WOU Military Related Policies

Military Absence

Effective date June 9, 2017:

• Western Oregon University is grateful for & supports those who serve in the United States Military. If you are on Active Duty, a Reservist, or a National Guardsman and have upcoming mandatory training (drill), special details, or deployments, the Military Absence Policy was created for you. As soon as you learn of your upcoming service you are responsible to do three things:
  • Notify your instructor(s) of your dates for the term, providing documentation.
    • Orders, drill schedules, or a memorandum on unit letterhead from chain of command with dates are sufficient forms of evidence.
  • Fill out the Military Absence Notification Form
    • This form sends out an email to your instructor(s) notifying all parties of the upcoming absence(s) and their obligation to make accommodations.
  • Follow up with your instructor(s) to make a personalized plan for all absences & course conflicts.
• The Veterans Resource Center (VRC) is here to advocate and support you with any complications, questions, etc. Many of us served/are serving while attending WOU and we’d love to connect, reach out to us any time at wouveterans@wou.edu or 503-838-9246, or visit them in WUC 108.

Veterans Dependent Tuition Waiver Form

Effective date November 8, 2017:

• Certain students of fully disabled Veterans, Purple Heart recipients, or deceased Veterans may be entitled to this waiver. This is an additional benefit offered by the Western Oregon University. Please view the application through the button below in order to see if you quality.
• Applications are submitted to the WOU Veteran Certifying Official at veterans@wou.edu. 
• If you have any questions please stop by the Registrar’s office in the Administration Building Room 106 or contact them at (503) 838-8806 or veterans@wou.edu.

Deployment And Unexpected Withdrawal

What if I get deployed or am already deployed and need to withdraw from courses unexpectedly?

What if I cannot attend classes due to an illness or unexpected situation?

• The Western Oregon University refund policy generally provides for full refund of dropped or withdrawn courses resulting from being called to active duty in military service. No refund is available for course work in which a student has received academic credit, or from courses not dropped/withdrawn. For a full refund, the student must make a written request to the Office of the Registrar via this fillable Academic Petition. Documentation of military orders is required. Here is the policy 
• A student voluntarily enlisting in military service must drop/withdraw according to registration procedures and deadlines.
• If you are involuntarily activated or deployed, cannot attend classes because of something unexpected (such as a death in the family or personal illness) please bring proof (doctor’s letter, hospital records, etc.) to the Registrar’s office (Administration Building Room 106) to discuss options for dropping/withdrawing you from your courses.
• Please keep in mind that if you’re receiving G.I. Bill® benefits or educational benefits from the VA that you are also responsible for ensuring that they are aware of your situation as well. If you are receiving benefits under the Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) you will also need to speak to your caseworker to ensure proper protocol in withdrawing from courses.
• If you have any questions please stop by the Registrar’s office in the Administration Building Room 106 or contact them at (503) 838-8806 or veterans@wou.edu.

 House Bill 2645

Effective date January 1, 2016.

• Requires public universities to establish priority enrollment system for qualified students who are active members of Armed Forces of the United States, who are qualified veterans or who receive veterans’ educational benefits as federally qualified dependents of active members or qualified veterans.
• What this means at WOU is that when you go to register for classes you will have access to register half an hours before your peers. I strongly recommend you reach out to confirm you are on the Registrar Office’s list for this benefit (contact below). That time can be the difference in securing the classes that are best for you.
• Veteran Certifying Official – 503-838-8806 – veterans@wou.edu

Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (“Choice Act”)

Effective date July 1, 2015.

• Public Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) must offer in-state tuition and fees to all covered individuals with Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (MGIB – AD) benefits
• The in-state tuition provisions in Section 702 do not apply to those on active duty or to students using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits from a Servicemember still on active duty.
• A Veteran who lives in the state where the IHL is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• An individual using transferred benefits who lives in the state in where the IHL is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• An individual using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in where the IHL is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Servicemember’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

Isakson and Roe Section 1018 Requirements

Section 1018 of Public Law 116-315, Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, adds new requirements for educational institutions participating in the educational assistance programs of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These new provisions became effective June 15, 2021 and apply to Institutions of Higher Learning and Non-College Degree institutions beginning August 1, 2021. Many of the requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Principles of Excellence, currently in Executive Order 13607; however, there are requirements in addition to those embodied in the Principles of Excellence which schools must also satisfy to maintain approval for GI Bill® participation.