The Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
What you need to know
must use a billing process that complies with regulations. Hood College has signed the MOU. “We make every effort to work with servicemembers using all types of aid,” said Entersz. Hood has students that are active duty and retired/discharged collecting benefits under the Post/911 GI Bill, Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606 and 1607. Hood is aYellow Ribbon School and has a Military Friendly designation. Entersz said that Hood has approximately 90 students designated as military or military dependent.
What the MOU Does Not Do
PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COLLEGE AND SANJAY SUCHAK
By Jim Mahaffie
If you’re a servicemember looking for or receiving education benefits, then please read on.Your school must have a signed Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on file with the Department of Defense (DoD), or tuition assistance can’t be issued and you’ll have to pay for the courses another way. In 2011, the DoD announced that it was requiring all institutions participating in the MilitaryTuition Assistance (TA) program to have an MOU with the DoD. Originally the deadline was January 1, 2012, but in December, the DoD announced that it was providing a 90-day extension for institutions to sign the MOU until March 30, 2012. Institutions that offer programs to service members on campus, on base, on ship, and at a distance must sign and comply with the MOU by then. If schools do not sign the MOU, they will no longer be able to collect military tuition assistance from their military students. According to Carolyn Baker, chief of DoD voluntary education programs, the quality of education received by service members is very important to the DoD. In releases and updates about the issue, she said the DoD is committed to offering comprehensive, lifelong learning opportunities for service members, and the new policy will ensure a viable program is in place to assist them in realizing those opportunities. The DoD MOU covers all US armed forces, including Reserve and National Guard components, DoD Education and Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges.
What It Says:
By signing the MOU, postsecondary educational institutions agree to several specific commitments and agreements with the DoD, including the following: 1. Adhere to and execute Service members Opportunity Colleges (SOC) principles and criteria. 2. Participate in an established Military Voluntary Education Review process. 3. Provide the same tuition cost for all service members enrolled in the same course, regardless of the service component. 2
4. Recognize, accept, and award credit where appropriate, from the Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System, the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education RegistryTranscript System, and the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript as the official sources of military training and experience documentation with corresponding college credit recommendations, when processing an individual’s documented education plan. 5. Provide an evaluated educational plan to the service member and his or her service. 6. Provide course enrollment, course withdrawal, course cancellation, course completion or failure, grade, verification of degree completion to the service issuing tuition assistance. 7. Be accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. All institutions receiving military TA must sign an MOU agreeing to follow these principles. Other elements involve billing system criteria, transparency guidelines and information dissemination regulations.
No Tuition Assistance Without an MOU
“When a school signs the MOU with the Department of Defense, it means the school agrees to accept funds through the service’s Tuition Assistance (TA) programs in payment for educational services,” said Elaine Entersz, assistant registrar at Hood College and a Veterans Affairs school certifying official. “If a military student wishes to use tuition assistance to pay for classes, the school has to meet several requirements in order to qualify to be able to accept that assistance.” Entersz said the schools have to participate in an education review process, and provide an educational plan for each student using TA, along with information regarding enrollment, course and degree completion. Schools also
The MOU does not obligate funds or guarantee program enrollments by DoD military personnel, their eligible adult family members, DoD civilian employees or retirees in an educational institution’s academic programs. It also doesn’t grant access onto military installations to market, counsel students or provide instruction. Any institution has to have permission from the installation commander, coordinated with the installation’s education advisor, to conduct business prior to entering an installation.
