Issue 65 | 2/28/25

Welcome Back!

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

Section 1010/Ch. 33 Attendance Verification
Ch. 33 students are required to verify enrollment each month. If students do not verify their enrollment for two consecutive months, monthly housing allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments will be withheld. Enrollment verification messaging will go out via text or email based on the student’s opt-in status. Students who opt out of text and email may call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 888-442-4551 to verify their enrollment status.

Ask VA (AVA)

Ask VA is a system that allows both Veterans and Non-Veterans to submit questions, concerns, recommendations, and compliments by providing the ability to interact directly with the different VA administrations and receive verified and accurate responses for VA-related questions.

Use Up-To-Date Forms

Ensure the most up-to-date forms are downloaded and submitted through the Student Veterans Affairs website for benefit processing and to notify staff of any registration changes. Continuous updates and improvements are being made to the website, forms, and online submission platform to streamline processes and enhance the student experience. Forms are only accepted through the online submission platform; email submissions are not permitted.

Ch. 33 Beneficiary Tuition and Fees Payment Processing

Dual certification for Spring 2025 Term B will begin on March 17. Tuition and fees are reported as part of the VA’s dual certification requirement. Dependent upon a beneficiary's entitlement rating, the Post 9/11-GI Bill® pays a percentage of tuition and fees to University of Illinois System, which are then directed to the appropriate campus for processing. It may take up to 6 weeks for the VA to remit payment after tuition and fees are reported.

Tuition and fee-specific scholarships, waivers, grants, and non-mandatory fees are deducted from the total reported to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. In cases when students opt to use Ch. 33 in conjunction with Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG) or Illinois National Guard Grant (ING), IVG and ING are the last payer. Questions regarding ING or IVG should be directed to your Financial Aid counselor. Find your financial aid counselor.

Shankar Peterson

Shankar earned his Master of Social Work from Jane Addams College of Social Work at UIC. He loves UIC because it embodies a culture of diversity, innovation, and inclusivity, creating a vibrant community where everyone can thrive. His passion for supporting Veterans and military-affiliated individuals stems from a deep respect for their sacrifices and a desire to ensure they receive the recognition and resources they deserve. His work with the Veterans Integration to Academic to Leadership (VITAL) program is aimed at empowering student veterans by connecting them with vital resources to navigate their academic journey successfully. VITAL’s mission is to remove barriers to graduation by ensuring Veterans have access to the resources they rightfully deserve. Student Veterans, their family, dependents, and caregivers should take advantage of VITAL services.

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!

The Barb Yong Equal Pay Scholarship
The Barb Yong Equal Pay Scholarship, awarded by the Equal Pay Chicago Coalition (EPCC), is to support social justice-minded college students (full- or part-time, 2-year or 4-year) from Chicago in their educational pursuits. This scholarship is designed for students dedicated to advancing social justice and addressing critical issues such as gender equity, racial justice, education access, and workers' rights.

Scholarship Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025

Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) Workshops
The OBTT pilot program provides employment preparation, education, and opportunities to Veterans, soldiers currently serving in the National Guard and Reserve, and their spouses in an effort to maximize their career potential.

📍 Císar Student Veterans Center – Flex Space

🗓️ Tuesday, March 4

The Císar Student Veterans Center (CSVC) is located on the second floor of Student Center East (SCE) room 248. Go through the Inner Circle food court, turn right (west) at the entrance to the Wellness Center, go past the Wellness Center front desk down the hall through the Commuter Student Resource Center, and you will see the CSVC entrance on the back wall.

Check out this step-by-step guide to the center: VIDEO

Císar Center Hours:

Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM


Contributing Editor: Nicolle Velasquez

828 S Wolcott Ave | Chicago, IL 60612 US

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