Step 1: Complete VA Form 22-5490 Dependents Application for VA Education Benefits through va.gov.
- Provide Certificate of Eligibility (COE) once it is received (email to veteran@jmu.edu, drop off or mail)
- VA will either mail the COE to your home address listed on the application.
Step 2: Complete the JMU Student Agreement Form
- Complete and submit online. Must complete at one time; no save option
- Requires student to login with their JMU credentials and Duo authentication.
- Complete after you have participated in orientation and finalized your upcoming semester schedule
- For incoming JMU students - complete after you have participated in orientation
- For current JMU students - complete when your upcoming class schedule is set and will not change
- Copy of completed form will be emailed to both the student and the JMU School Certifying official.
- Keep a copy for your records
- If you are a dependent child- there is a lot of important information provided in the student agreement form. We recommend completing this form with a parent or at least forwarding the completed form to them for their review.
Step 3: Complete JMU Veterans Education Benefits Request form
- Complete and submit online. Must complete at one time; no save option
- Requires student to login with their JMU credentials and Duo authentication.
- Complete after you have participated in orientation and finalized your upcoming semester schedule
- For incoming JMU students - complete after you have participated in orientation and your class schedule is set and will not change.
- For current JMU students - complete once upcoming class schedule is set and will not change.
- Enrollment in courses must meet major, GenEd, elective, or degree requirements, or an approved certificate or teacher licensure program to qualify. All majors and minors must be declared on the transcript
Additional requirements:
- Request all Institutions of Higher Learning transcripts be sent directly to JMU if you've taken classes at another college. Opened transcripts will not be accepted. (Mainly pertains to undergraduate students; graduate school may require certain transcripts too)
- Submit any AP or IB scores directly to JMU (Undergraduate students)
Step 4: Research the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program benefit (VMSDEP).
- If you are eligible, apply as soon as possible. Follow their Application Target Date (step 3 on their website) to make sure you apply in time.
- JMU does not apply retroactive waivers. You must be approved prior to the last day of the semester or you can start it with the next semester.
- VMSDEP can be used in conjunction with Chapter 35 if eligible for both
- More information found on the JMU VMSDEP website.
What happens after submitting all required documents for the upcoming semester?
JMU's VA Certifying Official will process a student's request for benefits approximately one month prior to the start of the semester/term (once all required documents are received) and within 6-8 weeks, VA will generate and mail an active award benefit letter to the student.
Monthly payments are direct deposited to the provided bank account in the original application. Monthly payments are paid in arrears.
All JMU charges must be paid upfront by the University deadline each semester. If also eligible for VMSDEP, that may be factored in to cover the tuition and comprehensive fee charges only (and any course fees, tuition differential fees and orientation fee). Room rent, meal plan and internet fee charges must be covered upfront each semester if eligible for both Chapter 35 and VMSDEP.
Reference the VA Education Benefits website for more information regarding Chapter 35 DEA.