Military Student Services

Student Resources

Military Student Services

We define a military-affiliated student as an individual who has been accepted to Purdue Fort Wayne and is either currently serving in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or has been honorably discharged. Furthermore, our recognition extends to the spouses and children of military service members, whom we are also dedicated to serving.

Resources you need.

You have goals, and we’re here to help you meet them. As a student at Purdue Fort Wayne, you have access to a variety of services and resources to help ensure your success.

Military Transcripts

Credit for your experience.

Earn course credit based on your Joint Service Transcript (JST). Your major department, the Office of the Registrar, and the Office of Military Student Services work together to determine your total number of credits earned and how these credits can be used toward your degree program.

Submit your JST or Community College of the Air Force transcript to [email protected]. If you have any college-level work, request that an electronic transcript be sent to [email protected]. We also accept various credits through testing (DSST, CLEP, UExcel, etc.).

In-State Tuition and REsidency

You may be eligible.

If you are eligible for VA Benefits, you may qualify for in-state tuition rates at Purdue University Fort Wayne, regardless of your prior residency in the state. According to the Veterans Choice Act, Section 702, as long as you reside in the state where you are enrolled in classes, you will be considered a resident for tuition purposes.

Our Military Student Services team is available to assist you with this process and address any questions you may have.

You can read more about that Veterans Choice Act at the VA's website.

Prospective students and guests on a campus tour during Spring Campus Visit Day

VA Definition of Full-Time Status

Full-Time Status Information.

All credit hours, and dates for your registered classes, are reported to the VA. There are different calculations for Rate of Pursuit (RoP) by the VA depending on the Educational Benefits Chapter you are using. For Chapter 33 the RoP is based on credit hours compared to full-time status by the school (12 credit hours for Undergraduate; 8 credit hours for Graduate). The other chapters are based on a table provided by the VA for Training Time compared to the number of weeks in a given semester. The information below is based on Undergraduate studies, please connection with Military Student Services with further questions about Graduate studies.

The VA processes enrollment by the reported dates on the certification submitted by the institution, and those dates must match the dates of the class is being offered.

As a reminder, this is not like financial aid because VA looks at individual enrollment periods and not the semester as a whole.

Important Note: All courses that are to be reported to the VA must count toward the completion of your degree or minor. If a course does not count toward your degree, it cannot be reported to the VA.

Rate of pursuit (RoP) applies specifically to Chapter 33 Educational Benefits. It differs from training time for other chapters. Institutions certify actual credit hours being taken by the student and the VA calculates RoP by dividing the number of credits being pursued by what is considered full-time by the Institution. The resulting percentage is the student's RoP per the VA.

For Purdue Fort Wayne, we consider 12 credit hours or more to be full-time. So, a couple examples would be:

6 credits is 50% (6 / 12 = 50%)
7 credits is 58% (7 / 12 = 58%)

The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is paid if the student's RoP is more than 50%, as calculated by the VA. RoP determines whether a students receives or does not receive the MHA for a given semester. If pursuit is more than 50% the student receives the MHA, but if the student's pursuit is 50% or less, then the student does not receive the MHA.

VA benefits are paid based on credits certified by the school to the VA as follows:

12 credits or more = Full-Time
9-11 credits = Three-Quarter (3/4) Time
6-8 credits = Half-Time (1/2)
4-5 credits = Less Than Half-Time (-1/2)
1-3 credits = One-Quarter (1/4) Time

Non-Standard Terms (Summer) Calculation:

Credit Hours Enrolled x 18 = A

A / Weeks in Term = B

B / Full-Time Requirement = C

Round "C" to the nearest multiple of 10 = RoP %

Example of possible scenario:

6 x 18 = 108 / 6 (weeks in Summer Session 1) = 18 / 12 (Full-Time at PFW) = 1.5

RoP = 150%

3 x 18 = 54 / 6 (weeks in Summer Session 1) = 9 / 12 (Full-Time at PFW) = 0.75

RoP = 80%

Note: Active duty personnel receiving Chapter 33 benefits or spouses of active duty personnel receiving transferred benefits are not eligible for the MHA.

