Veterans' Affairs

What does Southside Virginia Community College need from you?

    1. Certificate of Eligibility or Notice of Basic Eligibility. 

To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility you must apply for your benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Apply online at VA Benefits Application

• Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty - Chapter 30
• Post 9/11 GI Bill - Chapter 33
• Montgomery GI Bill Select Reserve - Chapter 1606
• Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) - Chapter 35
• Veterans applying for Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment 

Once you have completed the form, the VA will review it and provide you with a COE or a denial letter. The SVCC Office of Veterans Services needs a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (This is not sent to us from the VA, the student MUST send this to their prospective school).

   2. After the SVCC Office of Veterans Services has a copy of your certificate of eligibility you will need to:

• Be program placed into the academic program you wish to complete
• Enroll in classes
• Request to have your enrollment certified SVCC - GI Bill Enrollment Request Form OR completing a certification request through SIS. Instructions are listed under the Certification Request Information tab.
  • Before submitting your request for certification of enrollment there are a few things you should know.
    • Only classes that are a requirement of your current academic program (major) will be certified. There are only two (2) exceptions to this rule:
      • A faculty advisor may request that a non-required course be substituted for a program requirement. (The Office of Veterans' Services will need verification of this substitution.)
      • Rounouthside.edu/graduationding Out Rule - In your last semester of an academic program, if the required courses left to complete your academic program are less than full-time enrollment you may take non-required courses to round out your schedule to full-time.
• If you change your enrollment (add, drop, withdrawal from a class) your benefits also change. You must notify the Office of Veterans' Services immediately to reduce the impact on your benefits. You must submit the SVCC - GI Bill Enrollment UPDATE Form as soon as possible following the change of your enrollment.
  • A delay in your enrollment certification update could result in an overpayment by the VA.
  • If you are overpaid by the VA, you will be required to repay what is owed to the VA.

   3. Fill out the Veteran Transfer Evaluation Form, and return the completed form to our registrar office at shana.dix@southside.edu. If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office at (434)736-2043.

Customer Service Line (1-888-442-4551)

This is the number where Veterans can call to ask questions about their benefits, eligibility, and individual payments. Representatives are available between 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM central time, Monday-Friday. Veterans can also schedule a call back from a Customer Service Representative.

If you have any questions please email vabenefits@southside.edu or call 434-949-1094.

Each semester you will need to:

• Enroll in classes
• Request to have your enrollment certified SVCC - GI Bill Enrollment Request Form OR completing a certification request through SIS.  Instructions are listed under the Certification Request Information tab. 
  • Before submitting your request for certification of enrollment there are a few things you should know.
    • Only classes that are a requirement of your current academic program (major) will be certified. There are only two (2) exceptions to this rule:
      • A faculty advisor may request that a non-required course be substituted for a program requirement. (The Office of Veterans' Services will need verification of this substitution.)
      • Rounding Out Rule - In your last semester of an academic program, if the required courses left to complete your academic program are less than full-time enrollment you may take non-required courses to round out your schedule to full-time.
• If you change your enrollment (add, drop, withdrawal from a class) your benefits also change. You must notify the Office of Veterans' Services immediately to reduce the impact on your benefits. You must submit the SVCC - GI Bill Enrollment UPDATE Form as soon as possible following the change of your enrollment.
  • A delay in your enrollment certification update could result in an overpayment by the VA.
  • If you are overpaid by the VA, you will be required to repay what is owed to the VA.

Customer Service Line (1-888-442-4551)

This is the number where Veterans can call to ask questions about their benefits, eligibility, and individual payments. Representatives are available between 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM central time, Monday-Friday. Veterans can also schedule a call back from a Customer Service Representative.

If you have any questions please email vabenefits@southside.edu or call 434-949-1094.

Certification Requests (MUST be done each semester):
SVCC - GI Bill Enrollment Request Form - follow the link to a Google Form. You will then fill out that form, and submit.

Once your certification has been sent in, you will receive a confirmation email from the VA. If there are any issues, the SCO will reach out to you individually.

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Program (VMSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who became at least 90% disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict. Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, the Virginia National Guard, or the Reserves. Armed conflict includes military operations against terrorism or as the result of a terrorist act, a peace-keeping mission, or any armed conflict after December 6, 1941.

*NOTE: A Veteran's 90-100% disability must have been directly caused by the Veteran's involvement in: 1) military operations against terrorism; 2) a peacekeeping mission; 3) a terrorist act; 4) an armed conflict subsequent to December 6, 1941. The service connected disability cannot have been incurred during active duty that coincides with, but was not the direct result of, one of the listed events/missions.

The purpose of VMSDEP is to provide undergraduate or other postsecondary education to eligible participants by providing a waiver of tuition and all required fees associated with tuition at any public institution of higher education or other public accredited postsecondary institution granting a degree, diploma, or certificate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Benefits are available for up to 36 months.

*The Department of Veterans Services would like to announce that the new online portal for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) is now live. You can access the portal at myvmsdep.dvs.virginia.gov. All new and existing VMSDEP clients should have accounts on the new portal. Please go to the website to set up your account.

Military Medics and Corpsmen (MMAC) Program Information and Application - dvs.virginia.gov

The links below may provide additional information about military benefits and services:

• South Hill Field Office (Serving Southside Virginia)
• Virginia Department of Veterans Services
• GI Bill Home Page
• Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty - Chapter 30
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment - Chapter 31
• Post 9-11 GI Bill - Chapter 33
• Dependent Education Assistance - Chapter 35
• Montgomery GI Bill - Select Reserve - Chapter 1606
• Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program
• Make the Connection
• Veterans Crisis Line