A Need for Standards
The process began in 2005 when John Molino, then deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, formed a task force to develop standards for distance learning programs being offered by educational institutions with no physical presence on military installations. It was obvious then that with multiple deployments and rapidly changing technology, more and more service members were using military tuition assistance for college programs taken at a distance.The DoD predicted demand to increase, as it has done. In the early 1990s schools were receiving about 10 percent of their tuition assistance income from distance programs. By the mid ‘90s, it had risen to about 25 percent. James Sweizer, vice president of military programs at American Public University System (APUS) said that online learning is now the most popular education method for the military. “Today, 71 percent go online regularly for education,” he said. “Online programs have really allowed everyone to go anywhere and finish their degree.” APUS has 106,000 total students, of which Sweizer said about 60 percent are active duty military, Guard or Reserve. “They don’t pay a dime for their application fee or education, and we provide them books.They pay nothing until they are ready to graduate.” APUS offers over 80 degree programs. The criteria the task force developed and eventually were adopted are applicable to any type of course delivery, from a university classroom to on a base or a ship or a distance learning classroom.The goal is to ensure the highest quality of the DoD education program as a whole. “Most schools that have been working with military students for many years and helping them complete their degrees have already signed the MOU and are already complying with most if not all of the parameters,” said Sweizer. “For those of us who’ve been in business for a long time, it’s nothing earth-shattering.They standardized language, put in new reporting requirements and accountHIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Spring 2012
ability, and made statistics more transparent. They basically made it fair for everyone. “If you’re serving service members and their education needs, you really should sign the agreement,” said Sweizer. “After all, our military personnel would be the ones that lose out.”
Participating Institutions
Go to www.dodmou.com/InstitutionList.aspx for a list of participating educational institutions and their sub-campuses. As of February 8, there were 1,893 parent institutions that had signed MOUs with the DoD, and 2,936 sub-institutions. Maryland schools included: • Anne Arundel Community College • Bowie State University • Capitol College • College of Southern Maryland • DeVry University • Fortis Institute • Frederick Community College • Hagerstown Community College • Harford Community College • Hood College • Prince George’s Community College • Stevenson University • Strayer University • University of Maryland University College •Washington Bible College/ Capital Bible Seminary •Washington College
For more information: • www.dodmou.com
For a sample Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement, application data, announcements and an upto-date list of participating institutions.
COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS 9030 COMPRINT COURT GAITHERSBURG, MD 20877
• www.soc.aascu.org
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges provide educational opportunities to service members who move frequently and still want to complete college degrees.
• www.goarmyed.com
A virtual gateway for all active duty, National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers to request tuition assistance online, anytime, anywhere for classroom and distance learning.
Advertising Contacts Display Advertising Classified Advertising
(301) 921-2800 (301) 670-2543
• www.navycollege.navy.mil
Higher Education & Life Long Learning is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of Defense, under exclu sive written contract.
• www.usmc-mccs.org/education/lll.cfm
Contents are not the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Department of Defense. Everything advertised in this supplement must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.
This site provides sailors and their families with information on opportunities to earn college degrees through a variety of options.
All about the U.S. Marine CorpsVoluntary Education Program, which provides information on completing a high school education, earning an equivalency diploma, improving academic skills or level of literacy, and enrolling in vocational and technical schools.
UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
“2011 - 2012 Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities” by Military Advanced Education! “Military Friendly School for 2012” by G.I. Jobs! $3 Million in UMT Military Scholarships Budgeted for Military Personnel, Veterans and Spouses in 2012! Federal Student Aid and Sallie Mae Loans Are Available!
Apply Today and Earn Your Degree Completely Online!
The University of Management and Technology (UMT) offers accredited first-class online education. Located in Arlington VA, UMT HQ is just ten minutes from the Pentagon. As a university partner of the GoArmyEd, Air University, and the Defense Acquisition University, UMT brings its world-renowned reputation to the military community. UMT is an LOI school in the GoArmyEd and a participant of the AU-ABC and CCAF transfer programs.
UMT MILITARY EDUCATION BENEFITS:
Fast-Track Admissions Apply and enroll immediately! UMT Military Scholarship Qualified military personnel and veterans can earn a degree without out-of-pocket expense after TA, GI Bill, or DANTES benefits applied. Active duty military spouses also qualify for the UMT Military Scholarship. Textbook Loan Program for active duty personnel at no cost. Transfer Credits Up to 75% for an undergraduate or 50% for a graduate degree. UMT accepts CLEP and DSST exams. Self-paced, Instructor Mentored Online Classes Start any time, study at your own pace and gain easy access to instructors electronically. 25 degree programs and 8 certificate programs to meet education needs! Visit UMT online at http://milinfo.umtweb.edu • Admissions: 800-924-4883
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American Military University offers over 87 degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s level through its seven distinct academic Schools.
