University System of Georgia RACAA/RACSA MILITARY/VETERAN OVERVIEW Dr. David Snow US Navy (Ret) USG Director of Military Affairs March 15, 2018

AGENDA USG overview & inside the numbers Why USG Campus initiatives & Best Practices Questions USG: SERVING OUR MILITARY, VETERANS, & THEIR FAMILIES

USG Inside The Numbers 8000+ Students utilizing VA Educational Benefits (many more students) 1200+ Veterans graduating Spring 17 28 Institution w/ dedicated veteran/military student space (100%) 28 Institutions w/h priority registration for veterans (100%) 25 Veteran/military recognition at graduation 8 Schools ranked by Military Times: Best Colleges 2018 *Only 140 nationwide (USG has 2 in Top 10, 6 in Top 100) 2 USG institutions in Military Times “TOP 10 Cyber programs” 0 State with more public IHL in Best for Vets Top 10

Inside The Numbers Over 750,000 veterans 5th largest active duty population In GA, approx 750 a MONTH separate/retire from military Approx 9% of Georgians have worn the uniform Georgia is often seen as a leader in serving veterans Notes: Number of veterans in GA 774,000 (Snow updated 11/3) and 110,000 (active, Guard, & Reservists (Dave update) Georgia has fifth most active duty of any State (only TX, CA, VA, and NC have more) Additionally, expect between 50-70,000 to return to GA in next few years Higher education Impact Consistent upward trend in GA and all neighboring states (Source: VA education benefit utilization spreadsheet) Access to potential military students

Inside the Numbers & Student Veterans Items to Consider: 85% are 24 or older (SVA) 79% are enrolled in public institutions (VA) 47% have a family (SVA) 29% of 18-24 year olds are elig for military 27% of enrolled vets are female (SVA) 200K leave the service each year (DOD) BONUS: volunteerism, civic engagement, & leadership

USG Promotes Best Practices Orientation Adult Learner or Vet specific Slightly different focus Peer Mentor Programs Got Your 6 ACP Veterans Day observations Awareness Programs OCP Sponsorship Green Zone

USG Initiatives Collaboration among USG and TCSG Fees waived for military using tuition assistance Veteran/Military Centers (100% USG schools have a dedicated space/office on campus…in 2014 was 33%) Priority Registration for student vets using GI Bill (100% of USG schools - 25% back in 2015) Graduation recognition (85% schools) Recent Policy Revisions: Details on next slide … GA leads the way Collaboration among USG and TCSG Core articulation (27 courses) 100% President’s Principles of Excellence

USG Initiatives/Policies Fees waived for military using DOD tuition assistance Out of State Waivers for Military stationed in GA (and family) Recently separated military and family (within 36 months of mil retirement/separation) Recently separated military and family (within 120 months of mil retirement/separation if using VA benefits) Any student using transferred GI Bill benefits from a currently serving military member Child of currently serving military member previously assigned in GA in last 5 years or child completed 1 year of HS in GA *

CAMPUS INITIATIVES These are some of the initiatives I advocate and encourage schools to pursue or at least consider Orientation: Either veteran or adult learner focused…..many now have. Does your school? Different focus than 18n yr old. Mentor programs: “sponsor” or “Big Brother/Sister”…. aim to improve persistence and facilitate transition to higher education Awareness programs: focus on faculty and staff and improved understanding of military/vet students (USG webinar and Georgia Summit) Priority Registration: Only 36 months of benefits, so students utilizing VA educational benefits can’t afford to miss out on a section of a course. This is also a big item advocated by SVA. Roughly 25% USG schools have either put in place or considering. In two neighbor States (FL and TN) this is the norm. Think about this: It is the right thing to do (my opinion), costs nothing, and if we can give it to a student based upon a 40 yard dash time, why can’t we give to someone who perhaps deployed for 40 months”? Resource Center: Regardless of size, having a dedicated space is ideal. Of course, not all institutions really have a big need based upon enrollment numbers for veterans. However, if you can set aside a space there are some benefits – camaraderie, persistence, visibility of vet students, delivery of services, Vet Friendly metric

CAMPUS INITIATIVES Student Veteran Organization Priority Registration Veterans Resource/Outreach Center Graduation recognition These are some of the initiatives I advocate and encourage schools to pursue or at least consider Orientation: Either veteran or adult learner focused…..many now have. Does your school? Different focus than 18n yr old. Mentor programs: “sponsor” or “Big Brother/Sister”…. aim to improve persistence and facilitate transition to higher education Awareness programs: focus on faculty and staff and improved understanding of military/vet students (USG webinar and Georgia Summit) Priority Registration: Only 36 months of benefits, so students utilizing VA educational benefits can’t afford to miss out on a section of a course. This is also a big item advocated by SVA. Roughly 25% USG schools have either put in place or considering. In two neighbor States (FL and TN) this is the norm. Think about this: It is the right thing to do (my opinion), costs nothing, and if we can give it to a student based upon a 40 yard dash time, why can’t we give to someone who perhaps deployed for 40 months”? Resource Center: Regardless of size, having a dedicated space is ideal. Of course, not all institutions really have a big need based upon enrollment numbers for veterans. However, if you can set aside a space there are some benefits – camaraderie, persistence, visibility of vet students, delivery of services, Vet Friendly metric

Campus Initiatives Orientation Peer Mentor Programs Adult Learner or Vet specific Slightly different focus Navigating higher ed … provide them tools! Peer Mentor Programs Student veteran/military centers Veterans Day observations Awareness Programs These are some of the initiatives I advocate and encourage schools to pursue or at least consider Orientation: Either veteran or adult learner focused…..many now have. Does your school? Different focus than 18n yr old. Mentor programs: “sponsor” or “Big Brother/Sister”…. aim to improve persistence and facilitate transition to higher education Awareness programs: focus on faculty and staff and improved understanding of military/vet students (USG webinar and Georgia Summit) Priority Registration: Only 36 months of benefits, so students utilizing VA educational benefits can’t afford to miss out on a section of a course. This is also a big item advocated by SVA. Roughly 25% USG schools have either put in place or considering. In two neighbor States (FL and TN) this is a State law! If we can give it for a 40 yard dash time, why can’t we give to someone who perhaps deployed for 40 months”? Resource Center: Regardless of size, having a dedicated space is ideal. Of course, not all institutions really have a big need based upon enrollment numbers for veterans. However, if you can set aside a space there are some benefits – camaraderie, persistence, visibility of vet students, delivery of services, Vet Friendly metric

Campus Veteran Centers 24 of USG 30 campuses currently have a veterans, military or

Campus Veteran Centers

Graduation Recognition From VA: Grad rate almost identical nationally compared to non-veteran (2002-13) Business Administration (19%) and Liberal Arts (31%) are most preferred degree fields Post 9/11 GI Bill students are predominantly FT (6X PT rate) Over 1200 student veterans graduated Spring 2017 !

Dr David R Snow (USN Ret) QUESTIONS? Dr David R Snow (USN Ret) david.snow@usg.edu 404-576-3439 GCSU is our most recent addition – Well Done!