Combat to Combat to Campus: Campus:

Creating Creating

A Veteran A Veteran Friendly Friendly

UniversityUniversity

The new Post 9-11 GI Bill was the most The new Post 9-11 GI Bill was the most comprehensive change in veteranscomprehensive change in veterans ’’ benefits in the benefits in the last 50 years. It increased the tuition benefits for all last 50 years. It increased the tuition benefits for all veterans, and it allowed for private universities to veterans, and it allowed for private universities to get involved with recruiting veterans to their get involved with recruiting veterans to their campuses. campuses.

The bill provides a book stipend of $1,000/semester The bill provides a book stipend of $1,000/semester and a living stipend (BAH – basic allowance for and a living stipend (BAH – basic allowance for housing) to be given each month that the student housing) to be given each month that the student veteran is enrolled. veteran is enrolled.

Since 9/11, 2.1 million military personnel have been deployed. The GI Bill will provide greater access to higher education to those military men and women wishing to earn degrees. There are a number of ways in which Universities can prepare to meet the needs of veterans returning to campus.

The impact of The impact of

the Best, the Best,

Brightest and Brightest and

Bravest Bravest

Veterans at the Veterans at the

University of University of

North Texas. North Texas.

StateState Total DeployedTotal Deployed

1. Texas1. Texas 267,720267,720

2. Florida2. Florida 206,699206,699

3. California3. California 184,721184,721

4. New York4. New York 83,02783,027

5. 5. PennsylvaniaPennsylvania 81,89881,898

6. Illinois6. Illinois 76,84676,846

7. Ohio7. Ohio 65,74065,740

8. Washington8. Washington 65,49765,497

9. Tennessee 9. Tennessee 63,19263,192

10. Michigan10. Michigan 59,98559,985

What states higher What states higher education system would education system would experience the highest experience the highest number of veterans? number of veterans?

As of June 2010, there are over 2.1 As of June 2010, there are over 2.1 million service members who have been

million service members who have been deployed since 9/11. Texas is leading all deployed since 9/11. Texas is leading all other states in the total number of service other states in the total number of service

members deployed.members deployed.

State

Total active duty

deployed1.Texas 230,9002.Florida 181,9323.California 142,8694. New York 60,7945.Pennsylvania 55,1026.Illinois 59,1717.Ohio 44,6048.Washington 51,8159. Tennessee 46,94210. Michigan 46,292

These values take into account all deployed, including guard and reserve. The These values take into account all deployed, including guard and reserve. The vast majority of active duty service-members would be eligible for 100% of vast majority of active duty service-members would be eligible for 100% of their GI Bill benefits. Table below shows these states with their numbers of their GI Bill benefits. Table below shows these states with their numbers of deployed active duty service-members.deployed active duty service-members.

The Impact of the GI Bill at UNTThe Impact of the GI Bill at UNT

For the academic year 2009-2010 there was an increase in over 1200 students For the academic year 2009-2010 there was an increase in over 1200 students utilizing veterans benefits at UNT. utilizing veterans benefits at UNT.

In the last academic year (including this summer), UNT Veteran students received In the last academic year (including this summer), UNT Veteran students received $3.6 million in tuition benefits from the VA. The tuition benefits received do not $3.6 million in tuition benefits from the VA. The tuition benefits received do not include the book and housing stipend provided by the VA. include the book and housing stipend provided by the VA.   As the economy continues to prevent job growth there will be an increase in As the economy continues to prevent job growth there will be an increase in Veteran enrollment over the next few years.Veteran enrollment over the next few years.

As Veterans return from combat and a face a strained job market, UNT As Veterans return from combat and a face a strained job market, UNT anticipates a continued growth in the number of Veteran students enrolling or anticipates a continued growth in the number of Veteran students enrolling or reenrolling.reenrolling.  

Collaborative Collaborative Resources and Veteran Resources and Veteran

Friendly ContactsFriendly Contacts•Admission OfficeAdmission Office

•Registrar’s Office Registrar’s Office

•Benefit OfficeBenefit Office

•Academic CounselorAcademic Counselor

•Veteran Center( social and Veteran Center( social and

educational)educational)

•Veteran CouncilVeteran Council

•Student Money Management Student Money Management

CenterCenter

•Counseling and TestingCounseling and Testing

•Veterans Green ZoneVeterans Green Zone

Issues Veterans Issues Veterans Face Face

•Transitioning to campus and classrooms•Physically disabilities•PTSD•Sexually Trauma•Adjusting to home and family•Cultural unfamiliar ties•Always on Alert!

