1. SST Training: Advising Military Students 11/28/12
Brian
Brian Patterson & Lisa Turner-Hernandez

2. Objective of SST Training
Update SST on Military Strategy Committee Status
Provide Guidance on Advising Military Students
Military Student Basics
Enrolling Military Students
Military Benefits Overview
Please feel free to ask questions throughout the session
Brian

3. Military Strategy Initiative
The need for OU to become a “Military Friendly School” had been discussed multiple times over the years
December 2011: Military Strategy committee formed (led by Brian Messer & Wade Mauland)
Committee Accomplishments:
Developed a Military Vertical Business Plan
Conducted Competitive Analysis
Survey of Military Students & Alumni
Expanded Participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program
Signed DoD (Department of Defense) Voluntary Education Partnership MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
Brian

4. Military Committee
Thank You to all of those who have volunteered their time to the Military Committee!
Original Committee Members:
Patrice Fess, Bill Hammond, Randy James, Wade Mauland, Brian Messer, Brian Patterson, Chad Taldo, Lisa Turner-Hernandez
New Additions to the Committee:
Matt Dailey, Peg Gernand, Leigh-Anne Iverson- Sommers, Rose Plewa, Micki Reed, Sarah Tipping
Brian

5. Who is a Military Student?
Brian
Who is a Military Student?
A Military Student may be defined as anyone who is currently serving on Active Duty, a member of the Reserves or National Guard, a Veteran, or a Military Dependent (Spouse or Child).

6. Army Army Reserve Army National Guard Navy Navy Reserve Marine Corps
Marine Corps Reserve
Coast Guard
Coast Guard Reserve
Air Force
Air Force Reserve
Air National Guard
Brian

7. Military 101
The Military is complex, but to be effective as a Military Friendly Institution, there are some distinctions everyone must understand.
Active: Currently serving in any branch of service, including Reserves and National Guard.
Veterans: Anyone who has previously served in any branch of the Military, but has separated from the service.
Brian - In the past, we have lumped Veterans and Active Duty members into one category. This is confusing for our students and us. Moving forward, it is important everyone know the difference.

8. Military Etiquette
Military life is defined by formality, tradition, protocol, and respect.
Military Etiquette is basically common sense, but here are some helpful tips/reminders:
Address service members by sir, ma’am, or by their rank.
Common courtesy and manners are extremely important.
Do not over-promise on something you cannot deliver.
Call when you say you will call - punctuality is important!
Do not guess! If you do not know the answer, say “I will find out for you” instead of giving the wrong information.
If you are not comfortable with military jargon, do not use it.
Brian - Give example of an in TX, the potential student mentioned that he would be separating from the Marines in the next few months and our response was “do you know exactly what date you’ll be done with the Army?” I couldn’t help but notice that this was the last we heard from this student, so needless to say, he didn’t enroll. It may not seem like much of a difference to us, but to them it is, so just be mindful of these things. Don’t refer to those in the Navy as soldiers, they are sailors. What may seem like a minor slip of the tongue to us may seriously offend these service members.

9. Ottawa University & the Military
Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC)
Yellow Ribbon School
Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Scholarship for Service: Undergraduate Active Duty Only
Other reasons OU is great for Military Students:
Non-profit, Regionally Accredited (established in 1865)
Free Online Tutoring
Flexible 100% Online Classes with no set login times
Great transfer policy to help Maximize Military Credits
Award up to 32 credit hours for credit by exam
No outside teamwork or study group requirements
Lisa
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC): An association of approximately 1900 colleges and universities that was created to provide educational opportunities to servicemembers who, because they frequently moved from place to place, had trouble completing college degrees. SOC functions in cooperation with 15 higher education associations, the DoD, and Active and Reserve Components of the military services to expand and improve voluntary postsecondary education opportunities for servicemembers worldwide.
Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP): A provision of the Post 9/11 GI Bill allowing institutions of higher learning to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fees that exceed the basic tuition and fees amount payable by the VA for students who are 100% eligible for Post 9/11 benefits. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and the VA will match the amount the institution volunteers to contribute. In the past the Yellow Ribbon Program had only been available to those attending The College, but in April 2012 that was expanded to all locations
DoD Voluntary Education Partnership MOU: All institutions providing high school completion and post secondary education programs through the DoD Tuition Assistance (TA) Program must agree to the new DoD MOU and have a signed copy on-file with DoD prior to service members receiving TA approval to attend their institution. OU signed this in March 2012.
Scholarship for Service: Opportunity for all undergraduate students who are currently serving in the military (including Reserve and National Guard). These students will be eligible for a discounted tuition rate of $250 per credit hour to match the amount Tuition Assistance will pay. (Students attending the residential campus are not eligible for this).

10. Enrolling Military Students
Communication between SST members, VA Certifying Officials and the Business Office is essential when working with Military Students.
Active Duty: Invoicing for all sites will be completed by OUAR beginning in Spring 2013.
Veterans: VA benefits are certified by the VA School Certifying Official at each campus (in the Registrar’s Office).
Arizona: Elisabeth Chergui
Wisconsin: Sandy Tellefson
Indiana: Patrice Fess
OPO: Denise Haushahn
Lisa - Currently no specific Finance or CAPS Advisors for Military Students (with the exception of OPO).

