Transcript Veteran Services - Texas Association of Student Financial

Boots to Books:
Best Practices for Administering
Veteran’s Benefits
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Texas A&M University
Agenda:
•Commitment to Veterans
•Veteran Culture
•Educational Benefits
•Best Practices
Commitment to Veterans
Texas A&M University has always had a strong
military presence and is steeped in military
history. Currently we serve over 1000 students
using benefits including veterans, military, and
dependents. We are committed to providing
the best educational services to these students
and are a proud member of Servicemembers
Opportunity Colleges (SOC) to demonstrate
this commitment.
Mission Statement
To provide and assist veterans, service
members and military families with
information and resources in making their
transition from military to academic life.
The Numbers
Fall 2010 to date- 1000+
This includes Veterans and dependents on
federal and/or state benefits
We have seen the numbers increase dramatically in
2009-2010 with the biggest increase in
Chap. 33 dependents and Hazlewood dependents
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Who is the returning veteran?
Military culture & deployment
Concerns affecting veteran students
Best practices for advising veteran and
military students
Which Students Are “Veterans”?
•Active duty
•Reserves
•National Guard
•Former military
• OEF = Operation Enduring Freedom
– Began 7 Oct 2001 in response to terrorist
attacks and further threats
– Multinational military operation fought mostly
in Afghanistan
• OIF = Operation Iraqi Freedom
– Began 20 Mar 2003
– Multinational military operation fought entirely
in Iraq
• VA reports that 1.6 million men and
women have served in Iraq and
Afghanistan
• Approximately 500,000 veterans of those
wars now collect benefits from the current
GI Bill
Inside Higher Ed, July 11, 2008
Challenges for Veteran/Military Students
• Inflexible/bureaucratic administrative structures
• Lack of preparation by university systems
• Unique social barriers with classmates due to age
and experience
• Loss of sense of purpose, teamwork and
camaraderie; need for cohesive interaction with
“true” peers
• Significant mental health barriers as a result of
military service
In Advising
• What might you see?
– Anxiety
– Reluctance
– Stress
– Frustration
– Aggressiveness
– Fatigue
How to Advise
• Create a safe, open, and welcoming space
– Non-judgmental
– Privacy
– “Safe” environment
• Build trust and understanding
• LISTEN to what is said and not said
– Let the student talk
– Ask open-ended questions about on-campus
experience and challenges
Strategies for Working with Veterans
• Let them talk…make plenty of time
• Avoid intrusive/inappropriate questions
• Be aware of resources on campus that veteran
students may need
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Get to know Admissions contacts that work with Veterans
Get to know the Student Counseling Service
Get to know Academic Resources
Get to know the Veteran Students Association
• Know your students and the “student issues” calendar
of the year
Invisible Wounds of War
• 14% PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder)
• 14% Depression
• 19% Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• 33% PTSD, Depression, or TBI
• 5% reported symptoms of all three
Rand Corporation, 2008
PTSD Rates
• 40% of OIF/OEF veterans have or will
acquire PTSD
• 30% lifetime rate of Vietnam vets
• Why the rise?
PTSD & Anger
• Higher levels of anger/ hostility
• Anger/ hostility more associated in
samples of combat veterans
• Veterans with PTSD
(see Orth & Wieland, 2006)
(see Orth & Wieland, 2006)
– respond with more hostility in nonprovoking IP interactions
– experience more anger in response to
trauma cues
(Beckham et al., 1996)
(Pitman, et al., 1987; Taft et al., 2006_
PTSD & Other Concerns
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Marital problems, divorce
Parenting problems, poorer family adjustment
Less self disclosing
Sexual dysfunction
Interpersonal violence
Secondary traumatization
National Center for PTSD
Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI)
• “Signature Injury” of OIF/OEF due to Improvised
Explosive Devices (IEDs)
• Prevalence hard to estimate
• Explosions count for 75% of combat-related
injuries
Traumatic Brain Injury
Symptoms
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Headaches
Tinnitus
Dizziness, balance problems
Sleep problems
Persistent fatigue
Speech, hearing and vision impairments
(sometimes sensitivity to light, sound)
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms, cont.
• Impairments in attention, concentration, and
organization
– Slowed thinking, reading
– Impaired decision-making or problemssolving
– “I just don’t feel like myself”
• Memory problems: more like dementia and
amnesia
– Slowed thinking, reading
Traumatic Brain Injury
Symptoms, cont.
