JMU Chapter 35 Brochure

• Make sure to list the student’s phone number and email on the application. The student will be required to verify attendance with VA each month.
• Provide Certificate of Eligibility (COE) once it is received (email to veteran@jmu.edu)
• VA will either mail the COE to your home address listed on the application. 
• You can complete Step 2 (based on the timeframes listed below) while waiting on your COE.

• Research the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program benefit (VMSDEP)
  • Virginia benefit, provides 8 terms of a tuition/fee waiver
  • Apply as soon as possible to ensure approval is received before the semester starts
  • VMSDEP can be used in conjunction with Federal Chapter 35 DEA
  • 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.
  • More information found on the JMU VMSDEP website

• 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. 
• While using Federal VA Chapter 35 benefits: enrollment in courses must meet major, GenEd, elective, or degree requirements, or an approved certificate to qualify. All programs must be declared on the transcript. Chapter 35 DEA does not cover courses not needed for graduation. 
• If also eligible for the State VMSDEP benefit: this benefit is through Virginia. It will waive the mandatory tuition/fees for any enrolled course each semester while using it. 

1. Prior Credit: Request all Institutions of Higher Learning transcripts be sent directly to JMU if you've taken classes at another college, including dual enrollment. Opened transcripts will not be accepted. (Mainly pertains to undergraduate students; graduate school may require certain transcripts too)
   • Helpful website for prior credit: Registrar: Transfer Credit
   • All sources of credit must be evaluated while using a federal VA benefit
2. Submit any AP or IB scores directly to JMU (Undergraduate students)
   • Helpful website: Test Credit 
3. Notify us if out of state for tuition to see if you qualify for the Choice Act
4. Apply for Financial Aid with the FAFSA application- Financial Aid & Scholarships - JMU

What happens after submitting all required documents for the upcoming semester?

JMU's VA Certifying Official will process a student's request for benefits with Chapter 35 DEA, starting approximately one month prior to the start of the semester/term. The required semester request form and any intiial setup documents must be received in order for the semester enrollment to be submitted.  Federal VA typically takes 4-8 weeks for processing and eligible payment release. 

Monthly payments are direct deposited to the provided bank account in the original application. Monthly payments are paid in arrears. 

Semester bills:

• All JMU charges must be paid upfront by the University deadline each semester.
• If also eligible for the state VMSDEP benefit, 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.