All University System of Georgia institutions agree on one thing: taking care of the state\u2019s student-veterans should be a priority.<\/p>\n
The state\u2019s 28 USG colleges and universities now have a dedicated space on campus just for veterans and also allow them to receive priority access to every course they need to graduate.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorgia has a significant military and veteran population,\u201d said Dr. David Snow, director of military affairs for the USG\u2019s Board of Regents. \u201cWhile only about 1 percent of the U.S. population has served in the military, that demographic characteristic applies to roughly 9 percent of Georgians. In fact, we have over 750,000 veterans and the fifth-largest active-duty population in the nation. We appreciate their service to our country and want them to succeed whenever they transition back to the civilian sector. It is important not only to their long-term success but also to the future of the state, region and nation. We want all USG students, whether veterans or not, to succeed and graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amy Wise, Veterans Affairs coordinator at Georgia Highlands College, is happy GHC is a partner in the statewide initiative to help student-veterans.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cThe USG and Dr. David Snow are working hard to serve Georgia\u2019s veterans, making sure our University System schools are doing all we can to support them with the post-service\/college transition, academic success and financial assistance,\u201d she said. \u201cThe brave men and women of our all-volunteer military have given so much to protect our personal freedoms and safety. It is our privilege to provide them with an environment that promotes military-friendly student success in return.\u201d<\/p>\n
Priority registration \u2014 which allows student-veterans to register for their classes days or weeks, depending on the institution, before other students \u2014 is crucial for enabling veterans to be successful academically and to finish their degrees, Snow said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince student-veterans only have 36 months of Veterans Affairs educational benefits, it is important that they are able to secure the required courses before their benefits expire,\u201d he said. \u201cAs with any student, taking a full course load is critical to timely degree attainment, and with limited benefits, it\u2019s important to ensure they obtain the required courses on time and in sequence. If not, it adversely impacts retention and graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also, Snow added only the school certifying official can approve the courses in a student-veteran\u2019s degree plan, which means a student-veteran \u201ccannot simply \u2018pick up\u2019 an additional course to complete their schedule; instead he or she must be able to obtain required courses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Most institutions already had some kind of priority registration in place for other segments of the student population, such as graduating students or athletes, but during the past few years, the USG has been encouraging all of them to \u201cconsider expanding this benefit to student-veterans by explaining why it is important, and 100 percent of the institutions responded in favor of this expansion,\u201d Snow, a veteran himself, said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce they realized how this could potentially impact a student-veteran, all of the institutions were eager to offer this benefit,\u201d he said. \u201cIn fact, most felt this benefit was not only practical and warranted but also the right thing to do. Those that have worn the cloth of the nation have sacrificed years to protect us, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their selflessness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wise said all GHC students, including veterans, who attend early-bird advising to meet with a faculty adviser in their program of study are allowed to register one week earlier than other students.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cWe strongly encourage veterans to attend early-bird advising to get the best selection of course offerings because so many also have families, jobs and other responsibilities that restrict available times to take classes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
As for on-campus dedicated spaces for veterans, Wise said four of GHC\u2019s five locations \u2014 Rome, Cartersville, Douglasville and Paulding \u2014 have an area just for their use.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Veterans Resource Center in Cartersville has a VA work-study desk and computer; a student desk with computer and printing capabilities; study\/hang-out area with couch and TV, microwave, refrigerator [and] coffee; textbook lending library; and many useful resources for our veterans and military family members,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Another benefit USG institutions have been offering student-veterans \u201cin one form or another\u201d since 2004 is waiving out-of-state tuition rates, Snow said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been revised numerous times over subsequent years,\u201d he said. \u201cFor example, when I joined the University System of Georgia in 2013, out-of-state tuition was being waived if the student-veteran had separated from military service within the previous 12 months; however, this was really not a lot of time. For example, some veterans had children who were finishing a school year at their last duty station or the veteran worked elsewhere for a year or two and then decided to come to Georgia.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, \u201cin a clear indication of their commitment to serving veterans,\u201d the Board of Regents unanimously voted to extend the time frame to 36 months,\u201d Snow said.<\/p>\n
\u201cInterestingly, the very next year, a federal law was passed that required all public institutions of higher learning in the United States to provide this exact same 36-month benefit to any student using VA educational benefits, and Georgia was already leading the way nationally and was one of the very first states certified as compliant by the VA,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Snow added more than 1,200 student-veterans graduated spring semester with degrees ranging from associate to doctorate \u201cso, they\u2019re doing very well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another \u201cmilitary-centered point of pride\u201d for USG concerns the 2017 \u201cBest for Vets\u201d rankings by Military Times, Snow said.<\/p>\n
Georgia was one of only two states to have two public institutions in the Top 10 rankings of four-year schools nationwide. Armstrong State University in Savannah came in at No. 4, and Georgia State University in Atlanta was No. 7.<\/p>\n
In the same rankings of 130 selected institutions, three other schools from the USG were included: the University of Georgia at No. 42, College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick at No. 51 and Augusta University at No. 119.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, all 28 USG institutions have resources and programs in place to support student-veterans, and they are doing some great things,\u201d Snow said. \u201cFor example, here in Carterville, Georgia Highlands College has an outstanding program, and every April, they host a Military Family Appreciation Day, which has always had a strong turnout. Personally, I make the drive each year, and it is well worth the effort. Last April, we had reps from one of our institutions in Savannah come up for the day.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
GHC\u2008also has been selected as a top school by Military Advanced Education & Transitions several times, is considered a military-friendly college and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.<\/p>\n
Wise said the college had 114 students certified fall semester for VA education benefits at all campuses, with 46 of those being at the Cartersville location, and that\u2019s not including student-veterans who currently aren\u2019t using the GI Bill.<\/p>\n
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