Transitions: Advising Troops to College Throughout the CSU

1. Transitions: Advising Troops to College Throughout the CSU

2. About the CSU “Troops to College” Program The California State University (CSU) is a leader in providing high-quality, accessible, student-focused higher education. It offers unlimited opportunities to help students meet their personal and professional goals.

3. Why the CSU is a great choice for veterans (It’s definitely not to meet the guy in the picture) • Large number of student veterans • Dedicated Veteran staff • Many campuses have Veteran Specific Admissions • Student Veteran Groups • Veteran Support Teams • Vet Friendly atmosphere • Scholarship Opportunities

4. It’s Not to Meet this Guy Either…. Mommy Help Me!

5. Typical Campus Veterans Support Team

6. Successes to Date • CSU Campus websites have been updated to provide clear and concise information to veterans wishing to attend our campuses • Veteran Support Teams are being implemented throughout campuses (currently all 23 CSU’s are working on development) • Military and University leadership are working together like never before to form partnerships and develop strategies to better serve our state’s veterans • Regional relationships are being established and strengthened between campuses and local veteran organizations. • A universal website is in the early development stage. The website is envisioned to be a “one stop shop” that provides military members with access to information about all of California’s public schools • All 23 CSU’S are conducting monthly conference calls with the chancellors office to promote teamwork and raise awareness.

7. Preparing for Transfer • It is important that transfer students are put in contact with their incoming school’s Veterans Affairs (VA) Office prior to their first semester. • A strong relationship with the campus VA office and the student will ensure a smooth transition.

8. Educational Benefits • Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill • Chapter 30 Montgomery GI-Bill -Active Duty • Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI-Bill -Reservists • Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program • Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation • Chapter 35 & the Cal Vet Dependents Fee Waiver

9. Post 9/11Chapter 33 • The Post 9/11 GI Bill program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. • Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 33.

10. Chapter 33 Eligibility Requirements • 30 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and you are still on active duty or were honorably • You may also be eligible if you were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001 • Amount of entitlement based on how long you are on active duty.

12. Benefits Offered under Chapter 33 • Payment of tuition and fees (Sent directly to the school) • Monthly Housing Allowance ,stipend based upon an E-5 w/dependents • Book Stipend ($41.68 per unit)

13. Chapter 30 • The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. • Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.

14. Chapter 30 Monthly Payment Rates(10/1/2010) • Full-time = $1426.00 • ¾ time = $1069.00 • ½ time = $713.00 • Less than half = Up to the amount paid for tuition and fees *Some military members may contribute an additional $600 to the GI Bill or receive a college fund to receive increased monthly benefits.

15. Chapter 1606 • The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. • This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

16. Chapter 1606 Monthly Payment Rates (as of 10/1/2010) • Full-time = $337.00 • ¾ time = $252.00 • ½ time = $167.00 • Less than half = $84.25

17. Chapter 1607 REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency.  

18. Chapter 1607 Monthly Payments Rates(as of 10/1/2010) Deployed less than 1 year but more than 90 days: • Full-time = $570.40 • ¾ time = $427.80 • ½ time = $285.20 • Less than half =Up to the amount paid for tuition and fees Deployed 1 year or more: • Full-time = $855.60 • ¾ time = $641.70 • ½ time = $427.80 • Less than half =Up to the amount paid for tuition and fees Deployed 2 years or more: • Full-time = $1140.80 • ¾ time = $855.60 • ½ time = $570.40 • Less than half =Up to the amount paid for tuition and fees

19. Chapter 31 • This chapter of benefits may be open to veterans who have been diagnosed with a service connected disability. • This is an employability program and was put in place to help • disabled veterans find and keep suitable employment

20. Chapter 31 Monthly Payments Rates No Dependents: • Full-time = $547.54 2 Dependents: • Full-time = $800.36 1 Dependent: • Full-time = $679.18 Each Additional Dependent • Full-time = $58.34

21. Other Information Break Pay Overpayments Tutoring Round Out Less than ½ time Distance Learning Verifying Enrollment $1200 WU’s

22. Chapter 35 • Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program

23. Cal Vet Dependents Fee Waiver The California Veterans Fee Waiver is designed to assist eligible dependents and spouses with their educational needs by waiving all mandatory system wide tuition and fees at any California Community College, UC Campus, or any CSU.

24. Resources • http://www.va.gov/vaforms/ • http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/ • http://archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/ • http://returningveterans.org/links.php/ • http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/mhf/MHF/MHF_HOMEPAGE • http://operationmilitarykids.org/public/home.aspx • http://www.operationhomefront.net/ • http://hirevetsfirst.gov/ • http://www.nvlsp.org/Information/LSW/ • http://www.cominghomeproject.net/cominghome/ • http://www.thewelcomehomeproject.org/ • www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ • http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/ • http://calstate.edu/veterans

25. Questions? Joan Putnam Jeff Weston Director, Veterans Center Director, Veterans Success San Diego State University Sacramento State Phone: (619) 594-5813  Phone: (916) 278-6733 Email: putnam@mail.sdsu.edu Email: jweston@csus.edu http://www.sdsu.edu/veteranswww.csus.edu/vets Carolina Cardenas Associate Director Office of the Chancellor (562) 951-4724 ccardenas@calstate.edu www.calstate.edu/sas