US Veterans and Military
SUNM is dedicated to serving military personnel and their families and helping them achieve their educational goals
We Offer a Variety of Benefits to Our Veterans
Southwest University of Naprapathic Medicine is approved by the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to offer educational programs to US military active duty, veterans and their dependents. We are very proud to be able to assist current and former members of our armed forces and their families in achieving their educational goals. SUNM will evaluate all prior training and transcripts of US military active duty, veterans and their dependents or eligible persons to establish prior credit which may shorten the duration of the training period.
SUNM proudly supports America’s veterans and active-duty military personnel. The university is committed to serving veterans with the same loyalty and integrity with which they serve their country. It is a university mission to provide veterans and active-duty military personnel with well-deserved academic credentials. In academic degree programs, they have often completed a portion of the program through previous military experience and/or education.
VA Facility Code: 21202231
For VA-related questions, contact our VA Certifying Officer:
Devahn Parker — dparker@sunm.edu
Accreditation & Approvals
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 website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Approved VA Benefit Programs
SUNM is approved to accept the following VA education benefits. Each program has different eligibility requirements and benefits — contact our VA Certifying Officer to determine which applies to you.
CHAPTER 30
Montgomery GI Bill® — Active Duty
Monthly benefit based on time of service, kickers, and type of training. Students are responsible for paying tuition directly to the school. Tutoring assistance available.
CHAPTER 31
Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E)
For veterans with service-connected disabilities that limit their ability to work. Provides comprehensive employment and education support services.
CHAPTER 33
Post-9/11 GI Bill®
Includes monthly housing allowance, book stipend, and tuition/fees paid directly to the school. Available to dependents through transfer of entitlement.
CHAPTER 33D
Post-9/11 GI Bill® — Dependents
Dependents who have been transferred Chapter 33 entitlement are eligible for all the same benefits as the original veteran beneficiary.
CHAPTER 35
Dependents Education Assistance (DEA)
For dependents of veterans who are 100% disabled due to service-connected disabilities or deceased. Children eligible ages 18-26; spouses eligible 10 years after determination.
YELLOW RIBBON
Yellow Ribbon Program
SUNM participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, providing additional funding for veterans whose Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits don’t fully cover tuition costs.
Approved Educational Programs for Veterans and Military
The following SUNM degree programs are approved for VA education benefits and accept qualifying US military active duty, veterans, and their dependents.
DOCTORATE PROGRAM
Doctor of Naprapathic Medicine
A 3-year hybrid doctorate program training students to become licensed Naprapathic doctors. Includes hands-on clinical training, anatomy, biomechanics, and integrative manual medicine. Graduates qualify for licensure exams.
MASTER'S PROGRAM
Master of Science in Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition
A graduate program focused on the science and clinical application of anti-inflammatory nutrition for chronic disease management, integrative health practice, and wellness optimization.
Veterans Educational Benefits Information
Chapter 30
Montgomery GI Bill® — Chapter 30
CH 30 students receive a monthly benefit based on a number of factors including time of service, “kickers”, and type of training the student is taking. To get a clear picture of monthly benefit amounts, students should call the VA education hotline directly.
Key information:
- No tuition or fees are paid directly to the school. The student is responsible for paying their tuition and fees.
- CH 30 students do not receive a book stipend, but they are eligible to receive tutoring assistance.
- Montgomery GI Bill® has a time limit of 10 years from the date of EAS (End of Active Service).
For more information and how to apply, visit: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-active-duty/
Chapter 31
Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) — Chapter 31
If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veterans Readiness and Employment (formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) can help.
GI Bill® subsistence rate option:
If you’re participating in a VR&E program, you can choose to get paid the GI Bill® subsistence rate instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance rate if you meet both of these requirements:
- You have at least 1 day of entitlement remaining under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®
- You’re within your GI Bill® eligibility period
Note: In most cases, the GI Bill® rate is higher. You’ll need to officially choose the GI Bill® subsistence rate.
