Student veterans welcomed by area Catholic colleges |
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Written by LAURIE STEVENS BERTKE, Chronicle Writer
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Tuesday, 08 December 2009 00:00 |
Two Catholic colleges in the Diocese of Toledo have been recognized for their efforts to welcome a new generation of veterans seeking higher education.
Lourdes College recently held a press conference to celebrate the opening of its veterans center on campus. From left are Michael Gill-Jacobson, veteran affairs center coordinator, Kim Grieve, assistant vice president for student services, Brigadier General Rufus Smith, Commander of the 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, and Robert C. Helmer, president of Lourdes College. General Smith spoke at the press conference about the benefits associated with the new Post-9/11 GI Bill and the contributions veterans can share in the college classroom. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens Bertke)
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GI Jobs Magazine listed Lourdes College and Mercy College of Northwest Ohio on its 2010 list of “Military Friendly Schools,” which honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students.
Criteria for making the list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veterans students, results in recruiting those students and academic accreditations.
Veterans who have served after Sept. 10, 2001, are eligible for free tuition and stipends for books, supplies and housing at both Catholic colleges under the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008, also called the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Congress signed the bill into law June 30, 2008, and it took effect Aug. 1, 2009.
A press release from Lourdes College notes that, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs, only 8 percent of veterans who served in Iraq in Afghanistan are taking advantage of the $36,000 granted to them for college by the GI Bill.
As part of its effort to welcome veterans wishing to pursue higher education, Lourdes College opened a Veterans Affairs Center on its campus in November.
It also hired Michael Gill-Jacobson to serve in the new post of veteran affairs coordinator. Mr. Gill-Jacobson is charged with overseeing the recruitment and retention of student veterans, helping to create an environment that is welcoming and friendly for these students, and ensuring veterans have access to all academic resources and student services.
Mr. Gill-Jacobson previously spent three years in the United States Army and 24 years in the Ohio National Guard, serving in a variety of roles including Unit Clerk, Squad Leader, Training NCO/Section Leader, Recruitment and Retention NCO and Section Sergeant.
His office is located in the lower level of St. Francis Hall with the veterans center, which houses financial aid and advising services in addition to a student lounge with study space, computers, televisions and games.
Next spring, the college plans to start a learning community for veterans.
“We’re just trying to create an environment that is welcoming to the returning soldier,” says Mr. Gill-Jacobson.
Lourdes currently has about 34 student veterans enrolled, he says, and that number is gradually increasing.
The private college provides free tuition to Post-9/11 veterans through the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, also known as the Yellow Ribbon Program, which allows institutions of higher learning to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Department of Veteran Affairs to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate.
Mercy College also signed a contract to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, but has not needed to use the program because its tuition is lower than the maximum public in-state tuition rate paid by the GI Bill, according to Julie Leslie, the financial aid director and veterans benefits certifying official for Mercy College.
Ms. Leslie says about 15 student veterans attend the Toledo and Youngstown campuses of Mercy College under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
In addition to the benefits they receive under the GI Bill, Ms. Leslie says they are eligible for the same tutoring and counseling services that are made available to all Mercy students.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 13:45 |
