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Veteran Services

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is proud to educate military service members and their families. We've compiled a list of services available to student-veterans and military families. Of course, should you have specific questions, you can always reach out to Heather Chance, our Veterans Administration school certifying official.

University Veteran Services

The Veteran Resource Center is located on the first floor of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center in room 120. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters. The center is open at reduced hours during the summer and closed during all campus-observed non-class days.

UAFS provides early enrollment on a priority basis for all of our student-veterans and their eligible dependents.

Student-veterans who graduate from UAFS receive a red, white, and blue honor cord to wear at graduation. Graduating student-veterans also receive a special commemorative challenge coin in recognition of their service and achievement. Spouses receive a yellow cord and children a purple cord.

Student-veterans may also apply for inclusion with the SALUTE Veteran National Honor Society. SALUTE members wear a stole at graduation and receive a certificate and challenge coin when joining. Please contact UAFS's Veterans Certifying Official Heather Chance at 479-788-7091 or Heather.ChanceFREEuafs to receive your cord. 

The Student Veterans Organization at UAFS is dedicated to creating a strong, supportive community for student-veterans, their families, and allies. Our mission is to empower veterans as they transition from military to civilian life by connecting them with vital resources, tools, and services that support their academic, professional, and personal goals.

We work closely with the UAFS veteran services coordinator and campus leadership to advocate for veteran-friendly policies and ensure student veterans' unique needs are met. Through regular meetings, social events, community service, and networking opportunities, we promote camaraderie, leadership, and personal growth.

The SVO is more than a student group; it's a place where veterans and their supporters can find connection, purpose and support on the path to success in higher education and beyond.  Apply for membership through NUMALink.

 

GI Bill® Benefits

To receive benefits under the GI Bill®, you must first apply to the Department of Veterans Affairs and complete the necessary application available at the VA GI Bill® website.
 

At UAFS student-veterans can meet one on one with the veteran services coordinator to find out more about benefits, process paperwork, and certify enrollment. The veteran services coordinator's office is located in the Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Benefits on the second floor of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center. Once registered, student-veterans will need to officially request that their hours be certified by the VA to ensure their benefits are applied to the current semester. This can be done by meeting with the veteran services coordinator and completing and submitting the UAFS Request to Certify Hours form.

We've compiled a list of helpful links to benefits provided through the GI Bill®. For general inquiries please review this list of frequently asked questions from the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. 

The Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD) can help you pay for education and training programs if you've served at least two years on active duty. 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) helps you pay for school or job training. If you've served on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33).
Find out if you can transfer any of your unused Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to your spouse or dependent children. You can also download this helpful fact sheet. 

The Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you’re a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, you may be eligible for this benefit. 

If you’re the child or spouse of a veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the DEA program, also called Chapter 35.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) is for children and dependents of veterans whose parent or spouse died in the line of duty or was a member of the Selected Reserve and died from a service-connected disability on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

To determine your rate of benefit, review these charts compiled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.


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.