How VR&E benefits affect other VA education entitlement:
If you use VR&E benefits, the VA won’t deduct entitlement from your other VA education benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill® or the Montgomery GI Bill®.
If you’ve used benefits under any other VA education program before using VR&E, the VA may need to deduct from your remaining VR&E entitlement the amount of time used under the other program. In some cases, the VA can retroactively approve previous months of entitlement and return them to the original program — this is called “retroactive induction.” Ask your VR Counselor (VRC) if you meet the eligibility criteria.
For more information and how to apply, visit: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/
Chapter 33 and 33D
Post-9/11 GI Bill® — Chapter 33 and 33D (Dependents)
Chapter 33 students receive comprehensive benefits including:
- Monthly housing allowance
- Book stipend
- Tuition and fees paid directly to the school
- Tutoring assistance
Time limit:
Post-9/11 GI Bill® has a time limit of 15 years from the date of EAS if your EAS was before January 1, 2013.
Chapter 33D — Dependents:
Chapter 33 dependents who have been transferred the Chapter 33 entitlement are eligible for all the same benefits as the original veteran beneficiary.
Apply for Chapter 33: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/
Apply for Chapter 33D (Transfer of Benefits): https://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/
Chapter 35
Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) — Chapter 35
Chapter 35 is a benefit afforded to dependents when a service member (their sponsor) is 100% disabled due to service-connected disabilities, or has died (KIA or had 100% rating at time of death).
Eligibility:
- Children using this benefit generally must be within the ages of 18 to 26.
- Spouses are eligible 10 years after the VA determines eligibility, or 10 years after their spouse’s death.
Important benefits:
- Chapter 35 students are allowed to use Veterans Priority Registration while using their Chapter 35 benefits.
- No tuition or fees are paid directly to the school. The student is responsible for paying tuition and fees.
For current Chapter 35 pay rates, visit: https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/chapter-35-rates/
For more information and how to apply, visit: https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/
Yellow Ribbon Program
Yellow Ribbon Program
SUNM proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, providing additional funding to help cover tuition and fees for veterans whose Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits don’t fully cover their educational costs.
How it works:
- Available to veterans eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33).
- SUNM contributes additional funds toward tuition costs that exceed the in-state tuition cap.
- The VA matches SUNM’s contribution dollar-for-dollar.
This means qualified veterans may attend SUNM at significantly reduced or zero out-of-pocket cost.
To take advantage of the Yellow Ribbon Program at SUNM, contact our VA Certifying Officer Devahn Parker at dparker@sunm.edu before enrollment.
For general program information, visit: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/
Detailed information about each VA education benefit program. Click any section below to expand. For specific eligibility questions, contact our VA Certifying Officer, Devahn Parker: dparker@sunm.edu
About the "Round Out" Policy
Effective August 1, 2021, VA limits the practice of “rounding out” — taking additional courses during the final term to maintain full-time training status — to courses that are part of an approved program of education.
A veteran student can round out a schedule with additional courses to bring their course load up to a full-time schedule in their last term only. This allows students to continue receiving benefits at the full-time rate during their final term, even though fewer credits are required to complete the program.
Important conditions:
- Additional courses must be specified by name in the approved program curriculum.
- Courses must not have been already completed.
- This procedure can be done only once per program.
- This concept may apply to credit-hour programs operating on a term, block, or unit basis.
For specific questions about Round Out eligibility for your program, contact our VA Certifying Officer.
Tuition Assistance for Active Duty Military
Tuition Assistance (TA) is the military’s financial assistance program. SUNM accepts TA for Active Duty personnel from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard to help cover tuition costs of approved courses.
What Does Tuition Assistance Cover?
Tuition Assistance will cover:
100%
of your tuition up to $250 per semester credit hour
$4,000
maximum benefit per fiscal year
NOTE: TA only covers tuition costs. Any additional course fees (online materials, lab fees, etc.) are the student’s responsibility.
