Editor’s note: At least three new government websites now report on student outcomes by institution, including sites specific to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and military tuition assistance. Higher ed officials who serve military students fear that the information being reported could reflect poorly on the GI Bill in particular, making it likelier to be reduced, or eliminated, down the road. Military Times asked three veterans — who are also top leaders in higher education associations — to write commentaries on the issue.
Higher education is failing veterans; at least by official measures.
As long as the Department of Education gauges educational success for student veterans by the same factors as for nonveteran students, we will always be behind the eight ball.
Simplified, the federal government requires institutions whose students receive federal financial aid to report its student data. The data collected in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) still doesn’t take into account student veterans’ unique situation.
Fewer than a fifth of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s self-identified veteran students entering between fall of 2015 and summer of 2016 were both first-time and full-time college students, meaning most entering veterans didn’t meet the IPEDS standard; either they were transfer students, part-timers or both. Importantly, their life experiences are often very different from “average” first-time, full-time students.
MSU Denver serves more than 1,000 veterans and military-connected students. They are usually older and more likely to have an Individualized Degree Program. We saw many of them struggling to integrate into the university community.
In 2008, campus agencies began meeting informally to address our veteran population. Efforts increased greatly in 2009 with the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s implementation. The MSU Denver Veterans/Military Task Force, which offered specific recommendations in late 2013.
The Task Force articulated the need to develop a comprehensive Veteran/Military Student Support Program with dedicated staffing, space and funding to facilitate progress and ultimate success.
We acted immediately to train MSU Denver faculty and staff on issues impacting veterans and quickly opened a Veteran and Military Student Center. It has provided a nexus for these students to get peer support and access resources that help them succeed. On weekdays it’s a beehive of activity with students socializing and studying.
With these important components in place we were able to affirm our commitment to the “8 Keys to Veterans’ Success” developed by the Departments of Education, Veterans Affairs and Defense.
A difficult issue has been how to respond when National Guard, Reserve or active military students are called for active duty or training. We instituted a policy to cover those contingencies. We also implemented a military transfer credit policy that offers credit for training and experience gained during military service.
Finances are often worrisome for veteran/military students. We’ve worked to ensure veteran/military students have earning opportunities to provide income during breaks when they don’t receive housing allowances from the VA. We also are finalizing details of a plan to ensure veteran/military students can receive financial aid even when GI Bill benefits are delayed.
Aggressively instituting the policies and programs that our veteran/military students need to succeed has earned MSU Denver a spot on Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 list, and we will continue striving for our vets’ success.
All of our veterans — not just the small percentage the Department of Education counts.
Stephen M. Jordan
is an Army veteran, past board chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and president of Metropolitan State University of Denver.
