Student Veterans and Dependents Information

Roger Williams University is committed to assisting service members, veterans, spouses, and dependents with utilizing their military benefits to help finance their education.

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 official U.S. government Veterans Affairs web site.

  1. Apply for VA Educational Benefits. More information on how to do so can be found on the VA Website. You can skip this step and step 2 if you have used benefits at RWU before. 
  2. When you receive your COE (Certificate of Eligibility) or other approval form, send a copy of it to rwumilitary@rwu.edu along with what benefit you will be using and term you are going to start.
  3. Register for classes.
  4. Complete the Student Veteran Certification Worksheet and return it to rwumilitary@rwu.edu. This form must be completed every semester, or you will not be certified per RWU policy. 
  5. Make sure to alert the School Certifying Official to any increases or decreases in credits as it may affect your benefits.
  • Chapter 31 and Chapter 33: 
    • These benefits pay the reported tuition/fees directly to the school. 
    • The SCO will subtract any aid designated for tuition from the amount reported to the VA. 
      • For example, if tuition is $20,000 and the student receives a $10,000 RWU scholarship the amount reported to the VA will be $10,000. 
      • This is a federal regulation from the VA.
    • Chapter 33 benefit recipients will receive a Monthly Housing Allowance that is based on the campus location and rate of pursuit. Further information can be found on the VA Education Benefits website.
      • The amount paid to the student can depend on how many resident vs online credits the student is taking.
    • Chapter 31 benefit recipients may receive a monthly subsistence allowance. If the student is eligible for Ch. 33, they can elect to receive the MHA instead. 
      • Further information about the subsistence allowance and rates can be found on the VR&E website.
  • Chapter 35, Chapter 30, and Chapter 1606: 
    • These benefits are paid on a monthly basis directly to the student, rates can be found on the VA website. 
    • The student is responsible for either paying their bill by the deadline or setting up a payment plan with the Bursar's office. 
  • Can I use Yellow Ribbon? 
    • The Yellow Ribbon program is only available to accepted RWU students who are using their Post 9/11 GI Bill® and have 100% eligibility. 
    • Yellow Ribbon will only pay for tuition/fees that are not already covered by RWU aid and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. 
    • More information can be found on the VA Yellow Ribbon Website. 
    • RWU is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program and currently offers a total of 15 spots in the program at any one time; spots are not tied to individual majors; however, eligible students must be enrolled full time in a RWU Day School program.
    • The institution is required to approve spots to qualified applicants on a first come, first served basis (returning Yellow Ribbon recipients will automatically qualify for the next year if needed). However, when all spots are being utilized, a spot will not be available until one of the students using a spot has graduated or left the institution.
    • In order to be approved for the program, applicants must:
      • Already be officially accepted to RWU.
      • Submit an application to the Yellow Ribbon Program using the form below.
      • Submit a copy of a Certificate Eligibility showing 100% eligibility for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill ®
      • Applicants cannot be approved until ALL of these conditions have been met; at this time, we are unable to approve an applicant unless an accompanying Certificate of Eligibility has been submitted. 
      • However, if an applicant has been admitted to RWU, a Yellow Ribbon Program application can be submitted without a Certificate of Eligibility, and the applicant will be placed on a waiting list. Once a valid Certificate of Eligibility is submitted, provided that a spot is available and all necessary, valid documents have been submitted a spot will then be approved.
    • RWU Yellow Ribbon Application 
  • How do I alert RWU that I would like to use VA benefits?
  • When is my enrollment certified? 
    • The SCO certifies your enrollment with the VA after the last day to drop a course without a W. Please see the Academic Calendar for that date.
  • I submitted a request for a refund, why have the funds not been released yet? 
    • One possible reason is that while the pending aid from the VA has been posted to your account, the actual money hasn't come in yet. This won't be sent by the VA until after the drop period ends and the SCO certifies your enrollment. To request an earlier enrollment certification due to financial hardship, please reach out to the SCO at rwumilitary@rwu.edu. 
  • I am planning to use a TA voucher, who do I contact? 
    • Active-duty service members can reach out to Lina Mejia at lmejia@rwu.edu for all requests and concerns. 
  • Can I use Yellow Ribbon? 
    • The Yellow Ribbon program is only available to accepted RWU students who are using their Post 9/11 GI Bill® and have 100% eligibility. 
    • Yellow Ribbon will only pay for tuition/fees that are not already covered by RWU aid and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. 
    • More information can be found on the VA Yellow Ribbon Website. 
    • RWU is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program and currently offers a total of 15 spots in the program at any one time; spots are not tied to individual majors; however, eligible students must be enrolled full time in a RWU Day School program.
    • The institution is required to approve spots to qualified applicants on a first come, first served basis (returning Yellow Ribbon recipients will automatically qualify for the next year if needed). However, when all spots are being utilized, a spot will not be available until one of the students using a spot has graduated or left the institution.
    • In order to be approved for the program, applicants must:
      • Already be officially accepted to RWU.
      • Submit an application to the Yellow Ribbon Program using the form below.
      • Submit a copy of a Certificate Eligibility showing 100% eligibility for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill ®
      • Applicants cannot be approved until ALL of these conditions have been met; at this time, we are unable to approve an applicant unless an accompanying Certificate of Eligibility has been submitted. 
      • However, if an applicant has been admitted to RWU, a Yellow Ribbon Program application can be submitted without a Certificate of Eligibility, and the applicant will be placed on a waiting list. Once a valid Certificate of Eligibility is submitted, provided that a spot is available and all necessary, valid documents have been submitted a spot will then be approved.
    • RWU Yellow Ribbon Application 

The SCO can be found in the Registrar's Office in the Administration building near the library for in person questions. 

Emails can be directed to rwumilitary@rwu.edu. 

Primary School Certifying Official: Brynna Turner, 401-254-3180

Backup School Certifying Official: Linda Gauvin, 401-254-3747