Army & Air Force
Service members in the Army and Air Force manage their Tuition Assistance through ArmyIgnitED, the official platform for Active Duty military education funding.
Steps to apply:
1. Work with your Education Center to have your Evaluated Degree Plan submitted on ArmyIgnitED.
2. Submit your TA request through ArmyIgnitED before each course enrollment.
3. Provide SUNM with confirmation of approved TA before classes begin.
Important: Before requesting a third TA-funded class, your Evaluated Degree Plan must be submitted by your Education Center. Without it, your account will be placed on hold and no new TA requests will be processed.
For more information, visit the ArmyIgnitED website: https://www.armyignited.army.mil/
Navy, Marines & Coast Guard
Service members in the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard apply for Tuition Assistance through the My Navy Education portal (also known as WebTA).
Steps to apply:
1. Visit https://www.navycollege.navy.mil and click on the My Education portal.
2. Log in via CAC (Common Access Card) or with your DoD EDI.
3. Verify all previous course grades are posted before submitting a new TA request.
4. Submit your Evaluated Degree Plan before submitting your WebTA application.
5. Read and accept the TA contract, then enter your school and course details.
6. Submit your funding notification to SUNM before classes begin.
Important: If you have used TA before, all previous grades must be posted in your account. Otherwise you will not be eligible for additional TA, and you may be issued a Letter of Indebtedness for incomplete courses.
For step-by-step instructions, visit the My Education Portal Guide:https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/
Request an Evaluated Degree Plan
The Evaluated Degree Plan is an official academic document provided by SUNM’s veterans admissions counselor. It articulates all degree requirements for completion, identifies all courses required for graduation, and includes an evaluation of all successfully completed prior coursework.
Evaluated credit for military training, military experience, and other prior credit sources applied toward SUNM degree requirements are included in this document.
To request your Evaluated Degree Plan, contact our VA Certifying Officer Devahn Parker at dparker@sunm.edu
Billing & Payments with TA
Billing & Payments with TA
If you plan to use TA, please notify SUNM as early as possible. While your TA approval is pending, we will place a hold on your account to prevent course drop due to non-payment, ensuring your seat is reserved without penalty.
Once your TA is approved:
- Submit a signed copy of your TA voucher to SUNM by emailing it to our VA Certifying Officer at dparker@sunm.edu
- Your student account will reflect outstanding tuition until billing is processed and payment is received from TA.
- SUNM bills and reports final grades 30 days after course completion.
If TA is not approved:
- You will be responsible for finding alternative funding (out-of-pocket payment or FAFSA application).
- TA will not pay for classes that result in a D, F, I, or W grade — the student becomes responsible for those costs.
For courses ending in low or incomplete grades, we recommend cancelling TA with your Education Center and paying SUNM directly.
Dropping Classes While Using TA
Dropping Classes While Using TA
Depending on the timing of your drop, you may be required to pay for the course if it occurs after the SUNM refund deadline. Please review our Refund and Cancellation Policy before dropping any course.
If you must drop a class:
- Contact your military Education Center first to cancel your TA for that course.
- Notify SUNM by emailing dparker@sunm.edu with your name, student ID, and course details.
- Be aware that TA may request direct repayment from you if SUNM has already received funds for a dropped course.
For specific drop deadlines and refund schedules, contact the SUNM Admissions Office at (505) 372-0410.
Military Withdrawal & Readmission
Military Withdrawal & Readmission
Military Withdrawal:
Service members who are deployed away from their installation during a course of study may submit a letter requesting a late withdrawal due to military obligation. Required supporting documentation includes:
- Copy of military orders, OR
- Letter from a commanding officer
This request can be submitted as soon as orders are received or upon return from military obligation. Submit your request directly to SUNM by emailing dparker@sunm.edu with your contact information and supporting documentation.
