DoD MOU
The University of West Georgia maintains a Voluntary Education Partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD) and has an active Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that ensures UWG is a good choice for military-connected students. Specifically, UWG agrees to number of different practices that are ethical and friendly to military-connected students. The information below details the actions UWG takes to maintain compliance for the DoD MOU.
Student Loans
The Financial Aid office at UWG offers information about both federal student loans and private student loans. Before borrowing money, UWG encourages students to speak with financial aid counselors to determine need and best options. Additionally, we recommend students visit our Know Before You Owe page, which includes links to find information about the Cohort Default Rate.
Recruiting and Marketing Practices
The DoD MOU seeks to protect service members and their dependents from predatory recruitment practices by ensuring compliance with C.F.R. 668.71-668.75 and 668.14.
UWG's Graduate School adheres to the recruiting practices outlined by the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP). Among the standards upheld by NAGAP members are ethical and accurate representation of a university's programs and admissions criteria, as well as precise information about institutional costs. UWG's Undergraduate Admissions follows the principles of professional ethics set forth by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). AACRAO members agree to dispense complete, accurate, understandable, and truthful information and advice at all times.
UWG does not offer or accept inducements to or from any group or persons in the process of admissions. Further, recruiters at UWG work on a salary contract and do not earn bonuses related to recruitment duties. In its routine processes, it is possible that UWG may initiate multiple unsolicited contacts with prospective students. In all cases, UWG offers a method to opt out of future communication, and the university does not target students for unsolicited contact based on military affiliation.
Before selecting an institution of higher learning, UWG encourages service members to speak with their Education Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service prior to enrolling.
Accreditation
UWG maintains accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). More information can be found on the university's accreditation page.
Readmissions
The DoD wants institutions to abide by 34 C.F.R. 668.8, which allows for students to interrupt their plan of study due to military service and return without penalty.
The University of West Georgia works with service members on a case-by-case basis to support them when their military duties interrupt their educational endeavors.
Undergraduate students who have been away for less than 3 semesters and have not attended another instituion can simply reenroll in classes. Students who have been away for more than 3 consecutive semesters for military duty must apply for readmission but do not have to pay an application fee. The student will be readmitted with the same academic status as when last attending. Many graduate programs use cohort models, and students who stop out often can return as part of a new cohort where they left off. Students may contact the Registrar's Office at registrar@westg.edu to request support in their readmission after military service.
Refunds
Students are not permitted to receive a refund of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) tuition payments or military Tuition Assistance. Moreover, UWG is required to return unearned VA and military Tuition Assistance funds to the correct source. As with our Return to Title IV policy, UWG uses the date of withdrawal or the last date of recorded attendance when all classes are reporting as failing to determine when a student stopped working on a course. It is important for student using VA and DoD funds to speak with both an academic advisor and a School Certifying Official in the Office of the Registrar to consider how withdrawing from a course might impact them.
Degree Plans and Requirements
All students must meet the same requirements for each degree. The Academic Catalogs contain the official degree requirements for all degrees offered at UWG. Graduate students will find supplemental degree maps and sequencing information in the program guides on their program's website. Undergraduate students can find degree maps for all undergraduate degrees on the Advising Center website.
Academic Counseling and Post-Graduation Job Opportunities
UWG provides students with knowledgeable professionals who can help them with military Tuition Assistance, Department of Education Title IV funding, academic advising, counseling, financial aid counseling, career counseling, and other institutional services. The Veterans and Military Programs Office maintains a page of campus resources for military-connected students.
Installation Access
UWG conducts training with all employees who visit military installations to ensure they understand the binding terms of the DoD MOU and any installation-level contracts held by the University System of Georgia and the University of West Georgia. Part of that training includes familiarizing university personnel with the contents and resources found on this page as well as the Know Before You Owe page. Finally, UWG issues its own MOU DoD Instruction Form for recruiters to sign.