Certifications and Signatures
CERTIFYING VETERAN’S AFFAIRS STUDENTS
Varsity Athletes are certified by the college in which they are registered. One or more representative from each college performs the certifications, and must adhere to all NCAA guidelines to which varsity athletes must comply.
Certification information is submitted to representatives from the AU Registrar’s Office who maintains all reported certification information for all varsity athletes on campus. The current representatives are Angie Heath and Melissa Voelkel.
College representatives will evaluate athletic ‘green sheets’ each semester along with the athletic progress report for each varsity athlete. The ‘green sheets’, progress report grid, and instructions are sent to college representatives at the end of each semester. Questions concerning athletic ‘green sheets’ and/or athletic progress reports should be directed to Angie Heath (844-2539, heathal@auburn.edu) or Melissa Voelkel (844-2580, mbv0001@auburn.edu).
From the Auburn University Bulletin:
In addition to meeting the general academic requirements of the university, student athletes must meet all academic requirements, including those relating to satisfactory progress toward a degree, set forth in the legislation of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Veterans Affairs pays VA Educational Benefits for eligible students who are degree seeking and taking core, major or approved elective courses in their declared major. A student cannot receive VA benefits if he/she is a provisional student or is auditing classes. Students who are "undeclared" or who are in a "pre-degree" program must declare a major as soon as possible to meet the degree seeking criteria. There are currently six (6) VA programs that pay a VA living stipend fund to qualified students for use in paying tuition, fees, housing, food, books and other school and living expenses. Additionally, there are two (2) VA educational programs that pay the University directly for expenses related to tuition and fees.
To initiate VA benefits, students meet with Steven Barnard in the Office of Veteran’s Affairs Office, Student Financial Services. Steven will provide the student with course and major verification paperwork to give to the college representative, who completes the paperwork and returns it to the Office of Veteran’s Affairs. Additionally, each semester, course work is verified by the college representative prior to mid-semester and forwarded to the Office of Veteran’s Affairs.
To receive full-time Veteran’s Affairs Benefits, students must maintain a minimum of 12 semester hours of course work in the major each semester. In order for a course to be verified for benefits, it must be required in the student’s declared major. In most circumstances, course work taken to earn a minor, double major or dual degree (unless required as part of the primary major) cannot be verified for Veteran’s Affairs Benefits. Questions concerning VA verification should be directed to Mr. Steven Barnard in Office of Veteran’s Affairs, Student Financial Services at barnasp@auburn.edu or 844-6082.
From the Auburn University Bulletin:
All VA eligible students (Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35 and 106), in addition to meeting the general academic requirements set forth by the university, must maintain satisfactory academic progress as approved by the State Approving Agency of the State of Alabama, Department of Education. Such standards are as follows: Any undergraduate VA eligible must have a 2.0 GPA after the student has earned 120 hours at Auburn University. This would be checked at each term’s end and, the VA benefits of any VA eligible not meeting this requirement would be terminated.
For all academic issues requiring Dean’s signature, only Deans or Associate Deans may sign. (No signature stamps. Any paperwork with a signature stamp will be returned.) If Deans need to delegate signature authority to any other individual (Director of Student Services, for example), a letter must be on file with the Registrar and Provost.