Required step to use VMSDEP each semester at James Madison University:

1. Student adds the upcoming term in their vmsdep portal. Instructions found here.
   • Login to your VMSDEP account
   • Select the "Enrollment and Benefits" tab
   • Select "Add Enrollments" - only one term is open at a time 
     • Fall terms open 7/1-10/31
     • Spring terms open 11/1-3/31
     • Summer terms open 4/1-6/30
   • Enter the required information and click the submit button
   • Student's name will then appear on JMU's semester roster for VMSDEP. It will say "pending confirmation" until the JMU Financial Aid office confirms the enrollment in the VMSDEP portal. This occurs within the first 4-6 weeks of each semester.
   • Tuition/fee waiver will be officially applied to semester bills in late-September for Fall terms and late-February for Spring terms. 

If student also receives the Federal VA Chapter 35 DEA benefit, follow these steps.

Portal Enrollment Open/Close Dates:

• Fall term open 7/1-10/31
• Spring term open 11/1-3/31
• Summer term open 4/1-6/30

NOTE: If you miss the term's "Close (Due by), date, notify the JMU SCO to email the VMSDEP program to get the term added. Important - JMU does not apply VMSDEP waivers retroactively. JMU only approves VMSDEP usage for the current term or future terms. You must be approved for VMSDEP and notify the JMU SCO to request the term added to the portal for you by the last calendar day of the semester in order to use the benefits for that term; otherwise, you can use it for the upcoming semester. 

• Example 1: The Fall 2026 term ends on 12/18/2026. If you are approved for VMSDEP on 12/31/2026, you cannot use it for Fall 2026. You can start the benefit for Spring 2027 if you add the term to the portal by the last day of the semester.
• Example 2: The Fall 2026 semester ends on 12/18/2026. You are already approved and have been using VMSDEP in prior semesters. You fail to add the fall 2026 term to the portal on your own by the 10/31/26 due date. You reach out to the JMU SCO to request the addition of the Fall 2026 term on 12/22/2026 since you missed the 10/31 deadline to do it yourself. Since you are requesting it after the last day of the semester, you are not eligible to use the benefit for Fall 2026. You will have to pay out of pocket for the Fall 2026 term and you can restart the benefit for Spring 2027 if you add the term to the portal by the last day of the semester.