School of Arts and Humanities The University is unique in offering a full range of online degrees in arts and humanities that are based on the great ideas, works, and thinkers that have defined civilization as embodied in the “great books” tradition. The curriculum addresses humankind’s fundamental topics through study of courses in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Coursework is designed to develop high-level research, analytical, and interpersonal skills and prepares students for a broad range of professional careers.
American Military University www.amuonline.com/comprint 111 W. Congress St. Charles Town, WV 25414 Admission Phone: 877-777-9081 Financial Aid Phone: 877-372-3535 Military Programs Email: info@apus.edu
Associate Degrees Associate programs are designed for students who seek a twoyear degree as either their final degree in higher education or the foundation for further study at the bachelor’s level. An associate degree typically requires 61-64 semester hours (20 courses and 1-4 labs). Students must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent to be admitted to an associate program.
Bachelor’s Degree The bachelor’s degree program is also open to students who possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. This minimum 120-124 credit program is the standard “four-year” undergraduate degree desired by most employers and prepares the student for graduate study. All students who enroll in the bachelor’s degree program must enroll in COLL100 - Foundations of Online Learning as their first course.
Master’s Degree AMU accepts students for graduate-level study who have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. To earn a master’s degree, students must complete a minimum of 12 courses and take a final comprehensive examination, thesis option, or capstone/applied research project at the end of all course work.
School of Business The School of Business offers a flexible, dynamic and interactive program to accommodate many types of learners. We integrate new technologies to keep the classroom interesting and up-to-date. Students are taught not only the concepts but also the “real world” application of the materials. The curriculum provides the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge for students seeking preparation or advancement in business and leadership roles in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
School of Education
Graduate programs in the School of Education are designed to meet the most rapidly growing demands of the profession. Our certification programs are built to the highest state and national content standards. We provide opportunities to practicing teachers to enhance their professional training in critical needs areas such as special education, reading and literacy, TESOL, and Gifted Education.
School of Management
The curriculum provides the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge for business and leadership professionals in private, public and nonprofit sector. The School of Management offers relevant and dynamic management programs for students seeking broad managerial knowledge, skills, and abilities. Specifically, specialized degrees are designed and offered in the high growth areas of sport sciences and the transportation and logistics management career fields. Students will address traditional and topical management and leadership matters, while at the same time be influenced by foundational and conceptual underpinnings that remain vital in today’s competitive markets.
School of Public Safety and Health
The School of Public Safety and Health houses several of the University’s flagship programs designed for emergency and disaster management, criminal justice, and homeland security professionals. It is also the home of up-and-coming programs for security management, legal studies, and public health professionals. It is also the home of up-and-coming programs in security management, legal studies, and public health. Our faculty combine top academic credentials with practical expertise. Our programs in many cases are professionally accredited or recognized in their industries. These recognitions include the Foundation of Higher Education for the emergency and disaster management program. Additionally, the public health program is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Other accreditations are pending with professional organizations.
School of Science and Technology
Science and technology professionals are vital to society’s continued innovation. Academic programs in this school help students cultivate the problem solving, creative, and technological skills necessary for advancements in their chosen field - whether it be pursuing innovations in environmental policy, space studies, or one of the many professions within the information technology field.
School of Security and Global Studies
The programs taught in the School of Security and Global Studies truly embody our motto, “Educating Those Who Serve.” Students with majors in this school have an understanding of the world - appreciating differences in political, economic, and social cultures. Our faculty members are highly credentialed and respected leaders in their fields, and many of them currently work in the U.S. government and in the U.S. intelligence community. Our graduates are employed in leadership positions at agencies ranging from the Department of State, Defense, and Homeland Security to the intelligence services, as well as private businesses throughout the world.
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3307 M Street, NW, Suite 202 Washington, DC 20007 Admission Phone: 202-687-6299 Web Address: scs.georgetown.edu
Type of School:
Undergraduate/Graduate Private and Certificate Programs
Campus Locations include: Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies 3307 M St., NW Washington, DC 20007 Center for Continuing and Professional Education 3101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22201 Graduate Liberal Studies Intercultural Center, Suite 225 37th and O Street, NW Washington, DC 20057
Top 5 Majors Available at Your School: • Masters of Professional Studies Degrees in Human Resources Management, Journalism, Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Real Estate, Sports Industry Management and Technology Management • Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctoral Degrees in Liberal Studies • Professional Certificate Programs
Tuition cost: The following tuition charges are in effect for the Summer and Fall 2012 terms and are subject to change. Please visit our website for up to date tuition information.
• Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Professional Studies Degrees: $905 per credit hour. • Doctor of Liberal Studies Degree: $1,132 per credit hour. • Professional Certificate Programs: tuition varies by certificate program. Fall Term Application Deadlines:
• Priority 1 – March 1 • Priority 2 – May 1 • Rolling – August 1
Spring Term Application Deadlines:
• Priority – October 15 • Rolling – December 1
Summer Term Application Deadlines:
• Priority 1 – February 15 • Rolling – May 1
Admission Requirements:
Admission requirements vary by program. Please visit scs.georgetown.edu/admissions/how-to-apply for specific admission requirements for your program of interest.
Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Why military & veterans choose Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies offers a diverse range of degree and certificate programs designed for professional and personal growth. Programs are designed to meet the often demanding schedules of adult students with part-time, evening class schedules. The School engages with and serves a diverse community of students and professionals in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, fulfilling Georgetown’s mission of educational outreach and inclusivity. The wide range of high quality curriculum is scheduled to create the most flexibility for students who want to pursue their personal and professional goals. Study at Georgetown offers life-long connections to faculty, staff and alumni who are leaders and endeavor to inspire others with their actions. 1040839 6
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Military veterans should be wary of lead generation companies
From the Experts:
By C.D. Carter
Veterans with educational benefits included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill have become prime targets for web-based operations tasked at collecting personal information from prospective college students and dispersing that information to a host of schools. A simple Google search for online college programs turns up several websites that request a person’s level of education, zip code, and other details. Sometimes the sites offer the advice of an advisor. Once the prospective student has handed over his or her information, they’re likely to receive emails and phone calls from schools that have paid for access to those important details. Colleges with meager marketing budgets often pay lead generation companies to collect names and contact information. And with veterans leaving active duty with federal money for college, servicemembers have become a prime target for lead generators, said education officials from Washington, D.C.-area colleges. Jim Sweizer, vice president of American Military University (AMU), with offices in Virginia, said leader generators are “quite deceitful” because they don’t tell military veterans that their contact information will only be passed along to schools that pay for leads, not schools that cater to veterans. “They always look like a legitimate website,” Sweizer said. “They present professional-looking content about career paths and courses for veterans in transition. … But in the end, [veterans’] information is only funneled to their customers.” This means that veterans are not re-
ferred to college programs covered by their government benefits or best fit for their educational pursuits, Sweizer said. “These students have no idea where their names are going to end up,” he said. “To me, that’s really crossing the line. … [Lead generators] are just a third party that complicates the process while looking to make a quick buck.” AMU officials pointed to Essential Knowledge, a prominent lead generator, as one of the most aggressive collectors of student information, especially from men and women with military backgrounds. On its homepage, Essential Knowledge highlights visitors with military benefits, directing them to a page that says the company will “help members of the military community understand the valuable education benefits that are available to them, and how to use these programs to pursue a worthwhile higher education.” Essential Knowledge includes a detailed list of the myriad federal benefits veterans can use for college courses and living expenses. The site invites veterans to seek advising “the old school way – in person,” and lists a phone number for those interested. Graham Moyer, president of Kansas-based Essential Knowledge, said the company’s website is a small part of an operation that focuses on face-to-face meetings at military community events – sometimes known as “yellow ribbon events” – with veterans in search of higher education. “What we’ve found is servicemembers were unaware of what educational benefits were available to them or exactly how to use them,” said Moyer,
HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Spring 2012
PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
