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Veteran & Military Support
At the College of Southern Maryland, we take pride in partnering with active-duty military, veterans, and military-dependent students to make sure you get the most of the benefits available to you.
The commitment is so important to us that we have been identified as a veteran- and military-friendly institution.
If you’re active-duty military, a veteran, or a military-dependent student and are curious about what benefits are available to you or how to apply for them, you’re in the right place.
Learn How to Apply for Benefits
For Ch 33 students,
- As of January 05, 2021, VA Debts are now issued to the school for tuition and fees. Keep in mind that if you withdraw after the 100% refund period, or receive a non-attendance grade (FX or N/A) then you will create a VA debt, that will have to be repaid to the school for the tuition and fees that were paid by VA.
- As of August 01, 2021, CSM reports CH33 VA benefits via dual certification. This means that your enrollment will be reported twice to VA. The 1st report will only include credits/hours, not tuition and fees. The 2nd report will be submitted 30 after the start of the term and will include tuition and fees. Going forward tuition and fees will be paid after 30 days into the term, not at the beginning of the term.
- VA did not renew the current COVID incentives.
- For semesters starting after December 17, 2021, courses must return to being taken in-person, and on-campus. The following teaching modalities will satisfy the in-person requirement for CH33 Students:
- F2F- Face to Face
- HYB- Hybrid
- HYF- Hyflex- You are required to attend one class on-campus/ in-person for each Hyflex class that you take. We will initially report your Hyflex course to VA as being taken on-campus, But, you must notify this office in writing of the date, and time that you physically attended each on-campus Hyflex course before the course ends. After the course ends, if you have not provided the required documentation, the Hyflex course(s) will be converted back to the online modality. Failure to notify this office that you have met this on-campus requirement, could result in a VA debt being issued, since this will be reported as an online course.
- **RTT courses will no longer be considered as an on-campus course, it will be reported as online
- All Post 911 GI BILL® students, who receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and or kicker payments will be required to verify their enrollment at the end of each month, starting with terms that begin after December 17, 2021, by calling, or opting in to text verifications at: 888-442-4551. Failure to verify for 2 consecutive months will result in no MHA/ Kicker payments.
- Priority registration for military students starts on November 08, 2021, don’t forget to submit the Benefits Request Form after you register!
Contact Us
Laticia Ragin, Veterans Affairs Coordinator
Robert Shorter, Veterans Affairs Academic Advisor
Leonardtown: 240-725-5421
La Plata: 301-934-7656
Prince Frederick: 443-550-6131
To schedule an appointment, call 240-725-5320.
Important Information for Students Using VA Education Benefits
All students desiring to use VA Education Benefits must submit a Benefits Request Form (BRF) after registering for classes. CSM typically receives more than 500 BRF’s each semester. It can take CSM up to 30 days to process the requests during peak enrollment periods and the VA can take another 30 days after that so do not delay registering for classes and submitting your BRF. BRF’s are processed in the order received.
- All monthly payments/stipends from the VA, including the Post 9/11 Monthly Housing Allowance, are paid the month following classes (Students attending classes in February receive payments in March, etc.).
- All monthly payments/stipends are prorated on the length of the term/semester.
- The VA only provides monthly payments/stipends during the time period a student is enrolled in classes. There are no monthly payments/stipends during breaks between terms/semesters.
CSM is approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, so that eligible veterans, servicepersons, and certain dependents of veterans can receive VA educational benefits. We do not determine your eligibility for veterans benefits. We do, however, provide you with the appropriate paperwork to apply to the VA for benefits. We are responsible for certifying your enrollment status to the VA, which is what gets you paid.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.