11. Enrolling Military Students
Students using military benefits will work with specific Enrollment Advisors to ensure the best possible student experience.
Arizona: Matt Dailey
Wisconsin: Leigh-Anne Iverson-Sommers
Indiana: Peg Gernand
OPO: Lisa Turner-Hernandez
Lisa - If you speak with a student planning to use military benefits and the Military EA for your campus isn’t available, let the student know he/she will contact them.
Transfer the student to the appropriate EA in TX (make sure to notify the EA of the transfer).

12. Military Students & TargetX
Even if a student is not using Military Benefits to pay for school, the Military Affiliation information in TX (in the Education & Employment section) should be completed, if applicable.
Lisa
Military Affiliation: how the student is associated with the military – Active Duty, Military Dependent, National Guard, Reserve, or Veteran
Military Branch of Service: the branch of service the student is associated with

13. Lisa
Based on the Military Affiliation chosen, a Military Benefits drop-down menu will be available. Occasionally, you may work with a student who is using a combination of benefits. Choose their primary benefit and you can make note of any additional benefits in the “Quick Notes.”
Active Duty: Now that we have the discount, the majority of these students will be using Tuition Assistance.
Military Dependent: Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill or Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance Program
National Guard & Reserve: have the same options - most will be using Tuition Assistance
Veterans: most will be using Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

14. Military Transcripts Army  AARTS: http://aarts.army.mil/
Navy & Marine Corps  SMART:
Air Force  CCAF: nscriptrequest/index.asp
Coast Guard  CGI: ficial_transcript.asp
Credit by Exam
Lisa
Any student who has served in any branch of the military has military transcripts.
These transcripts are just as important as credits a student may be transferring from another university and can have a significant impact on a student’s graduation plan.
Credit by Exam is popular with the Military because they can usually take the exams on base for free, so expect to see a lot of these transcripts as well.
It is very common for military students to have credits from multiple schools, so don’t be surprised by this.

15. Military Benefits Overview
Lisa
Before we jump into an overview of Military Benefits, are there questions on anything we’ve covered thus far?
I’ll be covering Active Duty Benefits and Brian will discuss Veterans benefits.
We want to again stress that everyone understand that there is a difference between these groups of students.
Keep in mind, only Undergraduate students who are currently active service members (including National Guard & Reserves) are eligible for the Scholarship for Service. These students do not have to be degree-seeking.

16. Active Duty Benefits Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA):
Pays up to $250/semester hour and $4,500/fiscal year (10/1–9/30).
Payment is sent directly from the branch of service to the school.
State Tuition Assistance:
Programs and eligibility requirements vary by state.
Many state programs are only available to students attending public, in-state institutions.
Tuition Assistance Top-Up Program:
Money is paid to the student, not the school.
Lisa
Federal Tuition Assistance: Available to most students who are active in the armed forces with the exception of USMC Reserves. Students must request TA through their branch of service on a course-by-course basis.
State Tuition Assistance: For those who only work with students in IN, WI, and AZ, I recommend the military team at your campus learn about your state’s programs.
Top-Up: Available for students who’s TA funding doesn’t cover the total cost of tuition.

17. Veteran - Reserve & National Guard Benefits
Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA):
Reserve and National Guard members may use TA and any one of the other benefits listed on this slide
Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR):
Monthly rate paid directly to service member
Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP):
Monthly rate paid directly to service members
Brian

18. Veteran Benefits State Veteran’s Benefits:
Similar to State Tuition Assistance, Veteran’s programs vary by state.
Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill:
Monthly rate paid directly to the student.
Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation:
This Payment is sent directly from the VA to the school.
Chapter 32 Veteran’s Educational Assistance Program (VEAP):
A rare program that only has a handful number of eligible veterans nationwide
Brian

19. Veteran Benefits Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill:
Provides education benefits for up to 36 months for those with at least 90 combined days on active duty after 9/10/2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.
Delimiting Date: 15 years after release from active duty
Benefit eligibility is a percentage determined by the time served on active duty after 9/10/2001. The student’s rate of pursuit will also impact funding amounts.
Benefits payable under the Post 9/11 GI Bill:
Tuition & Fees: paid directly to the school
Monthly Housing Allowance: paid to student
Annual Books & Supplies Stipend: paid to student
Brian

20. Veteran - Dependent Benefits
Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement:
Allows service members to transfer unused Post 9/11 benefits to their spouses or dependent children (or a combination) up to the maximum 36 month total available.
Chapter 35 Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program:
Monthly rates are paid directly to the student.
Brian - Provides education benefits to dependents (a child or spouse) of a veteran who died or is permanently disabled as the result of a service-connected disability, or a service member who is missing in action or a prisoner of war.

21. Contacts for Military Students
Student Questions
Who to Contact
When was my enrollment certified?
VA Certifying Official
Any questions regarding Veteran’s benefits, including eligibility, payments, switching benefits, etc. VA
Questions about state-specific Veteran’s benefits.
State Veteran’s Service Office
How do I maximize state and federal benefit eligibility?
▪Veteran: State Veteran’s Service Office
▪Active: Education Services Officer (ESO)
Questions regarding State or Federal Tuition Assistance, including eligibility, applying, dropping a course (and the implications), etc.
Education Services Officer (ESO)
Brian

22. Helpful Websites VA Education Benefits: www.gibill.va.gov
VA Benefits & General Information:
Army Tuition Assistance:
Air Force Tuition Assistance:
Navy & Coast Guard Tuition Assistance:
Servicemembers Opportunity College:
ACE Military Course Search:
Lisa

23. Questions?
Lisa