adding that Essential Knowledge recruiters only attend military events that they are invited to. “We don’t do anything to step on the toes of military leadership.” Essential Knowledge employs about 60 people, many with military backgrounds, across 35 states to visit military veterans unsure of which college programs would best fit their needs. Moyer said veterans who attend college fairs can fill out a questionnaire designed to match them with colleges across the country. Essential Knowledge uses Servicemember Opportunity College (SOC) member schools as a “benchmark for military friendliness,” connecting veterans with schools that readily accept credit transfers and course credit from military experience, he said. “We don’t promote any schools,” Moyer said. “We’re not out there saying XYZ university is really good. … It’s all about information and motivation for us, and we believe [a veteran’s school choice] should be based on more than just Internet research.There are so many options out there. We want to help them cut through the clutter.” Reginald Tim Battle, lead education services specialist at Fort Myer Army Education Center in Arlington, Va., said servicemembers should consult with their local Veterans Administration counselor while they’re surveying college choices. Web-based college consultants, he said, will sometimes rush veterans’ critical education decisions. “If [veterans] feel that they are being pressured to make an immediate decision, pull out of the interaction immediately because that is a bad sign,” Battle said, adding that veterans should
double check colleges’ statistics on the U.S. Department of Education’s website. “Reputable education programs will always give potential enrollees time to think things over and come to their own decision.” American Public University System, which encompasses AMU, uses some lead generation sites to recruit prospective students, said Brian Muys, a university spokesman. Muys said the school doesn’t use lead generation services to recruit students into AMU, and added that officials are “very selective” about which websites the school appears on. “It’s really a small supplement to our efforts,” he said. Sweizer said AMU has always relied on word of mouth and student referrals. “I personally don’t see the value of lead generators,” he said. Sweizer said some lead generation websites mislead military veterans into believing that the company’s client schools include every Servicemember Opportunity College, or are schools that cater to veterans’ needs, such as frequent cross country moves for new military assignments. Lead generation companies have “infiltrated” military career fairs in recent years, Sweizer said, scouring the fairs for students searching for the right campus on which to use their GI Bill benefits. “They’re nothing but hired guns for the schools,” he said. “These folks could care less about the students. They’re done with them as soon as they ship off their names. And veterans, unfortunately, with their tuition reimbursement, are going to be prime targets.” 7
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Thomas Edison State College 101 West State Street Trenton, New Jersey 08608 Admissions Phone 888-442-8372 Financial Aid Phone 888-442-8372 Louis Martini 800-446-1804 militaryeducation@tesc.edu 4-year Public College/University Main Campus: 101 West State Street Trenton, New Jersey 08608
Why Thomas Edison State College? Thomas Edison State College has been providing specialized educational opportunities for members of the United States military for more than 30 years, and continues to develop degree programs and certificates specifically for enlisted personnel that optimize military training and experience.
Admissions Requirements
Since 2007, the College has been named one of the country’s top ten military-friendly institutions by Military Advanced Education magazine.
How to Get Started
The College offers a variety of programs for members of the U.S military, which have separate applications. Links to those applications and instructions are listed below. Additional links related to tuition assistance programs offered by various branches of the U.S. military. Air Force-http://www.tesc.edu/military/air-force/TuitionAssistance.cfm
The College is a long-standing member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) and holds a Memorandum of Understanding with Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) as an external degree partner. Thomas Edison State College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association and Schools and offers several programs designed around the unique needs of members of the U.S. armed forces, regardless of where they are deployed, and veterans and their families.
Online courses available
Coast Guard-http://www.tesc.edu/military/coast-guard/ Tuition-Assistance.cfm
Top Majors
National Guard-http://www.tesc.edu/military/nationalguard/Tuition-Assistance.cfm
Many colleges say they serve adults. So why choose us?
National Guard Guidelines-http://www.tesc.edu/military/ national-guard/Application-Guidelines.cfm
Because serving busy, motivated adults is the only thing Thomas Edison State College does. Our focus is and always has been to serve adults. As one of New Jersey’s senior public institutions of higher learning, we’re regionally accredited. Learn more about our programs.
Engineering Technologies Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, Humanities Business Computer and Information Sciences Science Technologies
Programs for Veterans and their families-http:// www.tesc.edu/military/veterans/index.cfm
Offers Credit for Work Experience
For all service members from all braches of the U.S. military, but not connected to GoArmyEd or Navy College programs.
Yellow Ribbon Participant
Application for Military Degree Completion Programhttp://www.tesc.edu/military/ApplicationInstructions.cfm
Tuition Military $250 per SH
The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.
