Military Assistance

To request your Joint Service transcript please visit the link below. You can use unofficial transcripts for acceptance to Grace Online. However, you must submit official transcripts by the end of your first course:

• Request Joint Transcripts: click here
• How to request Official Joint Transcripts: click here 

Grace Christian University also offers a free evaluation of military training and experience for college credit. To receive this evaluation, submit your Joint Services or American Council on Education (ACE) Transcript. Talk to your Grace Academic Advisor for more information.

Service members who stop attending Grace Christian University because of service requirements may request readmission after returning from service. Grace will readmit the student into the next available classes with the same academic status they had when they last attended.

• Students must notify the Grace Academic Advising Office as soon as possible when they need to stop attending classes due to service requirements.
• Students must notify the Grace Academic Advising Office of their intent to return to school within 3 years of completion of their period of service.
• The cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences from the school for military service may not exceed 5 years.
• A student’s readmission rights terminate in the case of a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, general court-martial, federal or state prison sentence, or other reasons as described in 34 CFR 668.18(h).

The Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency (MVAA) has compiled a list of employers who are committed to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices. MVAA has awarded those veteran-friendly employers with either a gold, silver, or bronze level status. Please review MVAA’s list of Veteran Friendly Employers.

Grace Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, Grace Christian University is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation to grant certificates and degrees at the Associate, Baccalaureate, and Master’s levels.

Learn more on our Accreditation webpage.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school’s borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meets other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year. The U.S. Department of Education releases official cohort default rates once per year.

• Grace’s Fiscal Year 2022 Official 3 year Cohort Default Rate was 0%.
• The National Fiscal Year 2022 cohort default rate was also 0%, due to the federal pause on federal student loan payments that began in March of 2020. During the pause, borrowers with student loans held by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) were not required to make any payments, and no borrowers with ED-held loans entered default.

Students interested in obtaining additional information about loan repayment should either visit studentaid.gov, or contact the Grace Financial Aid Office at (616) 538-0599, or email at financialaid@gracechristian.edu.

In compliance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Grace Christian University will allow any individual entitled to receive Chapter 31 (VR&E) or Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®) benefits to attend registered courses while the institution awaits payment from the VA.

• We will not assess late fees due to delayed VA payments.
• We will not deny access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.
• We will not require that a covered individual borrow additional funds.
• We will not impose any penalty on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

However, the waiting period will expire upon receipt of the payment from the VA or after 90 days from the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility. It is recommended that Military students submit their Certificate of Eligibility or Statement of Benefits to the school before classes begin. If the student’s eligible VA benefits do not fully cover the financial obligations at the University, the student will be responsible to make other payment arrangements to cover the remaining balance before classes begin.

Our specially-trained staff is completely devoted to military and veteran students and processing their military benefits, as well as supporting them in academic counseling, job searching, and disability support.

MILITARY BENEFITS & FINANCIAL AID ADVISING

If you have questions about Financial Aid, or the military certification process, please contact:
Kurt Postma
Director of Financial Aid
kpostma@gracechristian.edu
(616) 410-7612
Kurt Postma, the Director of Financial Aid, is also our school’s Veteran Benefits Coordinator and School Certifying Official (SCO). Kurt has more than 17 years of experience in Financial Aid, with over 10 years of experience in assisting veterans and service members with their military benefits. To enhance his ability to support our veteran community, Kurt stays fully compliant with annual SCO training mandates. He regularly engages in continuous training opportunities to stay up to date on the latest VA regulations, compliance standards, and student-veteran resources.

Online Student ADVISING

College and Career counseling, Job Search Support, and Disability Support:
Alicia M. McCullar Ph.D.
Vice President of Online Strategy & Enrollment
amccullar@gracechristian.edu
Dr. Alicia McCullar holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education. For more than 15 years, she has served as a strategic partner in supporting veterans and active-duty military personnel through academic advising, coaching, enrollment, and college support services. Her education and professional experience equips her to effectively support military-affiliated students throughout their college experience.

ON-CAMPUS Student ADVISING

College and Career counseling, Job Search Support, and Disability Support:
Melissa Moran M.A.
Director of Student Success
mmoran@gracechristian.edu
(616) 929-2955
Melissa Moran holds a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Leadership. She has over 5 years of experience of supporting college students with academic and career planning, job-search preparation, and disability accommodations. Melissa has completed Empowerment Success Coach training and is a certified coach through the Association for the Coaching and Tutoring Profession (ACTP). She is also a member of MI-AHEAD, the Michigan affiliate of the Association on Higher Education and Disability. This association provides professional development and resources related to accessibility and disability support in higher education.