Fall/Spring Semester = 16 Week Classes

Summer Semester = 12 Week Classes

TRAINING TIME EQUIVALENCY TABLE = 12 OR MORE SEMESTER HOURS

	15 to 19 Weeks	14 Weeks	13 Weeks	12 Weeks	11 Weeks	10 Weeks	9 Weeks
12 or more Credits	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
11 Credits	3/4	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
10 Credits	3/4	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
9 Credits	3/4	3/4	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
8 Credits	1/2	3/4	3/4	FT	FT	FT	FT
7 Credits	1/2	3/4	34/	3/4	3/4	FT	FT
6 Credits	1/2	1/2	1/2	3/4	3/4	3/4	FT
5 Credits	-1/2	1/2	1/2	1/2	1/2	3/4	3/4
4 Credits	-1/2	-1/2	-1/2	1/2	1/2	1/2	1/2
3 Credits	1/4	1/4	-1/2	-1/2	-1/2	-1/2	1/2
2 Credits	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	-1/2
1 Credits	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4

Continued:

8 Weeks	7 Weeks	6 Weeks	5 Weeks	4 Weeks	3 Weeks	2 Weeks	1 Weeks
FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
3/4	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
3/4	3/4	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT	FT
1/2	1/2	3/4	3/4	FT	FT	FT	FT
-1/2	-1/2	1/2	1/2	3/4	FT	FT	FT
1/4	1/4	1/4	1/4	-1/2	1/2	3/4	FT

FT = Full Time

1/2 = Half Time

1/4 = Quarter Time

-1/2 = Below Half Time but above Quarter Time

Military Withdrawal

Change of plans?

Purdue Fort Wayne supports students who are current members of the United States armed forces and reserve units. We understand that members of the US military, including all service members in the National Guard or Reserves, can be called to active duty at any time. That’s why we have policies and procedures in place to help you navigate mandatory training or orders for deployment during your time as a college student.

Of note, this policy does not pertain to initial active-duty basic training or annual training. Students who withdraw due to basic training or annual training are subject to the specific deadlines for the last day to withdraw and the published schedule of refund of fees.

There are several options for service-connected students who are being involuntarily deployed and are unable to complete their coursework. All requests and documentation may be presented by the student or other responsible party, who has the student’s military information and the student’s permission, to make the request.

If you are dropping classes after submitting that semester’s VA Semester Certification Form, you must provide a copy of your deployment orders and all changes to your enrollment to the Office of Military Student Services.

The following options are available for each registered course anytime during the semester through the end of final examinations.

Option 1
With the permission of the instructor(s), a student may receive a final grade or an incomplete in some or all enrolled courses. Immediately consult with each instructor about finishing a course early. For example, you may be able to receive credit for a course by submitting final work ahead of schedule. If you are not able to complete a course, you may be able to receive a grade of Incomplete (I). This may be an option if a majority of the required coursework is completed and of passing quality, and you can reasonably expect to complete the remainder of your coursework within a year. In accordance with the university policy on Incomplete grades, you are allowed up to one year to finish your coursework. Given extenuating circumstances, the initial one-year time limit may be extended for a period not to exceed one additional calendar year if approved by the instructor and the instructor’s dean, and if the Office of the Registrar is notified before the expiration of the original time limit. No refund will be given if a final grade or incomplete grade are received.

Option 2
Any service-connected student ordered involuntarily to active duty may withdraw from any or all courses and may speak with the Office of the Bursar about receiving a refund of tuition and fees for the courses from which the student withdrew as a result of involuntary deployment. Refunds of fees will not be made if the student has already received a grade and credit for a course. If the withdrawal request is submitted after the first week of classes, the grade of W will be assigned and will appear on the transcript. Students receiving financial aid will be subject to the refund policies as required by financial aid regulations. Note that Veterans Affairs (VA) requires repayment of all fees paid for the withdrawn classes, as well as basic allowance for housing and book stipend. The VA will reinstitute the months of eligibility for GI Bill® benefits that would have been expended for the withdrawn classes.

Learn more about withdrawing from a course from the Office of the Registrar.

Counseling Services

Managing stressors and finding balance.

Did you know you can get up to six counseling sessions a semester at no cost to you? Take advantage of our resources to help you manage and work through the difficulties of life so you can focus on your education.

Our counselors can help you with the following:

Anger
Anxiety
Couples counseling
Depression
Depression recovery
Grief from death, parents’ divorce, relationship breakup
Group counseling
Individual counseling
Relationship problems—roommates, family, romantic
Stress
Substance abuse
Thoughts of suicide, death, or hurting others
Violence—sexual assault, stalking, veteran’s combat stress

Center for Student Counseling

Close crowd shot of gradating PFW students.

Commencement

Honoring your service.

Commencement day is all about celebrating your achievements and recognizing your accomplishments. In recognition of your military service to the United States of America, we will provide you a complimentary red, white, and blue honor cord to be worn during commencement. The cords will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Requirements

Participate in the Purdue Fort Wayne commencement ceremony
Verify US military service with the Office of Military Student Services
Have a valid military identification card, DD214 or honorable-discharge papers, and/or are currently using GI Bill® benefits

Note: Honor cords are provided to only those who have received an honorable, general, or medical discharge.