Special Tuition rates available for military, spouses and/or children Tuition and Fees
2011-2012 Tuition and Fees For non-nursing undergraduate degree programs only (effective Oct. 1, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2012) Application fee: $75.00 Tuition (per credit): $250.00 per credit TECEP tuition (per credit): $33.00 per credit Graduation fee: $272.00 Participants pay the application fee at the time of application. The tuition is paid at the time of course registration. Text and materials are extra and cost varies per course. Students must order textbooks and course materials directly from MBS Direct, the College’s textbook supplier at: (800) 325-3252. 8
Important Note: • Active duty military personnel who enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program will pay the nursing program tuition rate. • Active duty military personnel who enroll in the graduate-level degree programs will pay the graduate tuition rate.
------------------------------------------------------------------For active duty service members in the U.S. Navy. Application for Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership http://www.tesc.edu/military/ navy/Applications-instructions.cfm ------------------------------------------------------------------For active duty service members in the U.S. Army. Getting Started with a GoArmyEd program http://www.tesc.edu/military/army/Getting-StartedGoArmyEd.cfm
Because you’ll benefit from our experience. Thomas Edison State College is the one of the oldest colleges in the country dedicated exclusively to adults. We design programs specifically for you, the adult student, whether it’s a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree or a professional certificate. Because the value is exceptional. Thomas Edison State College offers exceptional value: academic excellence and reasonable tuition and fees. Plus, financial aid and scholarships are available. Because you want to earn your achievement. You’re motivated and talented. You want to finish what you started or take your achievement to the next level. Adults going back to college face unique challenges. At Thomas Edison State College, all of our programs work around the needs of busy adults. You can access your courses at times convenient for you and where you want, whether it’s at home, at work, the library, on the road or anywhere else. The first step is determining what you want to study.
What makes this school the right choice for a member of the military, veteran and/or family member?
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Admission Requirements BS degree programs: HS Degree or equivalent. Engineering and Computer Science courses require 4 years of HS math including Trigonometry. Masters program: Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher CGPA for full admission, students with less than 3.0 will be offered a provisional admission. Doctorate program: MS degree in a related field, 5 years work experience in the information assurance field, and industry certification or entrance exam. Why this school is the right choice for a military member and/or their family Capitol College is proud of its long history of educating active and former members of our armed forces. Capitol College provides active duty and veterans with affordable, accessible and innovative, career-focused bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in engineering, computer science, information technology, and business. Designated a military friendly school by both GI Jobs Magazine and Military Advance Education. Headquarters address 11301 Springfield Road Laurel, MD 20708 Web Site: http://www.capitol-college.edu Admissions Phone: 800-950-1992 Financial Aid Phone: 301-369-2800 Military program contact: Tony Miller: 800-950-1992 E-mail: military@capitol-college.edu Type of School Private College/University Credit for work experience Cost: Tuition: $9,945 engineering/comp sci undergraduate. Graduate $564 per credit. Doctorate $700 per credit. Yellow Ribbon Program Participant 1035675
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Student groups help veterans connect on campus By C.D. Carter
Military veterans restarting their educational lives on college campuses across the Washington, D.C., metro region may gravitate to student-veteran organizations that help members find study partners, manage their government benefits, and even receive physical therapy. Many four-year colleges and community colleges, along with individual programs within these schools, invite former and current members of the armed forces to join for weekly or monthly meetings with others that utilize military benefits to attend courses. Attendance of the veteran group meetings is often spotty, with some schools having just recently started a student-veteran organization. Managing the dynamics of studentveteran groups, however, has proven tricky for some group leaders as they try to bridge the gap that sometimes exists between combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and veterans who served in noncombat roles. A campus’ student-veteran group should be there primarily to connect service members in their effort to acclimate into civilian life, said Erik Ogilvie, president of the student-veteran organization at Johns Hopkins University’s
