Veterans Services and Benefits Certification
503-725-8380
Most programs at Portland State University are approved for the training of veterans. The Veterans Administration requires that any veteran receiving GI Bill benefits while attending PSU is required to obtain transcripts from all previously attended schools and submit them to the VA School Official for review for prior credit. If you have submitted all transcripts from all previously attended schools to the Admission Office, they will be accessible to the VA School Official. In this case, you do not need to submit two copies. Each term, after registration, veteran students intending to use their education benefits must submit a veterans certification form to the Veterans Services Office in 104 NH. Course adds, drops, withdrawals, class cancellations and changes of program made after submitting a veterans certification form must be reported as soon as possible to the Veterans Certification Office.
Academic Credit for Military Training
After admission, credit may be granted for some types of military service courses on the college level where equivalency to Portland State courses can be shown, as informed by the ACE recommendations. Veterans should provide transcripts from appropriate military schools and a copy of VA form DD214 to the veteran’s certification section of the Office of the Registrar upon application to PSU.
Satisfactory progress standards
In order to maintain satisfactory progress, the student veteran must complete the following credits:
| Certified for: |
Undergraduate: |
Graduate: |
| Full time |
12 credits |
9 credits |
| Three-quarter time |
9 credits |
7 credits |
| One-half time |
6 credits |
5 credits |
The cumulative GPA at Portland State University required to maintain satisfactory progress is 2.00. One hundred and eighty (180) credits are required to graduate with a baccalaureate degree (the total is greater in some programs). Grades of No Pass, withdrawals, and audits do not count toward credits completed and may result in a VA over payment.
For reporting purposes, the last date of attendance is the same as the date of official withdrawal from class or classes, date of student notification of a change in credits to the Veterans’ certification office, or the date of determination of unsatisfactory progress, whichever is earliest. This date determines the amount of overpayment, if any, incurred by a student not maintaining satisfactory progress standards.
Courses may be dropped during the drop periods, but student veterans are still responsible for reporting any changes in credits which affect the rate of VA certification. The number of credits completed is checked against the number of credits for which the veteran is certified each term by the Veterans’ certification office.
Failure to maintain satisfactory progress standards at Portland State University will result in the termination of G.I. benefits.
Deployment policy
PSU follows the Oregon University System Military Duty Refund Policy which states that “any student with orders to report for active military duty may withdraw at any time during the term and receive a full refund. If sufficient course work has been accomplished and the instructor feels justified in granting credit for the course work completed, credit may be granted and no refund will be given.”
The Office of the Registrar will work with students on a case-by-case basis to determine the best course of action. Students called to active military duty generally have the following options:
- Full withdrawal from all courses at any point during the term without academic or financial penalty, with full tuition refund.
- Partial withdrawal from some (but not all) courses at any point during the term without academic or financial penalty. Students who have completed a significant portion of their course work may be eligible to receive the grades earned in courses up to that point in time and/or request incomplete grades according to existing guidelines. Tuition would be refunded for withdrawn courses.
- No withdrawal from any courses. Students who have completed a significant portion of their course work may be eligible to receive the grades earned in courses up to that point in time and/or request incomplete grades according to existing guidelines. No tuition would be refunded.
Decisions as to which option is best for the student will depend on the student’s personal details, the time remaining in the term, the portion of coursework completed at the time of military activation, and the judgment of the instructors. Students called to active duty who want to drop courses or discuss other options, should bring a copy of their orders to the Veterans Services Office, NH 104, and speak with a Veterans Certification Officer.