Northern Kentucky University recognizes and appreciates the important contributions made by Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, ROTC military students in service to their country of allegiance. The university understands that students may be called into active military service for periods longer than 14 days or be required to be absent from class for shorter durations to fulfill military obligations.

The University has adopted an Active Duty Military Absence option to be considered for absences longer than 14 days. The University also has developed a Short-Term Military Absence policy for absences that exceed the attendance policy for the course(s) or last up to two weeks during the fall and spring semesters. The Short-Term Military Absence policy will apply to an equivalent time period in reduced semesters (e.g., 7-week terms and summer terms).

Please see the official policy located HERE.

Learn more and complete the Absence Due to Military Service Form

 

Courses approved and recommended by the American Council of Education's publication, Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces will be considered for credit.

NEW MINOR FOR FALL 2024!  

NEW
... Veteran Leadership Minor - How & Why? 

What
is the NEW Veteran Leadership Minor? 

NKU's new Veteran Leadership minor not only honors the dedication of our military and veteran students but also recognizes the immense
value they bring to our campus community. Adding the minor to our academic catalog is designed to precisely identify and credit the valuable skills and
experiences you gained in the military. All current and future students are eligible to pursue the Veteran Leadership Minor (ensure to schedule with Professor Richardson (see below) to ensure it is the right fit for your educational goals).  

Why would I pursue it? 

You need a minor to get a bachelors. Receive recognizable credit for your world and life experience, as well as the immense training you garnered
by serving our country.  A Veteran Leadership Minor on your resume demonstrates your highly valued skills to potential and current employers.  

After an extensive review led by Dr. Burke Miller and Amy Danzo, we found the average military & veteran student would have 15 - 18 credit hours toward the minor based on their military experience (you need 21 for the minor). **Several factors play into awarding credit hours, please ensure to schedule your appointment with our dedicated Veteran Leadership Minor advisor (Professor Richardson - see below) to determine if the program is best fit for your situation.** 

How do I get more information? 

First, ensure you have submitted your Official Joint Service Transcript (JST is for every branch besides Air Force and Space Force) to NKU
through official channels so our Advisor can review it thoroughly (JST ORDER HERE) Air Force and Space Force - submit your official CCAF (Community College of the Air Force) (CCAF ORDER HERE). 

What are my next steps as an empowered student?

First, if not enrolled as an NKU student do so FREE - ENROLL HERE. Once your JST or CCAF is submitted - schedule an appointment with the Veteran Leadership Minor Advisor - Professor Rebekah Richardson (Schedule appointment HERE). 

**Because of the uniqueness of the Veteran Leadership Minor and to ensure a proper evaluation of your transcript, you must meet with Professor Richardson to enroll in the program.**   

Please get in touch with the VRS if you have general questions about the NEW Veteran Leadership Minor; specific program requirements and class schedules must be completed through Professor Richardson.   

Contact: Professor Richardson / richardsor5@nku.edu  / 859-572-5374

Contact VRS: 859-572-7867 / veteransresource@nku.edu  

This is a really exciting opportunity, and it should aid many of our military and veteran students in reaching their educational goals faster, saving time and benefits. 

Download Document

Request a copy through this website and note that the Member 4 copy, which shows the character of your discharge, is preferred for most educational purposes. After obtaining your DD214, be sure to keep this document in a safe place. Also note that it is not advisable to register for your DD214 through a county courthouse since doing so makes the process a public record, which could then lead to identity theft.

If you entered the service through a Kentucky Location and you do not need an official transcript please contact the VRS to complete the appropriate paperwork. 

How to Request COE through GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs  How to Access Through eBenefits

You can access your remaining entitlements by going to the VA eBenefits page and working through these steps:

1. Login to your existing account or register for an account (be sure to write down your username and password)
2. When a security warning pops up while navigating through the site, follow these steps:
   1. Choose “I understand the risk”
   2. Choose “Add Exception”
   3. Confirm security exemption
3. At the “Create your DS logon today” section, answer the questions, then begin “Basic Registration Lev. 1”
4. Once your registration has been completed, upgrade your account and go through Remote Proofing
5. When proofing has been completed, go to eBenefits and click Manage Benefits, then Education
6. At that point, GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Chapter 33 Post 9/11 recipients should be able to view and print your Post 9/11 Enrollment Info, which will serve as your Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

Should you have trouble completing steps 5-6, try logging out and logging back in.

 

After your initial registration for educational benefits has been completed, you will only need to resubmit a Semester Enrollment Certification Request each semester. 

No, you do not have to pay the VA back if you do not pass a course. You may repeat a course if it is required for your degree program and the VA will pay for it a second time. However, if you drop or withdraw from a class after the deadline for doing so, you will have to pay the VA back if you received money for that course.

Learn more

If you need to drop or withdraw from a course, consult online catalog for step-by-step instructions, as well as the last date you are able to withdraw. Note that there are two types of grades you can get from dropping a course – punitive and non-punitive. If you drop a class, withdraw from all classes, or are dropped by the instructor before the deadline date, you are assigned a non-punitive grade, which will not affect your GPA and that the VA treats as having a neutral effect on your transcript.

If dropping a class changes your attendance status (for example, if you are then classified as a non-fulltime student), the VA will require repayment of any money you received for attendance in that class unless you have mitigating circumstances. If you feel you have a valid reason for dropping the class or withdrawing from a class, you can write to the VA and ask that you be allowed to maintain your prevailing rate of pay, up to the last date of attendance in the course(s).

Mitigating circumstances include (1) personal illness or injury, (2) the death, illness or serious injury of a family member, (3) relocation due to employment, (4) work-schedule conflict, or (5) hardships. If you claim a mitigating circumstance for dropping a class or withdrawing from NKU, the VA will require in-depth statements and supporting documents before approving payment. If you have other reasons for dropping or withdrawing, you may also provide those in writing to the VA.

If you drop a course, withdraw from all courses, or are dropped by an instructor after the last date to withdraw, you may be assigned a punitive grade. This grade will be figured into your grade point average as an “F” and the VA will only allow payment at the prevailing rate up to the last date of your attendance as reported by the instructor. After that date, the VA will begin a new rate of pay. With the implications that come from dropping a course, whether you receive a non-punitive grade or a punitive one (the latter affects your GPA), you should make every effort to avoid doing so.

If used G.I. Bill Previously: Submit a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training. Only if you have used Post-9/11 G.I. Bill veteran benefits at another institution, you will need to complete and submit this online form.  Once you receive notification from the VA of a successful change please notify the Veterans Resource Station.