Military and Veteran Services

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is home to a robust and growing military and veteran student community. As a Top 10 Military Friendly School, we are dedicated to providing academic opportunities in a supportive learning environment that serves the unique needs of our active service members, veterans and their families. UAF offers in-state/resident tuition, credits for military training, flexible online degree programs, Veterans Administration and Tuition Assistance educational benefits advising, and much more to our veterans, active service members and their dependents.

The UAF Department of Military and Veteran Services wants to meet students where they are. DMVS has locations on the Troth Yeddha' Campus in Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, and Eielson Air Force Base and can travel to Fort Greely/Delta Junction and Clear Air Station. UAF has been designated a Military Friendly Institution since 2008, and, in addition to providing student services, UAF offers university classes on Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base.

Offices at Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base and the Troth Yeddha’ Campus actively support Active Duty, Guard, Reserve and transitioning Servicemembers through benefit advising, future career preparation and registering for classes. Testing services are also available for writing and math (ACCUPLACER and ALEKS), awarding college credit (CLEP and DANTES) and industry certification exams available through Pearson VUE.

The DMVS dedicates itself to providing comprehensive support to veterans, active service members and their dependents in an atmosphere of respect for their service to our nation. They endeavor to assist students in maximizing their VA educational benefits, Tuition Assistance and MyCAA grants to meet the student’s educational goals, while striving to build a community for past, present and future military-affiliated students.

  • The Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) offers up to 36 months of benefits, paying net1 tuition and fees directly to UAF. This benefit pays the student a book stipend of $41.67 per certified2 credit hour (not to exceed $1,000.00 per academic year) and a Monthly Housing Allowance based on the zip code of in-person classes (E5 with Dependents) or Online-only rate to qualifying students. This benefit is available for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, dependent children and spouses using benefits whose qualifying veteran or servicemember has transferred portions or all of their Post-9/11 benefits before separating and Purple Heart recipients who were honorably discharged after September 11, 2001, with any amount of service. Students using this benefit are required to verify their enrollment each month. More information is available online at Verify School Enrollment For GI Bill Benefits | Veterans Affairs (va.gov).
  • The Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) provides up to 36 months of benefits to eligible servicemembers or veterans to help with tuition and training costs. This benefit pays students directly based upon certified2 full-time status, which the student can use to pay tuition and fees. UAF is authorized to certify both MGIB variants: MGIB-Active Duty® (Chapter 30) and MGIB-Selected Reserve® (Chapter 1606). Students using Chapter 30 must verify their enrollment each month through the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) system.
  • Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), also called VR&E, helps to connect veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or greater with a VR&E counselor. Together, they develop a plan, often including additional education, for our nation’s wounded heroes who aspire to pursue careers and advancement opportunities. This benefit pays net1 tuition and fees directly to UAF as well as other costs as authorized by the VR&E counselor based on the student's certified2 full-time status.
  • Spouses and children of veterans or active service members who sacrificed everything in the line of duty, were captured or missing, or have a VA-rated permanent or total service-connected disability, may qualify for up to 36 months of assistance to pay for college or professional training. They may qualify and use the Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) program or The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) for tuition and training costs. Chapter 35, Dependents' Educational Assistance, pays the student directly based on certified2 full-time status, which the student can use to pay tuition and fees. In contrast, the Fry Scholarship is equivalent to Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill®. Chapter 35 Students enrolled in non-college degree programs may need to verify their enrollment monthly. More information is available online at Verify School Enrollment For DEA Benefits | Veterans Affairs (va.gov).

Tuition Assistance is available to many Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard service members. The DMVS can help students navigate the process, apply for Tuition Assistance and use this benefit.

For more information, contact the Department of Military and Veteran Services at UAF-VA@alaska.edu or visit the DMVS website. Walk-ins are welcome at one of their respective locations:

  • Troth Yeddha' Campus, 1732 Tanana Loop, Rasmunson Library Room 404, 907-474-7400
  • Eielson Air Force Base, 2631 Wabash Avenue, Room 204, 907-377-1396
  • Fort Wainwright, 4391 Neely Road, Room 137, 907-356-3826

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

1

Effective August 1, 2011. U.S. Public Schools must report the actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees after the application of any waiver, scholarship, aid or assistance (other than loans and funds provided under section 401(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965) provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees.

2

VA Payments are based in whole or in part on the number of credit or clock hours certified and reported for VA Purposes. Only courses that satisfy requirements outlined by the curriculum guide or graduation evaluation form can be certified for VA purposes. If a student attempts a course that does not fulfill a program requirement, it cannot be certified for VA purposes. Classes that are successfully completed may not be certified again for VA purposes if they are repeated. However, if a student fails a class, or if a program requires a higher grade than the one achieved in a particular class for successful completion, that class may be repeated and certified to VA again.