that certification happens on a semester-by-semester basis, please submit a new VRI for every semester in which you plan to use your VA educational benefits.
  8. If you have any questions related to any aspect of the admittance process, please contact your admissions counselor or the SCO.
  9. Once registration is complete and the above documents have been submitted, Siena Heights University will certify your enrollment to the VA.

Returning Student Checklist:

For those students that have completed at least one full semester while utilizing their VA educational benefits should follow these steps as they register for the following semester:

  1. Set up an appointment with your academic advisor and register for courses.
  2. Upon completion of registration, please submit a Veteran Registration Intention (VRI) and email to the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) whose email is listed at the top of the form. Please note that certification happens on a semester-by-semester basis, please submit a new VRI for every semester in which you plan to use your VA educational benefits.
  3. Once registration is complete and the above documents have been submitted, Siena Heights University will certify your enrollment to the VA.
  4. Notify the SCO with any changes that are made to your registration from initial submission of materials.

Guest Student Checklist:

For those students wishing to be guest students at Siena Heights University should following these steps:

  1. Complete the Guest Student Application Form.
  2. The Registrar’s Office will contact you via phone for more information and register you for the desired class.
  3. Please send a copy of this certificate to the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) to place in your file by emailing it to registrar@sienaheights.edu.
    The appropriate documentation includes:
    • Chapter 30: VA Eligibility or Certificate of Eligibility (COE) 
    • Chapter 31: A valid PO number from your VR&E counselor communicated on your Veteran Registration Intention (VRI) form. 
    • Chapter 33: Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Statement of Benefits 
    • Chapter 35: Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Statement of Benefits 
    • Chapter 1606: Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD Form 2384-1) Submit appropriate documentation to the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) at registrar@sienaheights.edu. The appropriate documentation includes:
  4. Obtain a primary school letter from your home school’s SCO. A primary school letter must be printed on the institution’s official letterhead and signed by the SCO. The following information must be contained in the letter:
    • Student’s name
    • Student’s program (degree and major)
    • The exact courses, including course ID, for which the student plans to register at Siena Heights University.
    • A statement from the home school’s SCO that the credits being taken at Siena Heights University will apply to the student’s degree plan.
    • Explicit reference that the courses are planned to be taken at Siena Heights University, listing the specific term in which they are planned to be taken.
  5. Submit the primary school letter to registrar@sienaheights.edu.
  6. Submit a completed Veteran Registration Intention form (VRI) to the designated SCO’s email printed at the top of the form.
  7. Once registration is complete and the above documents have been submitted, Siena Heights University will certify your guest student enrollment to the VA. 

VA School Certifying Officials (SCO):
Evan Graham
Sacred Heart Hall, Room 207
egraham2@sienaheights.edu

Academic Counseling:
Center for Student Success
Ledwidge Hall
css@sienaheights.edu

Office of Financial Aid:
Erickson Enrollment and Welcome Center
finaid@sienaheights.edu

Office of Student Accounts:
Sacred Heart Hall, Room 206
studentaccounts@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7110

Career Services:
Melissa Tsuji, Director of Career Services
careerservices@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7614

Office of Accessibility:
McLaughlin University Center, Room 211
accessibility@sienaheights.edu

Counseling Center:
Ledwidge Hall
Sandy Morley, Director of Counseling
smorley@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7193

Office of Diversity and Inclusion:
McLaughlin University Center, second floor
Tichina Jones, Interim Coordinator, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
tjones16@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7604

Campus Ministry:
McLaughlin University Center, second floor
Sister Mary Jones, O.P., Director of Campus Ministry
mjones3@sienaheights.edu
517-264-7105

Siena Heights University was honored to receive Silver Level Certification from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. 

MVAA Veteran-Friendly School - Silver 2023-2024

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

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