Campus Supportive Services Campus Supportive Services for Veteransfor Veterans

• The University of North Texas has in place The University of North Texas has in place quality programs and services that address the quality programs and services that address the unique needs of Veterans.unique needs of Veterans.

• The CARE Team is designed for all students by The CARE Team is designed for all students by assisting in protecting the health, safety and assisting in protecting the health, safety and welfare of students and members of the UNT welfare of students and members of the UNT community. community.

• If additional specialized care is needed for If additional specialized care is needed for Veterans the UNT Counseling Center will work Veterans the UNT Counseling Center will work with outside resources to address the immediate with outside resources to address the immediate need of the Veteran.need of the Veteran.

Community Community ResourcesResources

• Referrals to Veteran Advocate – Referrals to Veteran Advocate – Denton, Tx Denton, Tx (less than 15 min drive from (less than 15 min drive from campus)campus)

• Veteran Clinic - Denton, Texas Veteran Clinic - Denton, Texas (less (less than 10 min. drive from campus)than 10 min. drive from campus)

• Veteran Affairs/VA Hospital – Veteran Affairs/VA Hospital – DFW DFW (30 min drive from campus)(30 min drive from campus)

• University Support University Support • GrantsGrants• Make use of unused spaceMake use of unused space• VolunteersVolunteers• Student Veteran EmploymentStudent Veteran Employment• StaffStaff

CostsCosts

• The University of North Texas (UNT) has nearly 36,000 students and is located in the 4th largest The University of North Texas (UNT) has nearly 36,000 students and is located in the 4th largest metropolitan area in the country. It is committed to providing comprehensive access and metropolitan area in the country. It is committed to providing comprehensive access and facilitating academic and personal success for veterans, their spouses, and their families.facilitating academic and personal success for veterans, their spouses, and their families.

• Veterans and their families face multiple barriers to access and success in higher education. Veterans and their families face multiple barriers to access and success in higher education.

These needs include exploring possible degrees and careers, admissions and financial aid, and These needs include exploring possible degrees and careers, admissions and financial aid, and successfully navigating the university to complete their degree and be employed. Veterans also successfully navigating the university to complete their degree and be employed. Veterans also have significant and unique personal, rehabilitation, spousal, and family needs. UNT, with its have significant and unique personal, rehabilitation, spousal, and family needs. UNT, with its existing resources, programs and services, plans to prepare veterans to meet these daunting existing resources, programs and services, plans to prepare veterans to meet these daunting challenges by establishing a comprehensive and effective Veteran’s Center. The proposed challenges by establishing a comprehensive and effective Veteran’s Center. The proposed Center will provide assistance to veterans in several areas including education, health, Center will provide assistance to veterans in several areas including education, health, counseling, employment and family well being.counseling, employment and family well being.

• In the fall of 2008 UNT was awarded the Texas Higher Education Star Award for its enrollment In the fall of 2008 UNT was awarded the Texas Higher Education Star Award for its enrollment

success efforts. UNT has refined it expertise and was recognized for its initiatives to increase the success efforts. UNT has refined it expertise and was recognized for its initiatives to increase the number of students enrolled and the number of degrees awarded, helping students overcome number of students enrolled and the number of degrees awarded, helping students overcome the types of obstacles our veterans also encounter. UNT is a Title III approved university that the types of obstacles our veterans also encounter. UNT is a Title III approved university that has recently completed a comprehensive self-study of the needs of its students who are has recently completed a comprehensive self-study of the needs of its students who are veterans. The findings of the UNT veterans. The findings of the UNT Access and Success for our Troops Workgroup Access and Success for our Troops Workgroup point to the point to the clear strengths UNT already has as well as to opportunities for expanding services in a clear strengths UNT already has as well as to opportunities for expanding services in a comprehensive fashion to more broadly address the specific needs of veterans, their spouses, comprehensive fashion to more broadly address the specific needs of veterans, their spouses, and families.and families.

Dr. Hick’s CommentsDr. Hick’s Comments

Student Money Management Student Money Management CenterCenter

Chestnut Hall Suite 313Chestnut Hall Suite 313 940-369-7761940-369-7761

moneymanagement@unt.edumoneymanagement@unt.edu

www.unt.edu/moneymanagementwww.unt.edu/moneymanagement

Sources:Sources:Behind the Lines, 1/2010Behind the Lines, 1/2010

John Shupp’s University of Ohio Serv ProgramJohn Shupp’s University of Ohio Serv Program

Innovative EducatorsInnovative Educators

UNT Dean of StudentsUNT Dean of Students

UNT Care TeamUNT Care Team