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MVAA Update Consor0um of Michigan
Veteran Educators Conference
June 11, 2015
Presented by: Kris0na Leonardi ,
MVAA Strategy Director
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Mission
To serve as the central
coordina0ng point,
connec0ng those who have served in
the
United States Armed Forces and
their families,
to services and benefits throughout
the State of
Michigan.
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Vision
PuAng Michigan on the path to
be the most veteran-‐friendly state,
by: • Providing the advice and
assistance veterans need as they
transi0on through the chapters of
their lives; • Crea0ng a “no
wrong door” customer service culture;
and • Advoca0ng for and on
behalf of veterans and their
families.
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MVAA Ini0a0ves
• MVAA 2015 Veteran Expos
(Lansing/Flint) • GM Disney Veterans
Ins0tute • Veteran Friendly
Employer Program Update • Veteran
Community Ac0on Team (VCAT) Updates
• Current VCAT Regions: 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
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MVAA Educa0on Ini0a0ves
• Career Services/Employer Trainings (MCEEA)
o Conducted four regional trainings
during 2014-‐2015 academic year
o Loca0ons: UM-‐Flint, WMU, UDM,
and NCMC • Michigan Veteran Educa0on
Ini0a0ve
o Program Expansion/Currently accep0ng
new applica0ons • VA Sec0on
702 “Choice Act” Compliance •
Michigan Veteran Friendly Schools Program
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General Overview of Choice Act
Sec0on 702
• Requires VA to disapprove programs
of educa0on if student living
in the state of the ins0tu0on
is charged tui0on and fees at
out of state rate – Does not
apply to in-‐district/out of district
rates
• Choice Act “covered individuals” is
anyone using Post 9/11 GI Bill,
not just veterans, spouses, and
dependents
• Deadline July 1, 2015
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Choice Act Status (as of June
4, 2015)
MVAA/SAA has assisted schools with
Choice Act policy compliance process:
Community Colleges • 21 schools are
compliant and have adopted approved
policies • 7 are in progress
of adop0ng policies Universi4es •
10* schools are compliant and have
adopted approved policies • 3 are
in progress of adop0ng policies
*UM Flint, Dearborn, Ann Arbor
are counted as one
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Michigan Veteran Friendly School
Program
• Formal recogni0on for ins0tu0ons
commieed to suppor0ng veteran
students
• Voluntary program, no cost to
par0cipate • Michigan Veteran
Friendly School logo (Gold, Silver
or Bronze) • Promotes best prac0ces
in veteran-‐centric services • Apply
at level for which the
ins0tu0on is qualified based on
the criteria
• Designa0ons will be awarded for
each full academic year
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Michigan Veteran Friendly School
Program
• MVAA Veteran Friendly School webpage
lis0ng w/ link to each
ins0tu0on’s website
• MVAA will engage in media
rela0ons ac0vi0es announcing schools
and rankings annually
• Use of MVAA-‐cer0fied logo anywhere
deemed appropriate (i.e. website,
college catalogue, newsleeers, signage
on campus etc.)
Outreach and recruitment to poten4al
veteran students:
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Who can apply for the program?
• Any ins0tu0on of higher learning
and/or training facility in Michigan
eligible to receive veteran educa0on
benefits
• Allows for par0cipa0on of all
eligible ins0tu0ons – Regardless of
size, loca0on and program delivery
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2015 Program Criteria:
3 comple0ons-‐ Bronze 4
comple0ons-‐ Silver
6 or more comple0ons-‐ Gold
1. On-‐campus veterans’ coordinator and/or
staffed veterans center 2. Ac0ve
student-‐operated veteran club/associa0on
3. An established process for the
iden0fica0on of current student
veterans 4. Evalua0on and awarding of
credit for military training and
experience 5. Ins0tu0on maintains a
veteran-‐specific website/portal 6. Monitors
and evaluates student veteran
academic reten0on, comple0on, and
gradua0on rates 7. Monitors and
evaluates student veteran job
placement rates
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How will program applica0ons be
evaluated?
• Applica0ons reviewed internally by
MVAA • Evaluated based on exis0ng
programs, prac0ces and
resources for student veterans •
Ability to meet veteran friendly
criteria at the bronze,
silver, and/or gold levels
• Ranking announcement no0fica0ons
provided week of
Aug 3, 2015
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When is the applica0on period and
submission deadline?
• Applica0on open May 11, 2015-‐
July 13, 2015 – Emailed to
ins0tu0on president and veteran
contacts – Available on MVAA website
• Ins0tu0ons should provide
documenta0on/informa0on to support
achieving desired level
• Competed applica0ons and suppor0ng
documenta0on email to:
[email protected]
• Applica0on and review process is
annual • Ins0tu0ons can apply
each year for the same, higher,
or lower
rank, as is applicable.
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Michigan Veteran Friendly School
Web Page
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Next steps…
• Review Michigan Veteran Friendly
School Fact Sheet • Visit ‘Become
a Veteran-‐Friendly Campus’ on MVAA
website
or call 1-‐800-‐MICH-‐VET • Par0cipate
in webinars to be held late
May/early June 2015 • Program and
applica0on ques0ons email:
[email protected]
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Ques0ons?
