Veterans' Education Benefits
Veterans' Benefits
Samford VA Contact:
Michelle Joiner, VA Certifying Official
Mailing Address:
Office of Student Records
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama 35229
Phone, Fax, and E-Mail:
Phone: (205) 726-2911
Fax: (205) 726-2908
E-Mail: mhjoiner@samford.edu
VA Web site: www.gibill.va.gov
GI Bill (Education) phone: 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551)
The VA Certifying Official serves as a liaison for veterans and their dependents, assisting in obtaining benefits from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. This service is located in the Office of Student Records on the second floor of Samford Hall, Room 214.
Students must be admitted and registered at the University before certification can be completed. Students must fill out a VA Request for Certification form and return it to the Student Records Office to initiate the certification process.
VA Request for Certification (HTML)
VA Request for Certification (PDF)
(Forms open in a new window.)
Scroll down or click on a link for more information on any of the following:
Chapter 30 | Chapter 31 | Chapter 32 | Chapter 33
Chapter 35 | Chapter 1606 | Chapter 1607
Eligibility for Benefits
Honorable Discharge
Chapter 30
A person on active duty must have served a minimum of two years continuous active duty and received an honorable discharge before becoming eligible to receive benefits under the Chapter 30 (Montgomery "New" G.I. Bill) program. The interested service member must consult with the Education Services Officer (ESO) on the military facility before submitting an application for Chapter 30 benefits.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Chapter 31
A veteran may be eligible for Chapter 31 benefits if he or she incurred or aggravated a service-connected disability and is in need of vocational rehabilitation because the disability creates an employment handicap. Veterans should contact their Veterans Affairs Office to obtain detailed information.
Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Chapter 32
VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
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. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009. This program will pay eligible individuals’ tuition and fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition and fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning.
Survivors and Dependents of Military Personnel
Chapter 35
Children, spouses, and surviving spouses of veterans who died or are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-incurred disability may be eligible to receive Chapter 35 benefits. Students desiring additional information should contact their county Veterans Affairs Office or visit www.gibill.va.gov for more information and to apply for benefits. Please note that Chapter 35 is a federal Veterans Administration program.
Alabama G.I. and Dependents Education Benefit Act
This Alabama state program is payable only to state-supported schools and therefore not applicable to Samford students. For additional information you may visit http://www.va.state.al.us/scholarship.htm.
Selected Reserve Personnel
Chapter 1606
A person enlisting, re-enlisting, or extending enlistment in the Selected Reserve so that the reservist has an obligation to serve for a period of not less than six years may be eligible for the Chapter 1606 (Montgomery "New" G.I. Bill) program. Students should contact their respective reserve units for eligibility information.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Chapter 1607
REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a 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.
Last update:
5/23/11 10:52 AM
