When President Bush signed the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill into law, our nation took a major step in fulfilling the promise of a bright future for our veterans. This landmark benefit will help to ensure that our nation’s bravest have the same opportunities to succeed as generations of veterans who have gone before. This bill is not only an investment in our next generation of proven leaders; it is an investment in our future as Americans.

Now that this benefit will take effect in August 2009, what’s next? Will our veterans successfully transition into academic life?

At colleges and universities across this country, veterans are often an underserved population within the student body. When veterans return from war, they are often older than their collegiate peers, with a wealth of life experiences that have molded their adult lives. As a twenty-something freshman at a state university, starting college with hundreds of students fresh out of high school can prove to be an uncomfortable situation. Plus, many veterans are forced to make the transition very quickly, without the proper orientation process afforded to traditional incoming freshmen.

Veterans also must balance outside obligations that often muddy the waters of their transition from military life to college life. Veterans may have spouses, children, homes, bills, and a host of other responsibilities that the average incoming freshman will not encounter until well after graduation. Plus, as established adults, they cannot always rely on their parents for assistance.

Something needs to fill in the gap.

AMVETS and a coalition of veterans’ service organizations have been pushing for legislation that will offer federal grants to colleges and universities that provide centers of excellence for their student veterans.

Based on a model provided by Dr. John Schupp’s SERV program at Cleveland State University, each center of excellence would address the unique needs of student veterans adjusting to the college atmosphere. This “one stop shop” would provide a forum for veterans to meet like-minded individuals on campus, learn about their education benefits, and transition smoothly from the military, through academia, and into the professional world.

As fall 2009 approaches, campuses across the country will need to be prepared for a surge of matriculating student veterans. SERV has proven to be a great success at Cleveland State University, and Schupp is working with AMVETS to take his model to campuses nationwide.

Legislation to provide these grants has passed in the House and Senate under Section 883 of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008. As the act goes to conference, AMVETS urges Congress to approve it with Section 883 intact. We have finally removed the financial barriers preventing our veterans from attending college. It’s time to remove the transitional barriers as well.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm and is filed under Politics .