Emily Schwalbach has joined University Veterans Services to answer phones and assist with walk-in visitors. She will help plan our veterans orientation sessions and the upcoming Student Veterans Appreciation Day. Emily is a member of the Minnesota National Guard and served in Iraq from 2005-2007. She will graduate from the University of Minnesota in May 2009 with a degree in Scientific and Technical Communication.
Have you applied yet for veterans education benefits? If not, select “Veterans Enrollment Certificate” on the right-hand side of the page at this link:
http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/Registration/Veterans_Certification.html
If you've already submitted your application, your certification is being processed as quickly as possible. You will receive an e-mail from the Veterans Certification Office when your Veterans Enrollment Certificate is submitted to the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Once approved, the VA will send you an award letter, listing your benefits.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please e-mail University Veterans Services office (veterans@umn.edu) only from your University-assigned e-mail account and that you include your University student ID number.
A Career Services Workshop for Student Veterans will be held from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 17, in the Veterans Transition Center (VTC), 302 Wesbrook Hall. East Bank campus. The workshop will focus on resume writing tips and how to maximize your military experience throughout the job/internship searching and interviewing process. Discover how U of M career services can be useful to you, no matter where you're at in the career planning process. Pizza will be served.
Questions? Contact Liz Hruska at hrus0010@umn.edu or 612-624-2172.
You must attend class and submit assigned work in order to receive GI Bill and Chapter 35 benefits, according to VA regulations. If you receive an "F" in a class for not attending or not submitting assignments, you may have to repay your veterans education benefits. The USDVA also requires us to report "N" grades that do not count toward your GPA or criteria for graduation requirements. If you receive an "N" in a class, you will be charged with an overpayment.
Before you cancel a class, go online to http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/Registration/Changing.html so you understand the consequences of lowering your credit load. You may cancel / add a course online or come to one of the three One Stop Student Services centers on campus. You must also report your registration changes to the Veterans Certification Office to make sure that the VA is informed of your change in credit load and you are informed of how it might affect your benefits status.
Not attending a class or reporting a registration change could also affect other financial aid that you receive. If you are facing challenges in your classes or you have any questions about the cancel/add process, please contact the Veterans Services Office in 200 Fraser Hall as early as possible to learn about academic and tutoring resources that are available to you at the University.
A new Post-911 GI Bill was signed into law recently. You will receive more information as soon as we have official word on processes, procedures, and guidelines from the VA. The best way to stay up-to-date on the ever-changing regulations and procedures is by going frequently to the VA Web site at http://www.gibill.va.gov/s22.htm or download a PDF fact sheet at http://www.gibill.va.gov/S22/Post_911_Factsheet.pdf.
Changes to the Minnesota GI Bill can be viewed at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education office Web site. Visit http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?PageID=1803&1534 for the most current information and requirements of this benefit.
Stop by the Veterans Services Office to browse through the Financial Aid for Veterans, Military Personnel and Their Dependents, 2006-2008, a 443-page reference manual that details 1,390 scholarships and grant programs (gift aid that you do not repay), fellowships, loans and other awards specifically for veterans. Residency and other requirements are included with application and contact information. You may also use the online search tools at http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/Financial_Aid/Scholarships.html, including the University of Minnesota Undergraduate Scholarship Search that matches your student profile with available gift aid.
Spouses of deceased veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service connected condition are now included in the MDVA Surviving Spouse/Dependent Education Benefit program (formerly known as the War Orphan Tuition Grant). For more information on these benefits, please contact Duane Bauer at 612-625-7620 or bauer333@umn.edu. To have your documents processed by the University Veterans Certification Office, call 612-625-8076 or send e-mail to veterans@umn.edu.
Spouses of National Guard members are eligible for education benefits under the new State Tuition Reimbursement Option for Spouses effective July 1, 2008. For more information, go to www.MyMilitaryEducation.org under "Hot Topics."
Chiropractic, massage therapy, psychological and family counseling, acupuncture, and oriental medicine are available to you at no cost, sponsored by the Warriors to Citizen Campaign, Northwestern Health Sciences University, and Adler Graduate School. For more information, call 952-885-5415 or visit University Veterans Services in 200 Fraser Hall.
Over 100 veteran-friendly employers with job opportunities will be available at the statewide Veterans Career Fair, open to veterans and their family members looking for work. The career fair, co-sponsored by the Minnesota Veterans Employment Service and the U.S. Department of Labor, will be held at the Earle-Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Drive, Minneapolis. For a map and directions, go to htttp://www.earlebrown.com. If you have questions or need more information, contact Gary Quernemoen at 763-785-6465 or e-mail him at gary.quernemoen@state.mn.us
The Veterans Transition Center (VTC) is a nonpartisan, student-led veterans group at the University that provides a place on campus for veterans to take a break and relax, meet other veterans, share stories, play board games, or watch a movie. There's a couch, TV/DVD player, and vending machines nearby so you can even have some popcorn with your movie. Currently, FREE pizza and pop is served every Friday from 11 am - 1 pm. Visit the VTC's Web site for more information on how you can get involved.
Veterans Transition Center
302 Wesbrook Hall
77 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Hours: 8 am - 6 pm, Monday - Friday
Blog: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/vtc/vtc/
E-mail: VTC@umn.edu
Phone:
612-624-2913
One Stop | Contact Us | ©2008 University of Minnesota
The Veterans Connection is a newsletter published each term by One Stop Student Services to provide information about veterans benefits and the resources the University provides to help student veterans receive those benefits. Please contact the University Veterans Services office with questions, concerns, or news for future issues by phone at 612-625-8076 or e-mail to veterans@umn.edu. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.