CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES VETERANS ON CAMPUS

Overview Syracuse University history serving veterans and military Past Present GI Bill/Educational Benefits Past Present

VETERANS BENEFIT TYPES Pre-Post 9/11 GI Bill programs still active: Montgomery GI Bill – Chapter 30 Dependents Educational Assistance – Chapter 35 Reservists and National Guard – Chapters 1606 and 1607 Veterans Rehabilitation – Chapter 31 (employment program, not educational benefit) Post 9/11 GI Bill – V eterans, based on time of Title 10 service in percentage tiers, , – Yellow Ribbon enhancement for 100% tier eligible attending high cost institutions, – Active Duty, and –Transfer of entitlement to dependents

WHAT IS YELLOW RIBBON? Enhancement to the Post 9/11 GI Bill for high cost institutions (can be used for out-of-state at public institutions) Memorandum of Understanding required 5-year MOU with annual updating permitted Number of students in given categories, with dollar amount per student

Veterans benefits as financial aid resource Federal Aid Eligible for all Title IV aid to which otherwise entitled in addition to VA Educational Benefits Institutional Aid Institutional policy applies Resource reduces self-help? Resource reduces institutional funding? Combination?

How does your FA Office learn who is receiving VA Educational Benefits or VA Voc Rehab funding? VA Roster(s) can be sent to VA School Certifying Officials Chapter 33 reports automatic, other chapters by request (a.k.a. “VA payroll rosters”)

VA PAYMENT ROSTER EXAMPLE

TO WHOM ARE PAYMENTS MADE? Post 9/11 GI Bill Tuition, mandatory fees and Yellow Ribbon, if applicable paid to institution Books stipend and housing allowance paid to student First term may use majority or entire year’s funding Example: Student in 60% tier is eligible to receive $12, Tuition and mandatory fees are $8,000 per term. Fall term is paid in full, leaving $4, only available for spring term. All other educational benefits paid directly to student, student must make payment arrangements to use funds to pay university charges. Vocational Rehabilitation paid similarly to Post 9/11 GI Bill, third-party billing by our Bursar’s Office.

DEPENDENTS Similar in profile to traditional undergraduate students Months of entitlement transferred for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit can be difficult to monitor and around which to administer aid.

AWARDING AID All Federal Title IV aid for which student is otherwise entitled, the total of which may exceed need and cost-of-attendance. Your institutional aid policy and procedure for institutional funds NY State funds, may not duplicate tuition-specific federal funds (VA Educ benefits)

ADJUSTMENT TO CAMPUS LIFE Time since separation from service Structured options to open-ended options Post traumatic stress, Moral Injury, Post traumatic stress disorder – how would you assist and/or refer? Faculty and Administrative staff awareness and/or training

VETERAN FRIENDLY ON YOUR CAMPUS Administrative Policies and practices to consider Admissions fee waiver Payment deferment Book purchases Deployment leave-of-absence and return Tracking for retention/graduation and administrative use Veterans Lounge Student Veterans Organization Mentoring program(s) (veterans, dependents, female veterans) Academic progress monitoring Veterans Work Study program (VA WS vs. Title IV FWS)

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Thank you for your time today. Your presenter today is Peg Stearns Syracuse University Veterans Resource Center and University College Financial Aid Director 315/