Issue 76 | 10/3/25

Welcome back, Flames!

Hello, I’m Dr. Mia Garcia-Hills Director of UIC’s Office of Student Veterans Affairs. 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.

Course Withdraw (W) & Mitigating Circumstances
The VA requires that changes, such as withdrawal from a course be reported within 30 days of the change. To ensure appropriate measures are taken by the VA, the appeal form helps beneficiaries provide appropriate documentation. VA automatically grants mitigating circumstances for up to 6 credits the first time a student reduces or terminates, and mitigating circumstances must be considered. This automatic, one-time grant is called the 6-Credit Hour Exclusion. Up to 6 credits can be excluded if the student has been awarded benefits for the credit. The 6-Credit Hour Exclusion cannot be granted if the student completes the term and receives non-punitive grades.

If the student withdraws from 3 credits, the exclusion will be granted for 3 credits and the student’s one-time exclusion is used.

If the student withdraws from 12 credits, the exclusion will be granted for 6 credits, the student’s one-time exclusion is used, and the student must provide mitigating circumstances for the other 6 credits.

Term B Dual Certifications

UIC’s Term B begins on October 20. Tuition and fees are reported to the VA as part of the dual certification compliance requirement. Dual certification for Term B begins October 27.

Verify Your School Enrollment - Monthly Requirement
If you are using VA education benefits such as the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill®, Montgomery G.I. Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Montgomery G.I. Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), or the STEM Scholarship, you must verify your enrollment each month to continue receiving your payments. This quick step confirms you are still attending classes and helps
prevent overpayments or interruptions in benefits.

Verify online or by calling the Education Call Center at 888-442-4551.

William Ridley

I am currently a third-year student in Criminology and Political Science, on the Pre-Law track, and a member of the UIC Men's Swim and Dive team. My father served as a Lieutenant Colonel and Senior Strategist in the United States Army for 30 years before retiring. I come from a family of Veterans and public servants, and their commitment to public service has motivated me to pursue a career in the government, following in their footsteps. I spent this past summer in Washington, D.C., as a congressional intern on Capitol Hill, in the Cannon House Office Building.

I am extremely proud to be the son of a Veteran; with that, I firmly believe in honoring the sacrifices Veterans have made for our country. I am committed to assisting all student-veterans and veteran-related students who visit the office during my tenure. My advice to student Veterans and military-connected students interested in joining the SVA is to conduct thorough research on the program and to contact the office directly. I hope to make a positive impact in this office by working diligently and efficiently, as well as doing my best to be a welcoming and supportive member of the UIC Student Veterans Affairs team.

Show your pride and support for our Student Veterans Association! We’re giving away FREE SVA T-shirts to students. Perfect for campus events, study sessions, or just representing the Veteran community. Quantities are limited, so be sure to stop by our office or events early to grab yours!

Nominate a Military Child for a Life-Changing Award

Operation Homefront is proud to host the 18th Annual Military Child of the Year® Awards, honoring the resilience and achievements of military children aged 13–18. Seven recipients, one from each branch of the armed services, will be selected to receive $10,000 cash, a laptop, a 3-day trip to Washington, D.C. with their family, and other exciting gifts! The awards are open to children of Active-Duty, Reserve, and Veteran families, and nominations are free and open to everyone, including teachers, counselors, family members, friends, and peers.

Submissions will close on December 2, 2025. Submit your nomination today!

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!

Career Resources for Veterans
Did you know UIC Career Services offers a dedicated section of resources just for veterans? There you’ll find job resource links featuring organizations committed to recruiting veterans like you.

Plus, don’t miss Drop-in Career Advising in the Císar Student Veterans Center on Wednesday, October 16, from 2–5 p.m., a great chance to connect one-on-one and explore your career options.

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

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


Contributing Editor: Nicolle Velasquez