The Office of Veteran Services functions as part of the Division of Student Services and supports the educational process of servicemen/women and veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, their spouses and/or dependents who are eligible for educational benefits at the University. Areas of services include:

• Texas Southern University Office of Veteran Affairs (TSUOVA)
• Texas Southern University Veterans Resource Center (TSUVRC)
• Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Programs (ROTC)
• Other Affiliated Programs and Services

Basic educational eligibility requirements include the DD214 (Member 4 or Service 2), official military Joint Services Transcript (JST), and the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The office’s primary mission is providing advising and assistance to facilitate acquiring educational benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA) and Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) programs.

The Texas Southern University Office of Veteran Services also provides numerous programs to assist with the transitional processes involved with our returning veterans and their families.  We have a University Counseling Center on campus as well as provide referrals to the Houston VA Medical Hospital.  Opportunities also exist for student employment with the VA Federal Work-Study program and the TSU Career and Professional Development department.  There is also a Resource Center within the department for use by VA students. To inquire about any VA benefits, programs, or resources, please contact us at (713) 313-7862 or via email at veteransaffairs@tsu.edu. You may also find information online at www.tsu.edu/veterans, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.va.gov/ or the Texas Veterans Commission website at www.tvc.texas.gov/.

Veterans (VA) Benefits (Federal)

VA education benefits include Chapter 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606 and 1607, and Tuition Assistance.  Students are reminded that federal law does not allow for the University to process out of state tuition/fees. The student has the responsibility to provide the residency application to the Office of Veteran Services for approval and forwarding to the TSU Office of the Registrar for final processing (waiver, not to be confused with in-state tuition/fees).

Texas Hazelwood Act (State)

Information for eligibility and the application for the Hazelwood Act can be found at www.tvc.texas.gov/. Additional required document information is located at www.tsu.edu/veterans. Students are reminded to comply with timelines, GPA/SAP eligibility and in-state requirement for Veteran and dependents (some exclusions apply).

Veterans Priority Registration/Processing

Veterans receive priority registration for all semesters 1 week prior to regular student registration.  Current and prospective students are encouraged to begin the benefits application process at least 45 days prior to Veterans Registration.  Early submission of all required documentation is processed in the order received granted all required paperwork and documentation has been received by the Office of Veteran Services ensures delivery of benefits in a timely manner.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Texas Southern University has a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.  Students interested in joining ROTC can contact Mr. Roland Thomas at 713-313-4857.

Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Texas Southern University adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. Texas Southern University will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students are required to:

• Provide a written request each semester to be certified by submitting a Semester Benefits form;
• Provide all additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in the Federal Benefits Packet located on the Military & Veterans Affairs webpage;
• Submit all required certification documents each semester prior to the terms Census Date.