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Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program

General Description and Purpose

The purpose of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program (VMSDEP) is to provide eligible students enrolled in a Virginia public college or university with certain education benefits in acknowledgement of the military service and sacrifice of their military parent or spouse.

Eligibility

The eligible student must be:

  1. A spouse of a qualifying military service member or
  2. A child, between the ages of 16 and 29, inclusive, of a qualifying military service member.
  3. Accepted by and enrolled in a Virginia public college or university.

The qualifying military service member is one who meets at least one criterion in each of the following four areas.

1. Served on active duty in at least one of the following capacities:

  • member of the US Armed Forces;
  • member of the US Armed Forces Reserve;
  • member of the Virginia National Guard; or
  • member of the Virginia National Guard Reserve.

2. During one of the following events:

  • military operations against terrorism;
  • a peacekeeping mission;
  • or as a result of a terrorist act; or
  • any armed conflict subsequent to December 6, 1941.

3. And while serving active duty the military member had at least one of the following occur:

  • was killed;
  • was missing in action;
  • was prisoner of war; or
  • is a veteran who, due to such service, has been rated as permanently disabled or at least 90 percent disabled.

4. Have one of the following qualifying domicile status:

  • Virginia domicile at time of entering service or called up from reserves;
  • Virginia domicile for at least five years immediately prior to student applying for VMSDEP;
  • if deceased, was Virginia domicile on, and for at least five years prior to, his death;
  • in the case of a qualifying child, is deceased and the surviving parent had been, at some point previous to marrying the deceased parent, a Virginia domicile for at least five years or is and has been a Virginia domicile for at least five years prior to student’s application for this benefit; or
  • in the case of a qualified spouse, is deceased and the surviving spouse had been, at some time previous to marrying the deceased military spouse: a Virginia domicile for at least five years or is and has been Virginia domicile for at least five years prior to student’s admission application.

Benefits

Eligible students, as confirmed by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), are guaranteed waiver of all tuition and mandatory fees at a Virginia public college or university regardless of degree program or enrollment level.

In addition, as funds are available, eligible students may receive a stipend to offset other educational expenses, such as room & board and books & supplies. The current maximum award (FY08) is $1,500 per year allocated to fall and spring terms as follows:
1. Students enrolled full-time receive $750 per term
2. Students enrolled at least half-time but less than full-time receive $500 per term
3. Students enrolled less than half-time receive $250 per term

Enrollment levels:
Undergraduate full-time = 12 credit hours or more per term
Undergraduate at least half time = 6-11 credit hours per term
Undergraduate less than half-time = less than 6 credit hours per term
Graduate full-time = 9 credit hours or more per term
Graduate at least half time = 6-8 credit hours per term
Graduate less than half-time = less than 6 credit hours per term

Summer awards are available if the student did not use the full annual award during the prior fall and spring terms, as funds are available.

Award amounts may be reduced if the number of eligible students exceeds projections. This award is not reduced by receipt of other gift aid, except that, when combined with other gift aid, the combination of assistance cannot exceed the student’s estimated cost of attendance.

Example: Institution Cost of Attendance less “scholarships, grants, and waivers” regardless of source equals VMSDEP stipend - up to $1,500.

Process

1. The student submits to the Department of Veterans Services (DVS) their VMSDEP application and a Virginia public college or university acceptance letter. For more information, visit the DVS web site.

2. DVS reviews the application and determines eligibility.

3. DVS provides verification letter to the student, the institution, and to SCHEV.

4. SCHEV verifies enrollment as of the end of the term’s drop/add date, determines student’s final award amount for the term, and disburses funds to the institution approximately four weeks into the term.

5. The institution applies the funds to the student’s account.

6. Funds are first applied to institutional direct charges, such as room and board. Disbursements made by the institution to the student, if applicable, are then subject to the institution’s student refund policy.

7. If the student withdraws after the census date, the award amount will be prorated based on the institution’s tuition refund policy.

Renewal

Benefits are limited to a total of four years combined for undergraduate and graduate programs. The stipend is contingent upon available funding.