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Veterans and Higher Education
Prepared by:Sam Ohannesian, Director of Enrollment Services and Veterans’ Affairs
Overview of VA Educational Benefits: Federal and State
VA Education Benefits - Federal
Chapter 30: The Montgomery GI Bill- Active Duty– Active duty service since July 1, 1985– Contributed $1,200 to an education fund– Completed a qualifying amount of honorable
active-duty service– Receive 36 months of full-time benefits
VA Education Benefits - Federal
Chapter 1606: The Montgomery GI Bill- Selective Reserve
• Incurred an initial 6 year Select Reserve obligation in the Reserves or National Guard
• Receive 36 months of full-time benefits
VA Education Benefits - Federal
Chapter 1607: The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)– Selected Reserve and Individual Ready
Reserve• Called or ordered to active service on or after
9/11/01
– Receives 36 months of full-time benefits
VA Education Benefits - Federal
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program– Service connected disability of at least 10%
or– Memorandum rating of 20% or more from the
VA– Full payment of all required books, fees,
tuition and supplies
VA Education Benefits - Federal
Chapter 33: The Post 9/11 GI Bill– Active duty service post 9/10/01
• Tuition and fee payment to schools• Monthly Housing Allowance • Book and supplies stipend• Yellow Ribbon Program
VA Education Benefits - Federal
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program– Product of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of
2011– 12 months of training assistance to
unemployed veterans • Community College• Technical School
VA Education Benefits - Federal
Federal Tuition Assistance
• Active duty
• Guard or Reserves
• Up to $4,500 per year
State Benefits
• Categorical Tuition Waiver for Veterans and Active Duty Members
• Massachusetts National Guard Education Assistance Program
Some Figures
Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Beneficiaries received the Post 9/11 GI Bill– In 2009: 34,393– In 2010: 365,640– In 2011: 555,329
– 440,918 veterans/servicemembers
• In Massachusetts: 7,078• Connecticut: 3,276• In New Hampshire: 1,736• Rhode Island: 1,424
Additional Numbers
• From 1999 to 2010, 46% increase in veterans with a service connected disability– 1 in 3 with combat stress or TBI
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment participants– 2000: 50,281– 2010: 117,130
Educational Attainment
• A 2011 report furnished by the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics showed:– From 2000-2009 a higher percentage of
veterans than non-veterans completed some college, but not a degree
– Nationally, 57% of all students entering four-year institutions graduate
• Rates for veteran students are lower
Educational Attainment cont’d.. Less than high
school graduateHigh school graduate (includes equivalency)
Some college or associate's degree
Bachelor's degree or higher
Barnstable 1,141 5,201 6,478 9,444
Berkshire 1,186 3,799 3,510 2,537
Bristol 4,446 10,650 10,616 7,754
Essex 3,101 13,583 13,748 14,115
Franklin 308 2,031 2,548 1,070
Hampden 3,381 12,035 10,247 7,205
Hampshire 720 3,428 2,737 2,439
Middlesex 5,030 22,666 21,839 29,328
Norfolk County 2,924 10,517 11,700 13,001
Plymouth County 2,160 13,855 12,121 10,016
Suffolk County 1,819 7,699 7,302 6,671
Worcester County 5,902 19,682 17,594 12,223
2010 American Community Survey
Supporting
student veterans
“But they (the Veterans) come with a different set of life experiences – experiences that will be invaluable in your classes. They will be among the best of your students. The challenge for them and for all of us is to get them through the initial six months to a year. If we succeed in transitioning them, they will be invaluable contributors to your institutions.”
