N.J. universities, colleges preparing for influx of veterans on new GI Bill
Posted Tuesday, August 04, 2009 from The Star-Ledger
N.J. universities, colleges preparing for influx of veterans on new GI Bill
by Tomas Dinges/The Star-LedgerTuesday August 04, 2009, 8:00 PM
New Jersey colleges and universities are ramping up their efforts toreceive an expected influx of veterans as a result of the Post-9/11 GIBill.
Schools are initiating programs to help transition the soldiers whoserved in Iraq and Afghanistan into their classrooms by developingcampus-specific websites for the veterans, hiring campus veteranliaisons and establishing mentoring programs. Some schools are updatingpolicies to accept academic credit for military service, while othersare actively-recruiting veterans.
NewJersey Army National Guard troops marching in Trenton in June. NewJersey colleges and universities are ramping up their efforts toreceive an expected influx of veterans as a result of the Post-9/11 GIBill."When we saw that legislation going through, werealized that there were going to be students coming to our campus withthese distinct needs," said Wendy Lang, coordinator of OperationCollege Promise, a program of the New Jersey Association of StateColleges and Universities, an organization of nine public non-researchinstitutions.
Since May, 112,000 veterans nationwide have applied for theeducational benefits offered by the new bill, according to the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs.
The bill significantly increases the amount of money offered fortuition and expenses than the previous one. Now, for veterans attendingpublic colleges and universities, it will fully cover in-state tuition,as well as provide a monthly housing stipend and up to $1,000 per yearfor books, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. NationalGuardsmen and Reservists can now receive educational benefits after 90days of service in a combat zone, a vast improvement from before.
With free in-state tuition, "the Post-9/11 bill is really astair-step up from military service to a four-year degree," saidWilliam Brown, 32, a founder of Veterans for Education, a veteranscampus organization based at Rutgers University-Camden. "Now, thebiggest obstacle is letting veterans know about the resources."
Around the state there are efforts to accomplish just that.
The Troops-to-College program, a state initiative passed in thespring and awaiting signature by Gov. Jon Corzine, provides "one-stopshopping so that a vet would know there is one place go for the wholekaleidoscope of issues that comes up," like housing, financial,medical, and psychological problems, said Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan(D-Middlesex), chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
The program also mandates coordination between the New JerseyDepartment of Military and Veteran Affairs and academic institutions.
But many of the NJASCU institutions have already set up their ownwebsites for veterans resources, and at least half have establishedseparate orientations and campus liaisons specifically for veterans,said Lang. Some schools are also working on methods to simplify theprocess of re-enrolling upon returning from a deployment.
While some of the NJASCU member schools are implementing changes inhow veterans are received and graduate from their studies, like givingspecial commendations at graduation ceremonies, the institutions thatLang works with are already getting more applications by veteranstudents as a result of the new GI Bill.
"We are definitely seeing an increase," said Lang.
A2008 photo of Rugers University-based Veterans for Education membersJennifer Wilson, left, Bryan Adams, right, the president of the group,and William Brown, foreground. The group has been one of the state'smost vocal advocates for an updated GI Bill.They are also working to assure that other learning institutions in New Jersey are prepared for the increase.
In September the organization is hosting a state-wide conference toplan and improve the methods in which New Jersey academic institutionsprovide for veterans newly arriving to the academic community.
For Raritan Valley Community College, the Post-9/11 GI Bill hasstimulated a conversation with student veterans about forming anon-campus student group.
It also led to today's veterans information panel withrepresentatives of federal, state and local organizations, said BarbaraLuby, a school counselor who timed the event to the implementation ofthe bill and the return of the nearly 2,800 members of the New JerseyArmy National Guard earlier this year.
She hopes that veterans who otherwise may be hesitant to reach outfor help, "will walk away feeling they have some resources available tothem."
Many community colleges already have the flexibility to acceptmilitary training courses for academic credit, under a national creditcertification program. Often the advanced training that soldiersreceive for their specialty in the military, ranging from mechanicalengineering, computer technology, or medical training, has anequivalent credit in an academic institution.
Larger institutions like Rutgers University's campus at Camden justapplied to be a member this past spring. The university's other twocampuses are now considering applying for the program.
But, that is only one of many efforts by Rutgers University.
The school currently has 400 student veterans enrolled and isprepared for more as a result of the new GI Bill, but also because ofthe poor economy.
In some cases, "they will return to jobs that are no longer therebecause of the economy," said Gregory Blimling, vice president forStudent Affairs. "This would provide an opportunity for them to retooland improve their skills through higher education."
Starting in the fall, Rutgers University began to tackle the issue of an absence of veterans services on campus.
Now, there will be a veterans service office, and faculty and staff,some of them veterans themselves, who will act as mentors, some of 14recent policy and program changes.
Also, for the first time, said Blimling, a university-wide veteransadvisory council will meet twice a semester with student veterans,representatives of the VA, school administrators, alumni and trustees.
The new GI Bill is expected to be the most comprehensive educationbenefit offered since World War II, with billions to be disbursed inthe next 10 years.
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