Governor signs measures to ensure higher education funding for military dependents for next two years

"We are grateful that the governor and General Assembly agreed to provide funding in the state's budget to help Virginia's public colleges and universities offset the cost of VMSDEP for the next two years," said VCCS Chancellor David Dore. "Until now, there had been no state appropriation to compensate our institutions of higher education for the cost of the tuition they are required to waive."

Dr. Dore was responding to legislative actions this spring and summer which will provide a total of $130 million in the current two-year state budget cycle to provide higher education benefits to children and dependents of severely disabled or deceased military veterans. The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) has been the focus of intense attention and discussions in recent months.

Almost 2,000 students received tuition waivers though VMSDEP at Virginia's Community Colleges in the just-completed budget year. The cost of the VMSDEP waivers borne by our colleges was projected to be $6.1 million for the year.

In connection with the funding allocation, lawmakers withdrew an earlier proposal to restrict the availability of VMSDEP waivers. A governor's task force, a Senate Select Workgroup, and the General Assembly's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission are looking into ways to sustain the military benefits program in the future.

"I would like to enthusiastically communicate how much Virginia's Community Colleges value our active-duty military personnel, veterans and their families and the contributions and sacrifices they have made to the safety of our nation," said Dr. Dore.

Thirteen percent of VCCS students statewide are affiliated with the military, either as active duty, veteran, spouse or dependent. All of our colleges offer advising and navigation services to military affiliated students, and seven of our larger colleges have dedicated offices for the purpose.

In addition, the VCCS Credits-to-Careers portal is an online tool that translates military experience into college credits and has been used successfully by thousands of veterans around the state looking to advance their careers once they enter the civilian world.