Readmission:
Service members maintain their student status if they are unable to attend classes due to service requirements. All such service members will be readmitted into their program of study with no penalty.
If you have been away from SUNM for more than three (3) consecutive semesters, you will need to reapply to reactivate your student account.
For questions about your student account standing, contact the SUNM Admissions Office at (505) 372-0410.
How to Register Using Your VA Benefits
Follow these steps to enroll at SUNM and certify your VA education benefits. Our VA Certifying Officer will guide you through each stage of the process.
1
Add Your Heading Text Here
Submit your SUNM admissions application online. This is the first step toward enrolling in the Doctor of Naprapathic Medicine or Master of Science in Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition program.
2
Apply for Your VA Educational Benefits
Apply directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This document confirms which Chapter benefit you qualify for (Chapter 30, 31, 33, 33D, 35, or Yellow Ribbon).
3
Submit a VA Coding Request to SUNM
Once enrolled, you must be coded as a veteran in SUNM’s system. Email our VA Certifying Officer Devahn Parker at dparker@sunm.edu to request the VA Coding Form.
Note: Chapter 30, 35, 1606, and 1607 recipients are responsible for paying tuition and fees within 10 days of enrollment. Failure to post payment may result in being dropped from registered classes.
4
Submit Official Transcripts
SUNM is required by federal law to evaluate all prior coursework. Please submit:
- Official military transcript (Joint Services Transcript for Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard; Community College of the Air Force for Air Force)
- Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
- High school completion or GED for non-college degree program applicants
Request your Joint Services Transcript at https://jst.doded.mil/jst/
Non-compliance may result in delayed benefits processing, inaccurate academic advisement, or financial liability in the event of VA auditing discrepancies.
5
Provide Required Identification Documents
Submit the following to the SUNM Admissions Office:
- Digital color photo headshot (selfie)
- Scanned copy of a Photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
- Updated resume or CV including education and employment history
- DD-214 document issued by the U.S. Department of Defense
- VA Certificate of Eligibility (scanned copy or screenshot from your VA.gov account)
To request your Certificate of Eligibility by phone, call (888) 442-4551.
6
Submit Required VA Forms (if applicable)
Depending on your situation, you may need to submit one of these VA forms:
- First-time users of VA Education Benefits: VA Form 1990 — “Application for VA Educational Benefits”
- Students changing place of educational training: VA Form 1995 — “Request for Change of Program or Place of Training”
- Dependents changing place of educational training: VA Form 5495 — “Dependent’s Request for Change of Program or Place of Training”
Submit forms online through your VA.gov account, or mail them to:
VA Regional Office (Western Region)
PO BOX 8888
Muskogee, OK 74402-8888
Always submit a copy of the completed form to SUNM as well.
7
Schedule Your Admissions Appointment
Once all documents are submitted, schedule an appointment with a SUNM Admissions Representative. This appointment ensures your academic plan complies with VA standards and avoids any delay in benefits processing.
Visit our Admissions page or call (505) 467-8777 to schedule.
8
Submit Your VA Certification Request
Once enrolled, you must submit a VA Education Benefits Certification Request to be officially certified for benefits. Send the form to dparker@sunm.edu from your SUNM student email with “Certification Request” in the subject line.
Certification timeline by program:
- Doctor of Naprapathic Medicine (DN): submitted during enrollment, then after every payment period as defined by your program
- Master of Science in Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition (MSAIN): submitted during enrollment, then after every 9 credits
Important: All certification requests must be submitted at least 15 days prior to the start of the next payment period. Add/drop changes must be emailed from your SUNM student email with “Add/Drop” in the subject line, including your name, student ID, and courses to add or drop.
Federal privacy laws restrict the type of information we can share over the phone. Parents and spouses are reminded that information cannot be shared without a written release signed by the student.
Ready To Begin Your SUNM Journey?
Connect with our VA Certifying Officer to start your application or to ask any questions about using your VA benefits at SUNM.
