The California State University System TROOPS TO COLLEGE Advising Veterans and Dependents throughout the CSU CSU Counselor Conference 2008 Vicki Hernandez, Veterans Coordinator-CSU San Marcos Joan Putnam, Veterans Coordinator-SDSU

OUTLINE Advising Troops to College Troops to College Success Educational Benefit Overview Creating Campus Communities Questions?

In January, 2006 Bucky Peterson a retired Marine and Chair of the Troops to College initiative, discussed the paucity of veterans within the California public university system

California is home to over 2.2 million Veterans Over 175,000 service members are stationed throughout the state California is home to over 35,000 National Guard and reservists

Vision of Troops to College To make California the nations leader and model in providing educational opportunity and assistance to both active duty and Veterans

Mission of Troops to College The CSU, UC, and Community College systems will expand their respective outreach programs, academic and financial aid advising, and admission opportunities for active duty and eligible veterans. This will be achieved by building strong partnerships between the three systems of higher education and outside veterans agencies.

Governance of Troops to College The Troops to College oversight committee has been appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the formal body to discuss educational issues between California’s public colleges and universities and the military.

The oversight committee is made up of representatives from the CSU, UC, and Community College systems. In addition representatives from the Department of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Veterans Affairs, and active duty military leadership.

The oversight committee has developed five task force groups to develop and implement successful strategies to meet the Troops to College objectives Implementation

Communications, Marketing, and Website Task Force Veteran’s Outreach Task Force Admission and Financial Aid Task Force Partnership Task Force Best Practices Task Force

CSU Troops to College Successes

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 states 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.

Veterans Affairs Financial Aid DSS Psychological Services Student Activities-ASI Local Colleges Local Veteran Centers Local Veterans Organizations Admissions And Records

What Benefits are available to Veterans and Dependents?

Preparing for Transfer It is important that transfer students are put in contact with their incoming schools 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.

Federal VA Educational Assistance Programs 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 Dependents Educational Assistance California Veterans Fee Waiver Chapter 33 The new post 9/11 GI Bill

Montgomery GI-Bill Active Duty Chapter 30

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.

Chapter 30 Monthly Payment Rates* (as of 08/01/08) Full-time = $1321.00 ¾ time = $990.75 ½ time = $660.50 Less than half = Up to the amount paid for tuition and fees *Some military members may contribute an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, you may receive up to $5400 in additional GI Bill benefits

Montgomery GI-Bill Reservists 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.

Chapter 1606 Monthly Payment Rates (as of 08/01/08) Full-time = $329 ¾ time = $246 ½ time = $163 Less than half = $82.25

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Chapter 1607

REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W 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. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.

Chapter 1607 Monthly Payment Rates* (as of 08/01/08) Deployed less than 1 year but more than 90 days: Full-time = $528.40 ¾ time = $396.30 ½ time = $264.20 Less than half =Up to the amount paid for tuition and fees Deployed 1 year or more: Full-time = $792.60 ¾ time = $594.45 ½ time = $396.30 Deployed 2 years or more: Full-time = $1056.80 ¾ time = $792.60 ½ time = $528.40

Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program Chapter 35

Chapter 35 provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and spouses of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits.

Chapter 35 Monthly Payment Rates* (as of 10/01/08) Full-time = $915 ¾ time = $686 ½ time = $456 Less than half =Up to the amount paid for tuition and fees

Vocational Rehabilitation 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

Chapter 31 Monthly Payment Rates No Dependents: Full-time = $520 ¾ time = $391.27 ½ time = $261.81 2 Dependents: Full-time = $761.18 ¾ time = $ 569.09 ½ time = $381.30 1 Dependent: Full-time = $645.94 ¾ time = $485.15 ½ time = $324.38 Each Additional Dependent Full-time = $55.49 ¾ time = $42.67 ½ time = $28.47

California Veterans 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.

Cal Vet Fee Waiver Eligibility PLAN A: The spouse, child or unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who is totally service-connected disabled or who has died of service-related causes, may qualify. The veteran must have served during a “qualifying war period.” This program does not have an income limit. A child must be under 27 years of age to receive the fee waiver benefit. The age limit is extended to 30 years of age if the child is a veteran. There are no age limits for a spouse or surviving spouse. *Note: a dependent cannot receive this benefit if they are in receipt of VA Chapter 35 benefits, PLAN B: The child (no age limit) of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, or had a service-connected disability at the time of death, or who died of service-related causes, may also qualify for a waiver of fees. The child’s income, which includes the student’s ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME, PLUS THE VALUE OF SUPPORT provided by the parents, cannot exceed the “national poverty level” as published by the U.S. Census Bureau on December 31st of last year. *NOTE: This figure changes annually.

S. 22: Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007 (Chapter 33) On January 4, 2007 Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced S.22 which was a Bipartisan Effort with 57 co-sponsors. The Post- 9/11 GI Bill is a new benefit providing educational assistance to individuals who have served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. The Bill was signed into law June, 19th, 2008

Questions to be answered… When will the Post-9/11 be available? Who’s Eligible? How many months can benefits be used? How much will I receive? Is there a delimiting date? Can I transfer my benefits to my spouse or dependents?

Additional Information

Online Resources www.gibill.va.gov is by far the best resource for both staff and student to learn about the ever evolving use of VA benefits. The website can answer almost any question or concern that the student has. A student can visit http://www.calstate.edu/veterans and gain information regarding opportunities throughout the CSU. If a student receiving benefits familiarizes themselves with this website it will take away a lot of the fear and anxiety associated with using benefits

Questions?

Additional Information Important Websites: Cal-Vet Tuition Waiver information— www.cacvso.org GI Bill www.gibill.va.gov Troops to College www.calstate.edu/veterans/ Forms(VA) 22-1990 & 22-1995 (Veterans) 22-5490 & 22-5495 (Dependants) Campus VA Coordinators Contact Information Vicki Hernandez –CSU San Marcos 760.750.4808 & vhernand@csusm.edu Joan Putnam—San Diego State putnam@mail.sdsu.edu