Policies

In order to stay informed, we ask that you keep your contact information up to date with our office, the Office of the University Registrar, and Veterans Affairs.

The official method of communication our office uses for announcements and messages is via email to your University-issued email address (@louisiana.edu). Please check your University email regularly. 

If you receive benefits under Chapter 30, Chapter 33, or Chapter 1606, you must verify that you are attending school at the end of each month in order to receive payment. This can be done through either of the following:

• Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE)
• Phone: 1-877-VA-ECERT (1-877-823-2378)

The VA and the Office of Veteran & Military Student Services closely monitor each student’s enrollment status and progression toward degree completion. Any changes that can affect your benefits will be reported to VA.

You should notify our office if there are any changes in your academic status including:

• Change in Enrollment
  • Schedule adjustment
  • Official withdrawal (withdrawing with a grade of "W") from class(es)
  • Unofficial withdrawal (receiving a grade of FN or FS)
  • Resignation from the University
  • Sitting out or transferring

Some changes can result in payment delays or cause a debt that you will must repay to the University and/or VA.

• Change of Program
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Concentration

Some students qualify for more than one education benefit and may decide to switch or use another benefit once the first one is exhausted. To find out if you are eligible to receive both benefits, contact the VA Education Office.

If the type of benefit program you receive changes, you must notify our office and submit a copy of your new Certificate of Eligibility letter from VA.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (“UL Lafayette”) is pleased to hold a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Department of Defense (“DOD”), which allows our institution the opportunity to further our commitment to excellence in educating Service member students.

By following the guidance of the DOD MOU, we are able to ensure that all Service members have access to what they need to make informed decisions about where to attend school and about how their Tuition Assistance (“TA”) benefits will interact with their chosen educational programs.

Below, you will find more information about how UL Lafayette upholds the agreement represented by the DOD MOU; please contact the offices associated with each area for more information.

Tuition Assistance

Students who are interested in using TA need to proceed to the appropriate website below to begin:

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marines
• Navy

Compliance

For concerns about compliance with the DOD MOU, please contact the UL Lafayette Office of Veteran & Military Student Services at veterans@louisiana.edu.

Marketing, Recruiting, & Advertising

UL Lafayette adheres to program integrity requirements consistent with regulations issued by the Department of Education (34 C.F.R 668.71-668.75 and 668.14) related to restrictions on misrepresentation, recruitment, and payment of incentive compensation. This applies to UL Lafayette itself and its agents, including third-party lead generators, marketing firms, or companies that own or operate the educational institution. As part of efforts to eliminate unfair, deceptive, and abusive marketing aimed at Service members, UL Lafayette will:

1. Ban inducements, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimis [defined as "an insignificant amount"] to any individual or entity, or its agents including third-party lead generators or marketing firms other than salaries paid to employees or fees paid to contractors in conformity with all applicable laws for the purpose of securing enrollments of Service members or obtaining access to TA funds. Educational institution-sponsored scholarships or grants and tuition reductions available to military students are permissible.
2. Refrain from providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance;
3. Refrain from high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Service member enrollments.

UL Lafayette recruiting strategies utilize self-reported contact information; if a student is contacted by UL Lafayette and they wish to unsubscribe from future communications, they have the ability to unsubscribe their own accounts.

Additionally, eligible Service members are directed to speak with their Educational Services Officer (“ESO”) or counselor within their Military Service prior to being enrolled at UL Lafayette. This is to ensure that Service members understand their own eligibility for TA and their potential financial responsibility toward UL Lafayette. If an eligible Service member decides to use TA, UL Lafayette will enroll him or her only after the TA is approved by the individual’s Service. Service members will be solely responsible for all tuition costs without this prior approval. This requirement does not prohibit UL Lafayette from pre-registering a Service member in a course in order to secure a slot in the course. If UL Lafayette enrolls the Service member before the appropriate Service approves TA, then the Service member could be responsible for the tuition. All TA must be requested and approved prior to the start date of the course. The TA is approved on a course-by-course basis and only for the specific course(s) and class dates that a Service member requests. If a Service member “self-identifies” his or her eligibility and the Service has not approved the funding, then the Service member will be solely responsible for all tuition costs, not the Service.

Financial Matters

Before offering, recommending, arranging, signing up, dispersing, or enrolling Service members for private student loans, Service members may work with a counselor in the Financial Aid office  at UL Lafayette; this financial aid advisor will be able to offer individual loan counseling, including, but not limited to:

1. Providing a clear and complete explanation of available financial aid, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended;
2. Describing the differences between private and federal student loans to include terms, conditions, repayment, and forgiveness options;
3. Explaining that students have the ability to refuse all or borrow less than the maximum student loan amount allowed.

For more information about student loan counseling at UL Lafayette, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@louisiana.edu

Information on how UL Lafayette complies with requirements for return of TA funds:

1. Return any TA Program funds directly to the Military Service, not to the Service member.
2. Up to the start date, return all (100 percent) TA funds to the appropriate Military Service when the Service member does not:
   1. Begin attendance at UL Lafayette; or
   2. Start a course, regardless of whether the student starts other courses.
3. Return any TA funds paid for a course that is canceled by UL Lafayette.
4. Returns any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60 percent portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based on when a student stops attending. In instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, UL Lafayette works with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

For more information about UL Lafayette policies and procedures regarding the use of TA funds, please contact the UL Lafayette Bursar's Office at bursar@louisiana.edu.

Accreditation and Credentialing Requirements

UL Lafayette is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

Academic Counseling and Post-Graduation Job Opportunities

Degree Requirements

All undergraduate students at UL Lafayette must attend orientation and meet with an advisor prior to course selection. All students, including graduate students, may peruse the Academic Catalog for the degree requirements and timelines for degree programs.

Transfer Credit

After admission to UL Lafayette, all students will meet with an advisor in their department to discuss transferring credit toward their degree. UL Lafayette will accept most college-level (non-technical) credits from a regionally accredited college or university for admissions and classification purposes. For priority equivalency evaluation of military credits, Service members who have provided a JST can send an email request to ryan@louisiana.edu.

Military Leave of Absence and Readmissions Policy

UL Lafayette recognizes the challenges of completing a college degree in the midst of military Service requirements. Accordingly, Service members should refer to University of Louisiana System Policy Number S-II.XXII.-1a (Reservist and National Guard Mobilization). For students who exercise mobilization or activation as outlined in this Policy, TA refunds will be issued in accordance with UL Lafayette withdrawal refund schedule.

Career Counseling

All UL Lafayette students and alumni are encouraged to use Career Center resources to assist them with transitioning into a meaningful career post-graduation. In particular, the Career Center helps students find jobs and internships.

The Office of Veteran Services, Student Support Services-Veterans can also assist with finding jobs on and off campus.

Returning TA Benefits

When a student using Military TA funds withdraws from a class or classes, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in accordance with this DOD MOU,  shall return TA benefits using the same procedures and policies set forth for returning Title IV funds. You can find the policy here.