Veteran Services is dedicated to providing a welcoming environment for veterans, reservists and their dependents. We provide assistance in obtaining the educational benefits to which they are entitled. Veteran Services is responsible for submitting entitlement requests for new and continuing students to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, answering questions from veteran students or dependents concerning educational benefits, and providing resources and programs to assist veterans in navigating their transition to civilian and student life.
This site was developed in an effort to facilitate your understanding of the process required to use your veterans' educational benefits at UC Merced.
The key to using veterans' benefits at UC Merced is communicating with the Veteran Certifying Official. If you don't find the information you need or have further questions, please contact the Veteran Services at veteranservices@ucmerced.edu or 209-228-7641.
Fall 2020 Grade Mode: The Academic Senate recently approved a policy that would allow a pass/no pass option for all undergraduate courses (with the exception of GASP) and a satisfactory/unsatisfactory option for graduate courses. The VA will pay for passing units, whether it is a passing letter grade, P-Pass, or S-Satisfactory. The VA will not pay for units that receive a NP-No Pass or U-Unsatisfactory (these grades do not count towards degree progress).
For GASP, all lower-division and elective courses have the P/NP grade modality option. Upper-division core courses (GASP 109, GASP 190, GASP 191), however, are letter grade only. GASP students should contact their academic advisor for further information.
Fall 2020 Online Instruction and Post-9/11 GI Bill® Benefits: Student Veterans will continue to receive their GI Bill® benefits under S. 3503, which President Trump signed into law March 21. The law enables VA to continue providing the same level of education benefits to students having to take courses online due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The law gives VA temporary authority to continue GI Bill® payments uninterrupted in the event of national emergencies. This allows for continued payment of benefits even if the program has changed from resident training to online training. Students receiving GI Bill® benefits are not required to take any action.
The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act has been extended to December 21, 2021.
