HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – As part of its continuing efforts to become a more military friendly campus, Northern Kentucky University announced Tuesday a number of initiatives aimed at making the university more accessible and comfortable for veterans.
NKU’s university-wide support committee, called the Veteran’s Advocacy Committee, ensures that the university is prepared to meet the needs of the growing number of military veteran students. The committee, currently consisting of more than 30 members from across campus, is chaired by Dave Merriss.
"We hope the committee will provide a collaborative platform from which we can work to increase campus awareness of issues faced by veterans, develop programs and activities that promote access and success for veterans and family members on campus, partner with other organizations that can help veterans and engage the community in this process," Merriss said.
The university also now has a Veterans for Education and Transition Support (V.E.T.S.) student organization, which has achieved national membership and recognition by the Student Veterans of America, a coalition of student veterans groups from campuses across the country that works to develop new groups, coordinate between existing groups and advocate on behalf of student veterans. Only 191 student veteran organizations exist nationwide.
Earlier this year, V.E.T.S. helped the Sons of American Legion place American flags on the graves of veterans in Northern Kentucky on Memorial Day. On Monday, the group sponsored a workshop for veterans and family members eligible for benefits; the topic was the new Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Vocational Rehabilitation program.
V.E.T.S. also boasts a mentorship program that, upon request, pairs up prospective veteran students with current student veterans for one-on-one transition assistance from pre-registration through graduation. "Military service and training is unlike any other experience," Merriss said.
"Veterans will more likely reach out to a fellow veteran first. We also recognize and respect that not all veterans will want to disclose their military service for personal reasons. Some veterans just want to blend in, but we want all veterans on campus to feel welcome."
"Service to your country in one of our armed forces has always meant a great deal to the faculty and staff at NKU," said Joel Robinson, associate vice president for enrollment management. "We know that in many ways NKU is already ‘veteran friendly.’" Robinson noted that a recent survey of student veterans revealed that most rate their experience with university resources as outstanding or very good.
But the university strives to do more.
The university is participating in the VA Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, which is an agreement between institutions of higher learning and the VA to fund tuition and fees that exceed the highest in-state undergraduate tuition and fees for the state where the school is located. In essence, this means additional funds may be available for veteran NKU undergraduate, graduate or law students attending as a nonresident. For those students who qualify 100 percent for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill and are not on active duty, the VA will match each additional dollar that NKU contributes. The university has agreed to provide contributions for six undergraduate, five graduate and five law students for up to $2,500 each on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Veteran’s Advocacy Committee also sponsors training opportunities for faculty and staff on the challenges that are unique for veteran students. For instance, on Sept. 22, interested NKU faculty and staff can participate in a webinar titled "Veterans in the Classroom: What the Faculty and Staff Need to Know" from 2-3:30 p.m. in Student Union Room 105.
NKU is also prepared to make special accommodations for veterans who are coming off of active duty which will allow these students to enroll mid-semester in courses offered in the second eight-week session of fall semester. Any veteran who has recently been discharged from the military and is interested in enrolling this semester should contact Dave Merriss (merrissd@nku.edu) at NKU immediately for more details.
"We hope veterans will continue to make NKU their first choice," Merriss said.
"We offer a great educational experience that understands and recognizes all the strengths and diversity of their experiences. At NKU, we like to think of our student veterans as yesterday’s warriors, today’s scholars and tomorrow’s leaders."
