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Notes on VA benefits:

The good news is that the VA is now back open and processing benefit requests. 

If you are a Chapter 35 student who has not received any payments... or are using any other benefit that has been delayed, please call the VA at 888.442.4551 to verify with the VA that they are working your request and to see if they can give you an estimate as to when your payment will be released.  If they have no record of your request, please log into your online RFC to make sure you submitted it for the term

In other news, Spring 2026 registration is now open and if you have registered for Spring classes, please be sure to authorize your benefits for next term

• Chapter 33, 35, 31 or 1606 benefit users:  Please submit your online RFC at go.vcu.edu/adminpages
• State VMSDEP users:  You can authorize your VMSDEP benefit for Spring at https://vmsdep.dvs.virginia.gov/user/login
• If you are taking Winter Intercession courses...  please remember that your intercession credits (12/27/25 - 1/9/26) cannot be combined with your Spring classes (1/12 - final exams) to calculate full-time.  The VA considers them separate, so combining 3 intercession credits with 9 Spring credits does not make full-time for an Undergraduate student 

DO NOT DELAY IN FILING FOR YOUR BENEFITS FOR SPRING 2026!  There is a possibility that the Federal Government could shut down again in January when the next budget stopgap measure is to be considered, so get your request in early.  

We want to wish you all a safe and enjoyable Holiday Break

Benefits Updates

Rams;

Spring registration is right now.  Here are some important notes to help prepare for Spring 2026 registration.

• Now is the time to make an appointment with your academic advisor to select your classes for next semester.  Make your appointment as soon as possible before they fill up.  If you are not sure who your advisor is, log into your Navigate account to make an appointment
• If you have a registration hold on your account, look here for information on how to get it cleared:  https://registrar.vcu.edu/registration/registration-guide/holds/
• AFTER you register for Spring classes, be sure to authorize your education benefits for Spring 2026.  For Federal benefits, submit your online RFC (request for certification) here and then ask your VCU academic advisor to mark it as approved online.  VMSDEP students can authorize their VMSDEP benefit here:
• As a reminder, if you are taking an Intersession course, the VA does not count Intercession with Spring when determining "full time" status.  Intercession has separate dates so the VA will not count those with your other Spring credits when determining your part time/full time status  

Scholarship Links

• Fisher House Scholarships
• ThanksUSA Scholarships
• VA-ACME Scholarships
• Visit VCU’s National Scholarship Office for more.
• VFW Scholarship Opportunities and Assistance 

The MSS Website has several Scholarship Opportunities listed

Mark Your Calendars: 

MSS Pre-Holiday Break Pizza: Join the MSS Staff and the SVA starting at 12:00 on Thursday, November 20th, in the MSS office at 3122 Harris Hall. Free Pizza and Comaraderie!!  Register Here

MSS & SVA White Elephant Shennanigans: Join your fellow vets and dependents for a fun potluck and mystery gift exchange. If you haven't attended one of our festive holiday events, you should. The festivities are on December 11th and begin at 3:00 and go until we shut down the office at 5:00. RSVP Here

 

• Department of Defense Identification Card
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
• Veteran ID Card
• Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card

 

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