Worcester State University proudly welcomes those who have served and are serving in the armed services. Veterans have provided a noble and crucial service; and for that, Worcester State thanks you. Worcester State is committed to helping Veterans and military connected students meet their educational needs by providing on and off campus resources, services, and support.

Certifying Official for Veterans Benefits

The WSU Certifying Office for Veterans Benefits contact, who handles certifications for Chapter 33, the Post-9/11 GI Bill ®,and the Montgomery GI Bill ® is Cherie Milosh, Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official (cmilosh@worcester.edu) Registrar’s Office, Administration Building, Room 107, 508-929-8773.

The Registrar’s Office can also provide general information of interest to Veterans and dependents of Veterans enrolled at WSU. Veterans and dependents of Veterans wishing to inquire about possible Veteran's benefits should contact VA Education Benefits at 1-888-442-4551.

(GI Bill ® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the U.S. government web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill).

Director of Military Affairs & Veteran Services

The Director and the Office of Military Affairs & Veteran Services provides access to resources, programming, and positive opportunities for Veterans and military connected people within the Worcester State University community. Anyone interested in ROTC opportunities available at WSU should reach out to the director. Once a Veteran has been accepted to WSU and the benefits are certified, the Office of Veterans Services will assist in the transition to the academic environment.  Every day the office works to provide necessary resources, student Veteran advocacy, research and programing to aid in student Veterans in achieving their goals at WSU. The student Veteran Lounge located in the Student Center also has off- campus resources, a space to study, or relax between classes.

The mission of the Office of Military Affairs & Veteran services is to ensure that Veterans and dependents are successful in completing their academic journey at WSU.  Through dedicated partnerships both on WSU campus and in the greater Worcester community, we are dedicated to the academic, professional, personal development, and empowerment of military connected students. We encourage you to reach out, contact the Director of Military Affairs & Veteran Services, Dr. Stephanie Teixeira (steixeira1@worcester.edu) Student Center, 3rd Floor, 508-929-8884.

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act

The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (codified at 38 U.S.C. 3679) has been amended by Public Law 117-68, the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021, which modifies 38 U.S.C. 3679(c).

The amendment requires that for all courses, semesters, or terms beginning after August 1, 2022, public institutions of higher education must charge qualifying Veterans, dependents, and eligible individuals the in-state resident rate for tuition and fees.

In summary, Public Law 117-68 adds Chapter 35 recipients to individuals required to receive the in-state resident tuition rate effective August 1, 2022.

As amended, 38 U.S.C. 3679(c) requires that the following individuals be charged the in-state resident rate:

• A Veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill ® – Active Duty Program), Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness & Employment) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill ® ), of 38 U.S.C. who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of their formal state of residence).

• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill ® benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of their formal state of residence).

• Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of their formal state of residence).

• Anyone using Chapter 35 (Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program) benefits who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of their formal state of residence).

• Anyone described above while they remain continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. The person so described must be using educational benefits under Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 33, or Chapter 35 of 38 U.S.C.

Federal law permits public institutions of higher education to require eligible Veterans, dependents, or individuals to demonstrate their intent to establish residency in the state by means other than satisfying a physical presence requirement. For example, institutions can request documentation such as a driver’s license, car registration or voter registration, signed lease, or rent receipt to help establish an applicant’s intent to establish residency in Massachusetts. 

Please note that the federal law does not include a durational residency requirement, nor does it include a requirement that the eligible Veteran, dependent, or individual demonstrate intend to remain in Massachusetts indefinitely. Finally, please note that the federal law does not bar institutions from requiring the eligible Veteran, dependent, or  individual to meet other requirements, unrelated to residency, in order to be eligible for the in-state tuition rate.

Public institutions of higher education are required to make this in-state tuition applicability to covered individuals publicly available in their academic catalogs and on their websites. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) will make publicly available on its website a database explaining any public institution’s requirements for beneficiaries to be charged in-state tuition.

Any institution found not to be in compliance with the requirements of Public Law 117-68 by August 1, 2022, will be disapproved by VA for the Chapter 33 Post-9/11 G.I. Bill®, Chapter 30 Montgomery G.I. Bill®-Active Duty Program, Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program and Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E).

Harry W. Colmery Educational Assistance Act of 2017 

WSU adheres to the Harry W. Colmery Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Forever GI Bill ®)-Section 107. Below is a list of addresses including zip codes of any location that a student may physically take classes other than the address approved under Worcester State University facility's VA assigned facility code and approved by the Massachusetts State Approving Agency. This list can be found below and at https://www.worcester.edu/Military-and-Veteran-Students/.

Marlborough High School- nature of site-Practicum
431 Bolton Street, Marlborough, MA 01752

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England-nature of site-Fieldwork
1071 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854

LUK, Inc.-nature of site-Fieldwork
545 Westminster Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420

St. Bernard High School-nature of site-Practicum
45 Harvard Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420

Quinsigamond Elementary School-nature of site-Practicum
14 Blackstone River Road, Worcester, MA 01504

Goddard School of Science-nature of site-Practicum
14 Richards Street, Worcester, MA 01603

French River Education Center-nature of site-Practicum
672 Main Street, North Oxford, MA 01537

Pathfinder Tech-nature of site-Practicum
240 Sykes Street, Palmer, MA 01609

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

For Veterans using Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 VA benefits, Worcester State University adheres to S2248 PL 115-407 Section 103. For Chapter 33 to be considered a “covered individual” under the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act 2018, the Veteran, or other eligible beneficiary, must provide a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or statement of benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the first day of classes.  The Veteran, or other eligible beneficiary, must complete a Worcester State University Veteran In-House Form to have their VA educational benefits certified for the semester. The Veteran, or other eligible beneficiary, may be required to provide additional information necessary to properly certify their enrollment by the educational institution. For Chapter 31, the School Certifying Official must receive an authorization from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Worcester State University will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 except for the amounts not covered by the COE, statement of benefit, or the authorization, refer to the Worcester State University payment policy.