Veterans & Military Student Support Center
Supporting veteran students, service members, dependents, and survivors at Jackson State University — helping you access the benefits you deserve and succeed academically.
Serving those who served
To support the mission of the Division of Student Life through the development and implementation of outreach programs designed to provide student support services focused on the special needs and requirements of today’s military veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors. The Center was established to improve and enhance the success of student veterans, to help them receive the benefits they deserve, to serve as a liaison between the veteran student community and the University, and to increase their academic success.
- Director
- Ms. Kimberly Alcorn
- Director Phone
- 601-979-0889
- Office Manager
- Ms. Daphne Trigg
- Main Phone
- (601) 979-1365
- Fax
- 601-979-0890
- Location
- Jacob L. Reddix Hall, 3rd Floor (Suite 302)
- Mailing
- P.O. Box 17084, Jackson, MS 39217-0679
Please read before you begin
Military Orders: All service members must provide their official Military orders to the Veterans & Military Student Support Center (jsuveterans@jsums.edu) and to all of your professors.
Chapters 30, 35, and 1606 — Important: These chapters do not guarantee automatic registration completion. These funds are paid directly to the student and not the university. You must make payment arrangements with the Business Office or have enough Financial Aid or Student Loans to cover the cost of attendance, since the benefit pays a monthly stipend directly to the student and not the institution. The Business Office will not defer payment for Chapters 30, 35, and 1606 recipients. Financial Services need to know how you intend to complete your registration to prevent being purged for non-payment.
Steps for using VA education benefits
Apply to Jackson State University at www.jsums.edu/apply/. Send all official transcripts (high school and/or college) to the Admissions Office — please also submit a copy to the Veterans and Military Center. Student Veterans must submit a copy of their DD Form 214 to the Veterans & Military Student Support Center.
Apply online for VA education benefits at www.gibill.va.gov or vets.gov, or fill out a paper application at the JSU Veterans & Military Student Support Center and submit it to the VA School Certifying Official. Submit Military Transcripts to the admissions or registrar’s office and a copy to the Veterans Center. Request your transcript at jst.doded.mil. Air Force personnel: contact the Air Force Community College Registrar’s office or download the CCAF Transcript Request form.
Apply for Federal Financial Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The VA determines your eligibility within 6–8 weeks. If eligible, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) that must be submitted to the Veterans & Military Student Support Center.
Each semester — Students’ responsibilities: Meet with your academic advisor → Register for classes → Get certified for benefits by meeting with the JSU Certifying Official in the Veterans & Military Student Support Center. Apply for State Education Assistance Program (SEAP) if eligible: ng.ms.gov/gs/g1/edu/benefits. Apply for Federal Tuition Assistance if eligible (Army Reserves or National Guard): ArmyIgnitED. Pay required tuition & fees.
Recertify each semester. Report any changes to the VA and JSU Veterans and Military Center to avoid delay of payment, pay reduction, or payback to the VA. Submit a VA Registration Form or VA Fact Sheet each semester. Prior to each semester, provide a copy of your class schedule to the Center.
Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) through ArmyIgnitED pays up to $250.00 per semester hour, not to exceed 16 semester hours per fiscal year. For FY-24, this covers courses with TERM start dates between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024. Soldiers may apply for TA up to 60 days prior, but must apply no later than 14 days before the TERM start date. TARs are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are prevented 7 days before the TERM start date. For account access, contact ArmyIgnitED Helpdesk: 276-231-0938.
VA education benefit applications
The Department of Veterans Affairs must have one of the following applications on file. Call 1-888-442-4551 to apply and check the status of your application.
VA education benefit chapters
All service members must have served honorably. The VA has the ultimate authority in determining eligibility for VA Educational benefits. Questions about eligibility? Contact a VA counselor at 1-888-442-4551.
Important policies for veteran students
Verify your enrollment
Chapter 30 and 1606 recipients are required to contact the VA on the last day of each month to verify enrollment. If you forget, your payment will be held until you call. If the number of credits or enrollment status is incorrect, contact the Veterans Center — do not try to correct it through the VA website.
