Veteran's Benefits

Canisius University is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to make attendance at Canisius University financially tenable to our nation’s veterans. Veterans and their dependents who are 100% eligible under the Post 9/11 GI Bill® automatically qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program at Canisius University.  This program allows Canisius University to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the annual $19,198.31 tuition entitlement. Canisius is committed to pay 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution, allowing 100% vested veterans to attend Canisius University tuition free.


Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch 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. The Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits can be transferred to a service member's dependents. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible. The bill will provide funds for tuition, books, and housing. The 9/11 GI Bill was revised in 2010 with tuition costs capped at $19,198.31 per year (August to August) and no housing allowance will be provided over the Christmas holiday.


Montgomery GI Bill® (Ch 30)

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30. The Montgomery GI Bill may also be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve.


Reserve Educational Assistance Program

REAP (Chapter 1607 of title 10, U.S. Code) is a new benefit providing educational assistance to members of the reserve components - Selected Reserve (Sel Res) and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) - who are called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress.


Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.


Veterans Tuition Award

Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are awards for full-time study and part-time study for eligible veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.


Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

VEAP is available if 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 federal government. You may use these benefits for degree and certificate programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available.


VA Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Canisius University adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/1 1 G.I. Bill@ (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:
• Prevent nor delay 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 available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution, including but not limited to access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students will be required to:
Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class
Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment
Our institution has adopted this addendum, effective August 2019.


Return of Military Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.

To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, Canisius will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending.

If a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Canisius will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

Calculation:
When a student “officially” withdraws from a course, the date of withdrawal will be used as the last date of attendance.

Canisius will recalculate your TA eligibility based on the following formula:

Number of days completed                        = Percent earned
Total days of the course

Return of funds:
Determining eligibility for TA is class specific. The start and end date will be used for each class to determine eligibility. Using the formula above, Canisius will be required to return some or all of the TA awarded to service members that did not complete at least 60% of each course; possibly creating a balance on your Canisius student account.

 


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 www.benefits.va.gov/gibill