Eric K. Shinseki,Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Characteristics of a veteran student
• By definition, veteran students are “non-traditional students”– Delays enrollment– Adult student (23/24 as opposed to 18/19)– Many are first generation– More life experiences
Characteristics cont’d…
• Uniqueness– Branch of service– Military status (active, inactive, retired,
disabled, etc.) – Stateside/warzone– Marital status– Employment status
Characteristics cont’d…
• Focused
• Motivated
• Serious
• Goal Oriented
Challenges
• Understanding their benefits
• Financial– GI Bill– Life expenses
Challenges cont’d…
• Social– Connecting with peers/blending in– Feeling a sense of belonging– Overcoming the stigma
Challenges cont’d…
• Academic difficulties– Lack of study skills– Academic deficits– Classroom experiences– Military transfer credit
• Home life
Challenges cont’d…
• Cognitive difficulties associated with TBI or PTSD
– Veterans are new to their disabilities– They are just developing and understanding how
their disability may affect them– The process for accepting their disability will
take time
Institutional Responsibilities
• To create a seamless and stress free transition
• Develop, implement and offer services
• Become Veteran Friendly/Military Friendly
SSU Enrollment Trends
Grad Degree/Cert
GradNon-
Degree
UGradDegree/
Cert
UGradNon-
Degree
FL ’08 10 5 135 9
SP ’09 7 6 137 12
FL ’09 12 10 176 10
SP ’10 12 11 191 12
FL ’10 24 6 197 11
SP ’11 22 4 216 8
FL ’11 29 4 231 9
SP ’12 32 8 231 11
Student Veteran Surveys
• Survey findings included:– Students felt navigating through higher education
was challenging– Relationships with other students were affected
“You don 't feel as connected to students that are fresh out of high school. I've "been there done that" and its hard to explain to students exactly what you did, especially when they are verbally complaining about miniscule things. Ex: "Its so cold out." "Ugh, I said milk in my coffee not cream."
Findings cont’d…
• Desire of a student veterans group
• Requested special attention to veterans during new student orientations
• Desire for veteran oriented courses
• Provide awareness to campus community on veteran related issues
• Students were not utilizing campus services
Actions Taken
• Established point person for all veterans
• Created a student veteran group
• Developed veterans information sessions at orientations
• Provide veterans awareness seminars and workshops to faculty, staff and students
• Developed curriculum for veteran students
Additional Veteran Friendly Practices• Billing accommodations for GI Bill
recipients
• Resume workshops
• Veterans benefit and career fair
• Veterans day recognition luncheon
• Student veteran stole ceremony and alumni celebration
Being Veteran Friendly
• Get to know your student veteran students
• Find out what your students want/need
• Provide an environment that is both inclusive and supportive
• Educate your campus on issues pertaining to veterans– Student panels– Presentations
Being Veteran Friendly
• Review policies and make accommodations for veterans
• Take the time to inform students as much as possible
• Build a collaborative network
Retention/Graduation of Entering Cohorts
Freshman Transfer
Military Not Military Military Not Military
Entered2008 9 1142 23 8232009 17 977 43 8012010 20 978 31 8612011 18 987 37 831
Retained/Graduated after 1 Year2008 67% 74% 91% 78%2009 65% 80% 74% 78%2010 90% 72% 65% 78%
Retained/Graduated after 2 Years2008 33% 63% 74% 70%2009 53% 64% 65% 72%
Questions?
ReferencesAmerican Council on Education. (2010). Accommodating student veterans with traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder: Tips for campus faculty and staff. Retrieved from http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ProgramsServices/MilitaryPrograms/serving/AccommodatingStudentVeterans_06222011.pdf
Durdella,N. and Kim,Y. (2012). Understanding patterns of college outcomes among student veterans. Journal of Studies in Education. Retrieved from http://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/jse/article/view/1469/1276
National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. (2011). Educational attainment of veterans: 2000 to 2009. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/vetdata/docs/SpecialReports/education_FINAL.pdf
National Survey of Student Engagement. (2010). Veterans in college perceive lower levels of campus support and interact less with faculty than nonveterans, survey finds. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/16325.html
Sach, R. (2008) Valuing Veterans. Inside Higher Ed.com. July, 2008, from http://insidehighered.com/views/2008/06/12/c2c
Veterans Benefits Administration (2011). Annual Benefits Report. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