• Poor impulse and anger control
– Easily irritated by problem-solving or multitasking
– Difficulty inhibiting behavior
– Changes in sexual behavior or interest
Traumatic Brain Injury
• Relationship between TBI and PTSD:
– Each can complicate diagnosis and
treatment of the other
– Very difficult to sort out PTSD, Depression,
and head injury symptoms
– TBI can present as “psychological”;
“personality disorder”
SUICIDE
• From 2005-2007 the suicide rate among 1829 year-old male veterans jumped 26% (Veterans
Affairs Department)
• Of the 30,000 Americans who take their lives
each year, 6,000 are veterans (U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki)
• In 2009 the suicide rate in all four military
branches was higher than the overall
national average (52 Marines, 48 sailors and
41 airmen took their lives) (Lisa Black and Stacy St. Clair,
Chicago Tribune)
PTSD & Suicidality
• PTSD patients 6 times more likely to attempt
suicide than the general population
• PTSD has higher risk of increased number of
suicide attempts than all other anxiety
disorders
• 19% of patients with PTSD will attempt
suicide
Kessler et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry.
1999;56:617.
Veterans Benefits overview
• Chapter 35 – Dependent
 Dependent of 100% disabled or deceased Veterans – base rate up
to $925 per month
• Chapter 31 – Disabled Veterans
 Disabled Veterans – Tuition, fees, books and other incidentals as
allowed by Voc Rehab, $547.54 base rate per month (with no
dependents)
• Chapter 30- Veterans
 $1321 per month (can be increased with “kicker” college fund)
• Chapter 30-Active duty
 Tuition and fees only
Benefits Continued
• Chapter 1606
 Selected Reservist without active duty time, up to $333
a month
• Chapter 1607
 Selective Reservist or Individual Ready Reservist with
active duty service. Base rate up to $1094.40 per
month with 2 + years’ service, percentage of Chp. 30
payment on service time.
Post 9/11-Chapter 33 GI Bill
• Individual who served on active duty after September 10,
2001.
 Served an aggregate period of at least 90 days
or served 30 days of active duty with a disability discharge
 Maximum benefit paid for at least 36 months
Chapter 33-Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Tuition & (mandatory) fees paid directly to school
• Monthly housing allowance paid to the student based on the
BAH(basic allowance for housing) for an E-5 with dependents and on
the ZIP code of the location of the school the beneficiary is attending
($1047.00 for BCS). Active duty not eligible.
• Annual book stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on
enrollment up to 24 credits per year ($41.67 per credit hour). Active
duty not eligible.
Active Duty-Chapter 33
• Individuals on active duty are eligible for the
lesser of:
tuition and fees charged OR
amount of charges that exceed the amount
paid by military tuition assistance
• Individuals on active duty are NOT eligible for the
BAH and books & supplies
Military Friendly Checklist
• Dedicated Veteran Services Office-one central
location to obtain information
• Dedicated veterans academic advisor
• Dedicated veterans admissions advisor-targeted
communication prior to their arrival on campus.
• Streamlined withdrawal and reenrollment
processes for deployed students while in school
• Deferred tuition and fees pending VA funds
• Veteran New Student Orientation
• Veteran faculty/staff mentors and training for
these mentors
Military Friendly Checklist
• VA work study opportunities
• Recognized Veteran Student Organization
• Student services tailored to veterans
• Yellow Ribbon Program participant
• Veteran Programs and Workshops
• Enhance Website-easy to find information and
link on schools website
• Establish an Advisory committee that includes
representation across campus.
• Offer early class registration for Veterans
Troops to College
The Troops to College Committee was
formed in December 2008 as part of Project
Military Friendly within the Texas A&M
University System. This group was formed to
address veterans’ issues on campus and to
take up initiatives brought forth by the
committee, students, academic community, and
local community to help Texas A&M University
honor our military heritage and to do all we can
to be Military Friendly.
Veteran Services at Texas A&M University
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VA and Texas education benefits processing
Program advising for other campus departments
Scholarships & Financial Aid assistance
Referrals to other campus and community resources
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Admissions
Student Affairs / Student Assistance Center
Student Counseling Services
Disability Services
Academic Advising
ROTC Office
Office of the Commandant
Texas Workforce Commission – Texas Veterans Commission
Veterans Affairs in College Station
Other veteran community resources
Jolee
http://www.aggienetwork.com/Exhibits/AggieVideo.aspx?QS=rLUcJ93dH%252fNwYz1ql4gPbEPH8YP2rBPoaZRE50voJcw%253d
Helpful Information
• Veteran Services Office
• http://veterans.tamu.edu
• Student Counseling Services
• http://scs.tamu.edu
• VA/GI Bill Information
• http://gibill.va.gov
• Texas Hazlewood Information
• http://Collegeforalltexans.com