Carey Business School. “[Veterans] have a different background that sets us apart from the normal student who hasn't had any of those experiences,” said Ogilvie, an Army veteran who launched the on-campus group at the beginning of the spring semester. Blending in with college students who haven’t served in the military, Ogilvie said, is a goal for many veterans returning to college after a stint as a service member. Disassociating with fellow veterans, he said, is understandable but misguided. “It’s true that some people want to interact with civilians more than veterans, but it's important that they interact with people who they share experiences with, and understand where they're coming from,” he said. “You have to realize no one [outside of the military] has had the life experience that you've had.” Catherine Cornish, president of Anne Arundel Community College’s Student Veterans of America organization who served in the army from 1996-2004, said there is an occasional rift between service members who spent their military careers in the U.S. and those who served on Middle Eastern battlefields. “Some [Iraq and Afghanistan war] veterans won’t show up to our meetings
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Blending in with college students who haven’t served in the military, Ogilvie said, is a goal for many veterans returning to college after a stint as a service member. Disassociating with fellow veterans, he said, is understandable but misguided. because of the stigma that might be attached to their deployments,” said Cornish, who is pursuing a degree in cyber security. “Politics might come into play too, and people generally want to avoid that.” About 30 of the over 1,100 veterans at Anne Arundel Community College regularly attend the student-veteran group’s meetings, which are designed to help veterans understand the many government benefits available to them and how to best access tuition help and money allocated for housing assistance while they’re in school. “I realized that I didn’t even know a lot of these benefits are available to me,” Cornish said, referring to medical benefits offered through Veterans Affairs. “People just don’t know it’s there for them. We want to meet those needs and make sure that doesn’t happen to our veterans.” The student-veteran organization at Montgomery College’s Rockville campus has grown from its days of meeting in a utility closet, where meeting attendees sat on paper shredders and copy machines. Rose Sachs, chairwoman of disability support services at Montgomery Col-
lege, said convincing veterans to attend the college’s meetings with fellow vets meant fighting “the ingrained ethic of, ‘You don’t ask for any help from anyone anytime.’” According to Sachs, that unwillingness to seek a little help here and there prevents many veterans from searching for study partners. Asking for help from campus veteran groups is even more unlikely for veterans with invisible conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Sachs said. “If you’re not blind or deaf or missing a limb from something that happened in the battlefield, there’s a lot of paranoia and stigma about disabilities that no one can see,” she said. Sachs said Montgomery College’s student-veteran group enjoyed a bump in attendance after it offered acupuncture for any of the school’s 700 veterans who needed it. The college also offers discounted and free tickets to professional sporting events in the D.C. area and open gym hours just for former service members. “We’ve seen how popular these little programs can be,” Sachs said. Ogilvie said he had made contacts with local business owners in hopes of helping soon-to-be Johns Hopkins graduates enter the workforce without a lull between graduation and their first day on the job. Many veterans said it’s a priority not just to find some sort of employment after school, but to find a job that makes them want to get out of bed every morning, said Ogilvie. “We want to help them find meaningful employment that helps them feed their families and find the kind of fulfillment they had when they were in uniform,” said Ogilvie, who served one year in Iraq. “When you're sitting in a business meeting, it's not the same as when you're sitting with your soldiers. There’s nothing quite like going out in combat with your soldiers.”
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Trinity Washington University 125 Michigan Avenue NE Washington, District of Columbia 20017 Trinity Office of Admissions Phone 202-884-9400 admissions@trinitydc.edu Financial Aid Phone 202-884-9530 University Main Campus 125 Michigan Avenue NE Washington DC 20017 Trinity Washington University’s undergraduate and graduate programs are designed for busy working military professionals, veterans and their families seeking to advance their career through accelerated evening classes and an affordable tuition.
Online courses available
Top Majors Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences Education Business Security and Protective Services Public Administration and Social Services
Offers Credit for Work Experience
Tuition $6,000 ($500 per credit) Full-Time cost
Yellow Ribbon Participant
Students are allowed to use Yellow Ribbon once they have reached the $17,500 cap. The amount made available varies based on program/school.
Admissions Requirements
Undergraduate Admissions Requirements: 1. Completed application form with $40 application fee, or apply online to have fee waived. 2. a. Applicants with fewer than 15 college credits must submit high school transcripts.
b. Official college transcripts from all institutions attended. 3. A statement of purpose (see application for explanation). 4. One letter of recommendation. SAT or ACT scores are not required.
Graduate Admissions:
1. Completed application form with $40 application fee, or apply online to have fee waived. 2. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. 3. Two letters of recommendation. 4. 1000-1500 word essay that outlines personal and professional goals. 5. A current résumé or curriculum vitae. GRE or GMAT scores are not required. For forms and more information, visit www.trinitydc.edu 1035677
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HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Spring 2012