Veterans and Service Members at Utica

Located in the heart of central New York, Utica University is a comprehensive, independent, private institution founded in 1946 to offer options for higher education study to veterans returning from the Second World War.

More than seventy years since veterans returned from WWII, this tradition of serving veterans is still held in high regard here at Utica University, and we are proud to welcome veterans as students and as valued members of our faculty and professional staff.

Offering both undergraduate and graduate programs, along with excellent online programs, Utica ensures academic and financial flexibility for veterans, providing a 10% tuition discount for matriculated online students and spouses of Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard members, if eligible. Please note, students who are receiving benefits that cover full tuition and fees are not eligible for the discount.

With a full-time veterans support staff, Utica University is a proud Yellow Ribbon participant, making additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill® entitlement. Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs chooses the amount of tuition and fees to be contributed with VA matching that amount and issuing directly to Utica.

Utica also encourages veterans to explore the many employment opportunities at our institution.

Tuition and Fees
Transfer Credit and Admissions
The Center for Student Success
Online Degrees and Benefits for Military and Veteran Students

Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps

Army ROTC

Developing quality leaders for the Air Force, Air Force ROTC offers two educational programs – the Air Force Senior ROTC Program and the Air Force Junior ROTC Program. Air Force ROTC's headquarters is at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.

The Air Force Senior ROTC Program is designed to recruit, educate and commission officer candidates through university campus programs based on Air Force requirements. Units are located at 144 college and university campuses throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Students from schools near Air Force ROTC host institutions can attend classes through 1025 separate crosstown enrollment programs or consortium agreements.

For interested Utica University students, the Air Force ROTC program is based out of Syracuse University. As a full-time student, you can take courses here at Utica as you normally would, but you will need to attend a military leadership course at Syracuse University, one day per week.

Point of Contact:

Virginia O’Connor
Program Coordinator
Air Force ROTC, Suite 214
T 315.443.2227
voconnor@syr.edu | w: afrotc.syr.edu

National Veterans Resource Center
Daniel & Gayle D’Aniello Building
101 Waverly Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244

If you will be leaving for military duty, or are returning from assignment, please contact any of the Utica University’s Veterans' Liaison listed as contacts on this page.

Utica University policy for military-related withdrawal:

You will need your official orders for military duty sent to the Utica Registrars Office.
There will be no academic penalty for withdrawing from your courses provided that you - (a) notify each of your instructors of your leave within reasonable timeframes, (b) work out arrangements with your instructors to complete assignments, and (c) mutually agree on a course completion plan.
There will be no financial penalties for withdrawing from your courses provided that you - (a) notify the Center for Student Success of your leave, and (b) speak personally to your financial aid counselor.

**PLEASE NOTE: Instructors MUST be given adequate communication regarding your leave, and are only required to give you reasonable accommodation for your military leave. Reasonable accommodation is determined by your instructor. If you feel reasonable accommodations are not being made, please notify the veterans' liaison, and provide written proof of your case.

The GI Bill^®

The term GI Bill® refers to any Department of Veterans Affairs education benefit earned by members of Active Duty, Selected Reserve and National Guard Armed Forces and their families. The benefit is designed to help service members and eligible veterans cover the costs associated with getting an education or training. Since 1944, the GI Bill^® has helped millions of Veterans pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. Under this bill, qualifying Veterans and their family members can get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training.

The original GI Bill® was drafted by The American Legion. Since that time the GI Bill® has undergone changes and updates. The biggest change has been made by the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® which expands the eligibility to include National Guard servicemen and full-time Active Guard and Reserve. This updated version of the original GI Bill^® is available to you by helping to minimize your out-of-pocket college expenses by assisting with tuition, housing and other costs. If you are a former service member – you should tap into these resources to help you obtain a successful civilian career.

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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Who’s eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill^®?

Veterans with at least 90 aggregate days of qualifying military service after September 10, 2001 or those having a service-connected disability with at least 30 days of consecutive service during the same timeframe should consider using their Post-9/11 GI Bill® to help pay for their post-secondary education.

What does the Post 9/11 GI Bill^® cover for student veterans?

Tuition and fees, housing, and books are among the provisions partially or fully covered for veterans with eligible service. Monies can be used toward education at public and private colleges, universities, and trade schools as well as for licensing, tutorial assistance, and testing, such as the LSAT or SAT.

For veterans who served between 90 days and six months, the minimum benefit is 40 percent for tuition and fees, the monthly housing allowance and book stipend, while the maximum benefit is 100 percent for the same benefits for veterans who served at least 36 months of active duty. For lengths of service between these two extremes, percentage of benefits is tiered by prorating the duration of service.

Do these benefits expire?

Certain qualifying veterans are eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits for up to five years from their last discharge date from active duty ending with an Honorable Discharge provided their discharge date was prior to January 1, 2013; however, for veterans discharged after January 1, 2013, their benefits do not expire as they fall under the parameters of the Forever GI Bill®.

Can dependents benefit from this program?

One unique feature of the Post 9/11 GI Bill® is the option to transfer unused educational benefits to a spouse and/or dependent children. With at least six years of qualifying service, but less than 16 years and still serving, unused benefits can be transferred, provided the military member can serve an additional four years at the time of transfer. After 16 years of service, the serving member is not authorized to make a transfer of benefits under the Forever GI Bill® rules.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GI BILL®

Other VA Education Benefits

If you’re a Guardsman, Reservist, or Veteran who doesn’t qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, you can apply for education benefits through these other programs:

The post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP, Chapter 32)
The Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30)
The Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606)
The National Call to Service program

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE OTHER PROGRAMS

Non-VA Resources

The Department of Veterans Affairs has also compiled a list of non-VA resources and websites that might be useful to student Veterans and those who support them.

NON-VA RESOURCES

NYS Higher Education Corporation Services - Military Corner

New York State veterans, active-duty service members or members of their immediate families have higher education benefits that can help pay for college.

Learn More about NYS Higher Ed Resources

Utica University offers a 10% tuition discount for military spouses enrolled in our online programs and there are several sources of aid available for service members, veterans, and their families, included, but not limited to:

Two key forms from the Department of Veterans Affairs are the application for VA Education Benefits and a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training. Links to these forms can be found below:

Form 22-1990 Application for VA Education Benefits
Form 22-1995 Request for Change of Program or Place of Training

If you need additional VA forms, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website and search by form number or title/keyword.

Contact Us

Andrea Curley

Assistant Director of FInancial Aid

(315) 792-3008

amcurely@utica.edu

Rich Racioppa

Dean of Students

(315) 792-3285

rracioppa@utica.edu

Austen D. Givens, Ph.D.

Assistant Veterans' Liason and Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity

(315) 792-3753

adgivens@utica.edu

We're a Military-Friendly University

Utica University has been named a Military Friendly® School (Silver) for 2023-2024, which recognizes the institution's commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community.

Learn More

Utica Student Veterans of America

Our mission is to provide Utica University veterans with the support and advocacy needed to successfully transition to college, engage socially, excel academically, and improve the local community veteran climate.

STUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA @ UTICA

Student Voices: David Cooney

History major, philosophy minor, and U.S. Army veteran David Cooney talks about his experience at Utica and his passion for preserving the past for future generations.