KINGSTON, R.I.鈥擬ay 28, 2009 鈥揂 new law could help thousands of veterans across the country attend college. The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill will make it possible for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars who otherwise might not have been able to afford college the opportunity to earn a college degree.
The bill contains the most comprehensive educational benefits since the original G.I. Bill in 1944. The bill provides for the cost of in-state undergraduate tuition and fees at any of Rhode Island 鈥榮 public colleges, as well as a housing allowance and up to an annual $1,000 book stipend. The benefits can be used up to 15 years after service. In some cases, they are transferable to a veteran鈥檚 spouse and/or dependents.
The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, which takes effect August 1, is expected to swell enrollments at public schools across the country. The 溏心vlog免费B站 is ready to welcome and provide support to returning service members.
Well before the new G.I. Bill was passed, 溏心vlog免费B站 put in place a number of initiatives to help returning veterans. Two years ago, the 溏心vlog免费B站 Supports Student Veterans Committee, was formed. The committee has a broad representation of faculty, staff, and students from 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Kingston and Feinstein Providence campuses, as well as members from federal, state, and local veterans agencies. The committee鈥檚 mission is to work to attract, retain, and support student veterans and when necessary make recommendations regarding 溏心vlog免费B站 policies and procedures to accomplish this mission. Membership includes representatives from 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Enrollment Services, Advising, Admissions, Disability Services, Provost鈥檚 Office, Police Department, Counseling Center, ROTC, Health Services, Career Services, Student Life, Department of Communications and Marketing, and student veterans.
The committee has examined a number of issues with the intent of easing the veteran鈥檚 transition into college by removing any enrollment roadblocks and then supporting him or her while at 溏心vlog免费B站. First chaired by Fran Cohen, dean of students, the committee is now co-chaired by Nancy Kelley, assistant dean of the College of Human Science and Services and Christine Dolan, education specialist, special programs at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Feinstein Providence Campus and School of Education.
鈥淣ancy and I look forward to another academic year of working with such a diverse group of dedicated and enthusiastic representatives, all of whom have a commitment to support student veterans,鈥� says Dolan.
To date the committee has established or designated:
鈥� Web pages with information for veterans were created and remain active on the Admission (http://www.uri.edu/admission/Veterans.html) and Enrollment Services http://www.uri.edu/es/acadinfo/acadyear/veterans.html) websites.
鈥� A Veterans Office at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Feinstein Providence Campus has opened and is staffed
鈥� Contact individuals from each academic college鈥檚 dean office for veterans with questions
鈥� Point people for veterans in the Enrollment and Admission offices
鈥� Point people for veterans in the University Advisor Center, part of University College
鈥� A student-veterans group
鈥� A Veterans Education Fund
鈥� A faculty and staff mentor group
In a related matter, this month the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education approved a change in policy, which grants in-state tuition to veterans of any branch of the armed forces and any branch of the state鈥檚 National Guard. The new policy waives the current one-year requirement for veterans or active duty members to establish residency in Rhode Island before they can qualify for in-state tuition rates. The determination of tuition and fees applies to both undergraduate and graduate students. For more information on the policy, go to http://www.ribghe.org/veteranstuition.pdf.
In September, 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 student-veteran committee will begin work on a number of goals including creating student-veteran orientations for veterans and their families, hiring and training student veterans to serve as peer mentors for other student veterans, and increasing faculty and staff awareness of student-veterans as non-traditional students.
鈥淲e earnestly welcome the opportunity to work with all veterans and active duty members to help to make our university the best choice for them to achieve their educational goals,鈥� says Dolan.