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

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

3. USG Inside The Numbers
Students utilizing VA Educational Benefits (many more students)
Veterans graduating Spring 17
28 Institution w/ dedicated veteran/military student space (100%)
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

4. 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

5. 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 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

6. 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

7. 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 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

8. 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 *

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. Campus Veteran Centers

14. Graduation Recognition
From VA:
Grad rate almost identical nationally compared to non-veteran ( )
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 !

15. Dr David R Snow (USN Ret)
QUESTIONS?
Dr David R Snow (USN Ret)
GCSU is our most recent addition – Well Done!