- Verify by phone: 1-877-823-2378
- Verify online: W.A.V.E. system
Changes to your enrollment status
You must contact the Veterans and Military Center immediately if you make changes to your class schedule. The Center will help you determine if and how the change will impact your benefits. If you change your schedule, bring a revised class schedule signed by your advisor. Failure to do this may result in a reduction in your benefits.
Dropping classes or withdrawing
If you drop a course or need to withdraw from school after the drop period, contact the Veterans Center as soon as possible. The VA may reduce your benefits retroactively to the beginning of the semester unless there are mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances include: illness or injury, illness or death in your immediate family, an unavoidable change in employment, unanticipated active duty service, or immediate family/financial obligations beyond your control.
Medical and Hardship Withdrawals: Contact the Health Center, Registrar’s Office, and the Division of Student Life. Please inform the Veterans Center to avoid any VA debt.
Military Withdrawal or Called to Active Duty: Bring a copy of your orders to the Veterans and Military Center. Also contact your academic department, financial aid, housing (if living on campus), the registrar’s office, and the Division of Student Life.
Repeated courses, satisfactory progress & transfer students
Repeated Courses: Courses that are failed or do not meet minimum graduation requirements may be certified for VA purposes if repeated. You must have a repeat form signed by your departmental or undergraduate advisor.
Satisfactory Progress: If pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you must make satisfactory academic progress. Academic failure will directly affect your benefits.
Transfer Students: Veteran/military transfer students must complete VA Form 22-1995 "Change of Program/Training Form." Dependent transfer students need VA Form 22-5495.
Non-Matriculated Students: If you are not yet degree-seeking, you will need to see your advisor for a non-matriculation form.
Credit for educational experience in the armed forces
Jackson State University utilizes the American Council on Education’s “Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services” for the evaluation of training for military occupational skills. Final acceptance of such military transfer credit is left to the discretion of the major department chair and the dean of the college. Each service branch has their own system: the Army uses the AART system; the Navy and Marine Corps use the SMART system; the Air Force automatically captures training, experience, and standardized test scores.
Documents you must submit
Please note: Before our office can submit your enrollment to the Department of Veterans Affairs, you must submit the required documentation below.
Required by the Veterans Center
- DD Form 214 (Discharge Papers — Member 4) — Service members & Veterans
- DD Form 2384 — NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility) — Those currently in a unit (National Guard or Reserve)
- Curriculum — Everybody must have one on file
- Kicker Contract, Orders, & Drilling Dates — Reserve or National Guard (get from unit). If deployed at any time during the semester, submit official orders to your instructors and our office.
- Copy of Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — Must be on file before anything is submitted to the VA
VA application required (call 1-888-442-4551 to apply)
- VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits)
- VA Form 22-1990E (Application for Transfer of Entitlement — children and spouses)
- VA Form 22-5490 (Application for Survivor’s and Dependent’s Educational Assistance)
- VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training)
- VA Form 22-5495 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training — Survivors’ and Dependents’)
Also needed (originally submitted to Admissions — we need copies too!)
- High School Transcript(s)
- All Transfer College Transcripts
- Military Transcript — Joint Services or Community College of Air Force (CCAF)
Scholarships must be reported to the VA if they are paying for your tuition & fees, books, etc. Submit all scholarship information to our office. If you change your major, you must submit a new VA Form 22-1995 or VA Form 22-5495.
Meet our team
VA, military & JSU resources
Department of Veterans Affairs & Military Transcripts
JSU Resources
Mississippi National Guard
Military & veteran scholarships
The following major national organizations offer scholarships primarily to active duty military, veterans, and/or their families.
Veterans of Foreign Wars & Military Organizations
MyCAA Scholarship — Military Spouses
The MyCAA Scholarship is available to spouses of service members on active duty. More information at aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa.
Additional scholarships
Ready to apply to JSU?
We’re here to help you navigate every step — from admissions to certification of your VA benefits.
Contact the Veterans & Military Student Support Center
1400 John R. Lynch Street
Jackson, MS 39217-0679
Jackson, MS 39217-0679