The Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service offers many benefit programs. These benefits include the Montgomery GI Bill, Tuition Assistance “Top Up”, Veterans Educational Assistance Program, Survivor’s and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, Tutorial Assistance Program and numerous other benefit programs. This institution is approved to offer GI Bill® educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency.
Beginning on August 1, 2021, Section 1010 of the new Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvements Act of 2020 will require all enrolled students, eligible for BAH, to electronically verify their enrollment each month with VA. If a student fails to certify for two consecutive months, VA will withhold their BAH until the student certifies.
Students can verify their enrollment in one of two ways:
Text Messaging – Students who choose VA’s “Opt-In” feature will receive a text message each month prompting them to verify their enrollment status.
Telephone – Students may call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 888-442-4551 to verify their enrollment status.
Ryan Hastings serves as the primary point of contact for military-affiliated students, the UMW Student Veteran Association, and the Veterans Resource Center. He is also the School Certifying Official for BLS, BSN, certificate students, and graduate students who use veterans benefits, as well as any student participating in the Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment program or using Chapter 1606 – Selected Reserve benefits. You can contact Ryan at rhasting@umw.edu or at 540-654-5853.
Patricia Sarkuti is the School Certifying Official for BA and BS students who use veteran benefits (except the Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment program). You can contact Patricia at psarkuti@umw.edu or at 540-654-2140.