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Transfer-Mation Leadership Conference A Veterans Guide to Demystifying the Higher Education Process P ete LaHaie Roosevelt University Office of Veterans Services. Veterans Experiences in Higher Education. Higher education is a new environment with a very different culture.
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Transfer-MationLeadership ConferenceA Veterans Guide to Demystifyingthe Higher Education ProcessPete LaHaieRoosevelt UniversityOffice of Veterans Services
Veterans Experiences in Higher Education • Higher education is a new environment with a very different culture. • Veteran students are a valuable asset and bring a unique perspective. • Faculty, staff, and other students may not be aware of some of the challenges that veterans may be dealing with. • Common challenges include time management, finances, social connections, and asking for help when needed.
Ask Questions, Lots of Questions • Advisors • Teachers • Staff members • Classmates • Friends • Mentors • Family members • Neighbors, community members • Coworkers • VA Counselors
Educational and Vocational Counseling • VA's Education and Career Counseling program is a great opportunity for Servicemembers and Veterans to get personalized counseling and support to help guide their career paths, ensure most effective use of their VA benefits, and achieve their goals. • Service are provided through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. • http://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/edu_voc_counseling.asp
Benefits Comparison / Strategy • What are your long-term educational goals? • Think big. You can do it. Even if you think you can’t, there are people who think you can. • What are the delimiting dates of your benefits? 15 years? 10 years? • Do you want to attend a private school to finish your undergraduate degree or pursue a graduate degree?
Benefits • Chapter 33 Post-911 • Transfer of Entitlement • Chapter 35 DEA • Chapter 30 Montgomery • Chapters 1606 and 1607 • Tuition Assistance • Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation • Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG) and Illinois National Guard Grant (ING)
Scholarships / Funding • Private scholarships are available and sometimes they are not awarded due to a lack of applicants meeting the established criteria. • Many deadlines are up to a year before the start of term. • Find out if your employer offers tuition assistance. • Check with organizations you may belong to such as VFW, American Legion, IAVA, and SVA. • Pat Tillman Foundation Military Scholars Program
Financial Aid for Graduate School • There is very little institutional financial aid available at the graduate level. • No MAP or Pell grants • Graduate scholarships • Graduate assistantship • Private scholarships • Student loans
Choosing a School • GI Bill Comparison Tool
Public vs. Private - Cost • VA will pay up to the highest public in-state tuition and fees. Eligible fees must apply to all students. • The maximum for private schools for 2014-15 is $20,235.02. • VA’s academic year runs August 1st - July 31st. • Institutional aid, state aid, and tuition-specific private aid are deducted before reporting tuition and fees to VA. • Title IV Aid (Pell, SEOG, loans) are not reported. These types of aid are the only forms of “refundable” financial aid other than non-tuition-specific private scholarships.
Public vs. Private - Experience • Faculty to student ratio • Size of classes • Programs of study • Relationships with employers, internship opportunities, career development resources • Acceptance and utilization in curriculum of transfer credits, including ACE-evaluated military credits • Time to complete program • Financial aid offered • Merit scholarships • Need-based grants
On-Campus Benefits/Resources • Does the school have a single point-of-contact or office for veterans and dependents? • Does the school participate in the Yellow Ribbon program? What amount and how many students? • Do they accept ACE-evaluated military credit recommendations? • Do you have your JST? • I encourage you to order one at jst.doded.mil if you don’t. • Do they have a Veterans Resource Center or Lounge? • Do they have an active Student Veterans of America Chapter? • What do they do to recognize your service? • Do they provide professional development opportunities to faculty and staff on working with veteran students? • What academic support resources are available?
Questions? Pete LaHaie Roosevelt University Office of Veterans Services (312) 341-2472 plahaie@roosevelt.edu www.roosevelt.edu/veterans