University response regarding commentary about on-campus services to veterans on 2/21/14
Steven Beynon's commentary regarding Miami's services to veterans did not include information provided to him from a number of senior-level staff members who met or spoke with him, and who have worked extensively with him.
We take tremendous pride in our veteran students. The Oxford campus is a Yellow Ribbon school and all campuses are designated as Military Friendly, so we feel compelled to present a more comprehensive picture of our commitment to veterans.
Miami welcomed veterans near the end of World War II, when Congress enacted "The Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944" to provide tuition, fees, books and a monthly stipend for veterans whose educational pursuits were interrupted by service to our country.
Since the fall of 2000, we've enrolled nearly 1,400 veteran students and their dependents through the G.I. Bill. Today, we have 350 veteran students and are actively recruiting more through outreach to veteran applicants. At Miami, we:
-Waive application fees for U.S. veterans and provide transparent information about costs, financial aid, and how to apply for GI Bill benefits.
-Extend credit when VA educational benefits have been delayed to help ensure classes are not interrupted and that personal living expenses can be met.
-Provide flexible academic policies to permit mobile service members and their family the ability to complete a degree as a member of the Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC) consortium of schools and provide credit for military courses, training and experience from U.S. military service schools.
-Allow easy withdrawal with a 100 percent tuition refund for those who may be deployed at a moment's notice, regardless of when that deployment is scheduled.
-Conduct ongoing outreach to remind students when to register for courses and contact financial aid so hours can be certified quickly and housing benefits begin without delay.
-Provide zero-cost, short-term loans to veterans who have a disruption in benefits for any reason (including reasons beyond Miami's control, such as non-payment from the government.)
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-Offer Yellow Ribbon grants to waive out-of-state fees for veterans.
In addition, our regional campuses provide three new scholarship programs to support veterans or their descendants and formed the Veterans Outreach Collaborative to Impact Success (VOCIS) in 2012 to recruit more veterans and improve advocacy, access, and success on their behalf.
VOCIS obtained a 2014 G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Schools designation for Hamilton and Middletown campuses and obtained permission to create the Center for Veterans Services, funding for which is nearly complete.
Organizations at the regional campuses to enrich student veterans' experiences include the Student Veterans Association, Vets4Vets and Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership - a collaboration between the Cincinnati VA Medical Center and the regional campuses to enhance academic retention and success.
A partnership between Miami Hamilton and the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati also assists veterans who want to study or get into business, or start their own.
Can and should we do more? Absolutely!
We are improving our services for all Miami students, and will soon roll out a "one-stop" service center that will fundamentally change the way students "do business" here. Students will be able to reference one website, visit one location, and call one phone number to handle nearly all of their business needs and questions. Even while this project was in its infancy, veteran student issues were a major focus of the planning.
G.I. Bill transactions and requirements are highly complex, so not everyone in the front offices of our campuses has been trained in processing them; we refer to our experts to work one-to-one with our student veterans to obtain benefits from the government to which they are entitled and advocate for them when they do not.
Although we do not have a large number of veteran students many choose universities in large, urban centers due to practical needs, jobs, and family situations - we are actively recruiting more.
For those who have chosen Miami, including Mr. Beynon, we are honored and proud to have you here, and grateful for your service to our nation.
Our commitment is to continue to expand our efforts on your behalf.
Michael S. Kabbaz
Associate VP of Enrollment Management
michaelkabbaz@miamioh.edu
G. Michael Pratt
Dean/Associate Provost Regional Campuses
prattgm@miamioh.edu
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