Hello, I’m Dr. Mia Garcia-Hills, Director of UIC’s office of Student Veterans Affairs. I am the daughter of a Korean War veteran, the niece of a World War II veteran and the proud aunt of two generations of Army and Air Force service members. I graduated from UIC in 2001 and am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the University that helped make my college dream a reality.

Student Veterans Affairs provides a welcoming and supportive 

environment for our military-connected community via the Císar Student Veterans Center. We provide resources, assistance, and programming to ease the transition to academic life and promote academic success.

Stars and Stripes will help you stay up to date with Federal policies, UIC Student Veterans Affairs news, events, and announcements. We thank you for being part of our community and hope you enjoy reading our newsletter. Archived newsletter editions are available on our website.

Undeclared Majors

Undeclared
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree may not have to declare a major before their junior year at some schools. The student cannot be certified beyond their sophomore year unless a major is declared. Only “General Education” courses can be certified prior to the declaration of a major.

Non-matriculated Students (38 CFR 21.4252 (L) (2) and (3))
VA defines matriculation as formal admission to a college or university as a degree-seeking student. VA educational benefits cannot be paid to non-matriculated college or university students unless they are pending admission to your school. In that case, they can be certified for two quarters or semesters. The student can be certified beyond this two-term limit only if the student is admitted to your school as a degree-seeking student, irrespective of the number of credits taken.

Chapter 33 Dual Certification Requirement

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs mandated a policy effective August 2021 that impacts Chapter 33 enrollment certification processing. The procedure requires what is called a dual enrollment certification. The 2nd certification must occur within 30 days after the add/drop deadline and will include tuition and fees.

Enrollment Certification – SVA is certifying for Fall 2026

If you haven’t uploaded your certification documents for the Summer 2026, please do so right away. Summer 2026 dual certifications for Chapter 33 beneficiaries are wrapping up. The processing window for Fall 2026 enrollment certifications opened on June 15th. All certifications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t delay, submit today.

As a veteran, Lam learned military spouses are qualified for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) if they are eligible for Tricare. Lam understands that navigating veteran benefits can be overwhelming. There is much to learn. For example, Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is lesser known in civilian clinics. Medicare-accepting providers generally accept CHAMPVA, especially for inpatient hospital care. If you are eligible for Tricare, you are not eligible for CHAMPVA. It is important to become familiar with the wide range of entitlement programs. Take advantage of our program partners from VITAL and the Veteran Assistance Commission of Cook County when drop-in hours resume in the fall.

Upcoming Events
Join the Student Veterans Affairs Group to stay up to date on all our events and programs. We look forward to seeing you!