The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who became at least 90 percent disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict. Eligible spouses and children attending public colleges and universities in Virginia are admitted free of tuition and mandatory fees. (See the Code of Virginia, Section 23-7.4:1.) 

Only students appearing on the VMSDEP roster for the semester will receive educational benefits. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they appear on the VMSDEP roster each semester. The University will not retroactively apply benefits or reimburse the student if their name does not appear on the roster prior to the end of the semester.

In addition, some VMSDEP students may be eligible for a full-time or part-time student stipend that is processed through the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV). SCHEV provides a roster of eligible students who have identified their intention to attend UMW to the Office of Financial Aid who in turn certifies that the students are attending and are eligible to receive the stipend payment. Because there may not be sufficient funding to make full VMSDEP stipends to all eligible students, a priority funding system is used by SCHEV to determine the order and amount of stipends. Students in a higher Priority category must receive their full projected annual stipend, as determined by SCHEV based on student enrollment level, before subsequent categories are considered for funding.

Only students appearing on the stipend verification rosters released by SCHEV to the institutions will be funded for the terms specified as authorized, regardless of certification/verification from any other source.

For more information on eligibility, the application process, and filing dates, visit the Virginia Department of Veterans Services web site.

Additional information is also available through the Office of Student Accounts (540/654-1250) or the Office of Financial Aid (540-654-2468).