Issue 67 | 3/21/25

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.

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.

Spring Term B Chapter 33 Dual Certification Requirement
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs mandated a dual enrollment certification policy effective August 2021 that impacts Chapter 33 enrollment certification processing. The 2nd certification occurs within 30 days after the add/drop deadline and involves reporting tuition and fees. The second round of enrollment certifications for Spring Term B has already begun. No action is required of students for the Chapter 33 dual certification process. All submissions will be processed in the order they were initially certified. 

The dual certification process entails individually calculating tuition and fees for each Chapter 33 beneficiary. The calculation that is reported to the US Department of Veterans Affairs deducts optional fees such as parking or U-PASS. Other deductions include tuition and fee-specific scholarships, which are reviewed in collaboration with UIC’s Financial Aid office. Students who receive the Illinois Veterans Grant will notice that IVG payments are reversed so that Chapter 33 federal benefit payments are applied first, then IVG is used to cover any remaining gaps based on the individual’s benefit rating.

The combined use of IVG and Chapter 33 should not create a credit balance. Federal and state education and training benefits are meant only to address the financial burden of tuition and fees. Questions regarding Chapter 33 may be directed to UIC’s Student Veterans Affairs, and questions about IVG/ING should be directed to Financial Aid. Find your financial aid counselor.

In-State Tuition Rates
Based on federal policy, Chapter 30, 31, 33 & 35 beneficiaries are entitled to in-state tuition. If you are a Chapter 30, 31, or 35 beneficiary and notice that your tuition is reflecting the in-state rate, please contact Student Veterans Affairs at studentventeransaff@uic.edu to update your status. Because Chapter 33 beneficiaries have tuition and fees reported to the VA as part of the dual certification requirement, tuition and fees are reviewed and updated at the time of submission.

LGBTQ+ VA Support
Becky Powers (she/her) is the LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator at Jesse Brown VA. She serves as a point-person, source of information, Veteran advocate, and problem solver for LGBTQ+ Veteran-related healthcare needs at Jesse Brown. She works directly with LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinators across VA and with local community organizations to ensure that all Veterans have access to comprehensive care that meets their unique needs.

Contact Becky at 312-569-5941 or Rebecca.Powers@va.gov.

Enrollment Certification Processing Calendar
UIC’s 24-25 academic year begins in the fall term and ends with the summer term. Enrollment certification processing for summer 2025 begins the week of April 1.

On June 1, the new 25-26 Annual Benefit form will become available for submissions, and processing for Fall 25 begins the week of June 15.

Once processing opens for a given semester, Student Veterans Affairs strives to complete submissions within 4-6 weeks of receiving a completed application. If a student submits an incomplete file, SVA work study team members reach out to request missing documentation and will continue to follow up until the file is complete and ready for processing.

Processing time may be delayed due to holiday observations, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, or the annual University closure for winter break, which occurs between the fall and spring semesters. Anticipate additional processing time during these periods. If you have any questions, contact us at 312-413-5112 or studentveteransaff@uic.edu and allow two business days for a response.

Military Leave – Call to Active Duty
UIC has policies in place for students who are called to active duty. Student Veterans Affairs partners with the Registrar’s Office to ensure processing is completed at UIC. Review the policies as they are based on student status or college membership. 

If you are called to active duty, complete the Benefit Appeal Form.

Ten Week Drop Policy
Course Drop Policy - Undergraduate Students 
Course Drop Policy - Graduate Students 
Academic Calendar - UIC Law students 

View a detailed calendar of registration, drop, and withdraw (W) deadlines.

Important Dates
Friday, March 21 | Last Day to Withdraw from a 16-Week Course
Students can withdraw from an individual 16-week course via their college office. A W grade will be recorded, but no tuition adjustment will be made.

Monday, March 24 | Intent to Graduate Submission Opens
Students planning to graduate in Summer/Fall 2025 can begin submitting their Intent to Graduate.

Monday, March 31 | Summer/Fall 2025 Registration Opens
Students can begin registering for Summer and Fall 2025 courses.
 
Friday, April 11 | Academic Deadline
Last day to withdraw from a Part of Term B course (W grade recorded) via the college office. No tuition adjustment. Must remain enrolled in other courses.

LGBTQIA+ Mental Health and Wellbeing
Road Home Program at Rush is a new featured partner specializing in supporting LGBTQIA+ service members and Veterans. With some of the changes occurring at the VA, Road Home Program at Rush may be able to fill in some emerging gaps in care and support. They will host hours in the Císar Student Veterans Center to ensure mental health and wellbeing needs can be addressed. Some holistic care offerings include acupuncture, mindfulness, art therapy, and moral injury repair. Visit UIC Connection for information about their next event on April 10.

Aaron Prince

Hi, my name is Aaron Prince, and I’m excited to join UIC’s Student Veterans Affairs team! Coming from a military family—my dad served in the Coast Guard for over 20 years, and my older brother is in the Air Force—I’ve learned to adapt to new situations quickly.

Growing up in a military environment is a unique experience. The constant transitions and ingrained military culture shape our resilience and adaptability, making the shift to college feel like just another transition to navigate. We understand the value of hard work and dedication because we’ve seen it firsthand from our active-duty and Veteran family members. That mindset pushes us to excel in the classroom and beyond.

I also know what it’s like to feel alone in a new place, and that’s why building a strong, supportive community is a priority for me in this role. Our Veterans sacrifice so much for their families and country, and military-affiliated students do, too, in their own way.

I’m currently studying Information Decision Science (IDS) with a passion for cybersecurity. As I continue my journey at UIC, I’m eager to explore this field further. I joined SVA because I want to help Veterans navigate their benefits and ensure students have access to the resources they’ve earned.

I’m looking forward to meeting and supporting the UIC Veteran community—let’s connect!

SVA Running Club

Looking for motivation to stay active and connect with the UIC community? As the weather warms up, UIC’s Student Veterans Affairs is launching a new running club—and you’re invited! Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or just getting started, all paces are welcome. Open to Veterans, military-affiliated individuals, and anyone in the UIC community looking for a supportive group to run with. We hope to see you out there!

The Road Home Program

The Road Home Program at Rush is dedicated to the mental health and wellness of veterans, service members, members of the National Guard, reservists, and families at no cost, regardless of discharge status, era, or ability to pay.

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!

Veterans Housing & Home Buying Workshops
These workshops provide Veterans with essential resources and expert guidance on home buying, credit repair, renting, real estate investing, and transitioning from homelessness. Lenders, Military Relocation Professionals, credit specialists, and attorneys will be on hand to offer advice, and the event includes a continental breakfast and live Q&A. Whether buying your first home or seeking housing options, this workshop is for you.

🗓️ Thursday, March 27
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Jesse Brown VA CRRC (1141 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60612)

Free Tickets for Veterans
Vet Tix is a nonprofit organization that provides free tickets to sporting events, concerts, performing arts, and other entertainment for Veterans, active-duty military, and their families. It is a great way to enjoy live events while connecting with the community.

Chicago Veterans Job Fair
Join the Chicago Veterans Job Fair, a premier hiring event designed to connect military service members, Veterans, and spouses with top employers across various industries. Meet recruiters from local, statewide, and national organizations offering roles in project management, human resources, transportation & logistics, healthcare, IT, government, and more. Whether you're seeking in-person or remote opportunities, this event provides a chance to network, explore job openings, and learn about veteran-focused hiring initiatives.

🗓️ Thursday, April 3
🕚 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Soldier Field

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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