1. CSM Veterans Benefits Orientation (VBO)
10/13/2018
CSM Veterans Benefits Orientation (VBO)
How to Use Your VA Benefits at College of Southern Maryland (CSM)

2. 10/13/2018
CSM Veterans Assistance Office Contact Information
Laticia Ragin, Veterans Academic Advisor
Leonardtown:
La Plata:
Prince Frederick:
Office Hours (by appointment only, call )
Monday: Leonardtown, 12 – 5 p.m., Building C, Room 105E
Tuesday: La Plata, 12 – 5 p.m., AD Building, Room 110B
Wednesday: La Plata, 12 – 5 p.m., AD Building, Room 110B
Thursday: Prince Frederick, 12 – 5 p.m., Building A, Room 101H

3. Are you new to CSM?
Yes:
Apply to CSM ( register/credit/index.html)
You should receive your CSM Student ID Number within two business days.
Go to the next slide.
No:
Go to the next slide.

4. Have you applied to the VA to activate your benefits?
Yes:
Provide a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the CSM Veterans Assistance Office.
Students using VR&E must provide a copy of VA to the CSM Veterans Assistance Office.
No:
Submit an application for VA Education Benefits online ( Provide a screen shot of submission confirmation receipt to CSM Veterans Assistance Office.
Students qualifying for Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits (VR&E) should apply online ( x.asp).
Veterans with a Service Connected Disability Rating of 10% or greater may qualify for VR&E Benefits.

5. All Students Using VA Benefits at CSM Must Provide the Following to the CSM Veterans Assistance Office:
Provide copy of COE (or VA ).
Provide copy of DD 214 if Veteran.
Dependents using benefits provide copy of sponsor’s DD 214.
Provide official transcripts for all prior training (military and undergraduate colleges) by the conclusion of the first semester to the CSM Registrar Office (
JST (
CCAF (
Veterans: Do not take the following until your military transcript has been received and evaluated by CSM: WFS 1701, BAD 1210, BAD 1780, BAD 2710, ITS 1015, COM 1010, or BIO 2070.

6. Learn About Your VA Education Benefits
Post -9/11 GI Bill: Chpt 33 (including dependents)
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty: Chpt 30
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve: 1606 (includes National Guard)
Survivors and Dependents Assistance: Chpt 35
Vocational Rehabilitation and Training: Chpt 31

7. Effective CSM Fall 2018 Semester
For students using Post 9/11 (Chpt 33) GI Bill benefits:
The VA will calculate the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) based on the location of the campus where the student physically attends the majority of their classes.
You may determine your MHA by checking the DoD BAH Calculator ( MHA is paid at the E 5 with dependents rate.
Zip Codes for CSM locations are:
Prince Frederick (20678)
Leonardtown (20650)
La Plata (20646)
Hughesville (20637)
Waldorf (20601)

8. VA Policies Students must be in a VA approved program of study (POS).
All classes must be required or a required prerequisite for POS.
All prior training must be evaluated for transfer credits.
Classes can not be repeated if already successfully completed (D or higher).
Students must attend classes. All dropped classes must be reported to the VA (Includes grades of FX: Failure for non-attendance).
Students may not audit classes. VA will not pay for audited classes.
All monthly benefits stipends are paid at the end of each month while students are enrolled in classes.
More information available at

9. CSM Policies
First time users of Chpt 33 benefits may submit a Chpt 33 Promissory Note (
The COE must be received before a second enrollment will be reported to the VA.
All users of VA Benefits at CSM must submit a Benefits Request Form/BRF ( each semester after registering for classes and for all enrollment changes.
All BRF’s are processed in the order received.
All students using Chpt 30, 1606, or Chpt 35 benefits must pay for classes or make payment arrangements when registering for classes. See
All students using VA Benefits at CSM are expected to meet the same academic and behavioral standards of all other CSM students (
Students using Chpt 33 benefits are expected to purchase textbooks out of pocket and reimburse themselves upon receipt of the VA books/supplies stipend.

10. Rate of Pursuit
The VA calculates your benefits based upon your rate of pursuit.
Standard fall, spring, and summer semesters (15 weeks)
Full-time = 12 or more credits
Late start semesters (9 weeks)
Full-time = 9 or more credits
Mini-sessions (7 weeks)
Full-time = 6 or more credits
January Intersession (3 weeks)
Chpt 33 students must have a rate of pursuit greater than ½ time to receive the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA).
Chpt 33 students pursuing classes exclusively online (No classroom instruction) and otherwise qualify for MHA will receive a reduced amount (

11. Additional Requirements/Information
All students without prior Math or English credits must complete placement exams (
Students desiring to drop classes should do so via their my.CSMD account (
If you have mitigating circumstances (unforeseen emergencies) you should contact the CSM Veterans Assistance Office via for assistance.
CSM offers free tutoring services ( services/student-success-services/tutoring/). Additional tutoring may be available with VA assistance (
Students with documented disabilities (including PTSD) may qualify for additional support services ( services/disability-support-services/).

12. Financial Aid
Students using VA Education Benefits generally qualify for Federal Financial Aid.
Aid includes loans, grants, and scholarships.
You may apply for Federal Financial Aid at The CSM school code is
You may also explore scholarship opportunities via the CSM Scholarship Finder ( and the Maryland Higher Education Commission (

13. Additional Information
CSM has an active Student Veterans Organization ( as well as many other Student Clubs and Activities.
CSM has set aside space at the La Plata Campus (Room LR 103) as a Resource Center/Lounge for our Student Veterans to use.

14. Additional Resources
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (
Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (
Veterans Crisis Line (
Help for Homeless Vets (
Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans (
Maryland Community Services Locator (
VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (
My Healthe Vet (
More resources are available at military-support-services/resources-for-veterans-and-military/.

15. Confirmation of VBO Completion
Click here to notify the CSM Veterans Benefits Office of completion of the online VBO.