Overview: MDVA Higher Education Veterans Program
Mission: Connecting Veterans, service members, and their families with the educational benefits and resources available to help them succeed in college.
Process: The program provides staff to assist colleges and universities throughout Minnesota identify and remove barriers to Veterans' enrollment and access to benefits, as well as to create and manage campus Veterans resource centers.
Background: In 2006, the Minnesota Legislature passed a number of initiatives addressing the unique needs of students who are Veterans. In order to assist Minnesota's colleges and universities fulfill these requirements, the MDVA created the Higher Education Veterans Programs. The program consists of a director and regional coordinators located throughout the state.
Specifically, the coordinators will assist colleges with:
1. "Veteran friendly" policies and procedures:
- Payment extensions while awaiting properly applied for educational benefits.
- Military transfer credit.
- Veteran resident status.
- Options for withdrawal from classes due to deployment.
2. On-campus Veterans' Resource Centers:
- Provide an environment where Veterans, military members and their families feel welcome.
- Provide information about services and resources.
- Provide space for interaction with other Veterans and family members of Veterans.
- Organize and provide training on Veterans issues.
3. Coordinated campus services and information:
- Facilitate communication between campus departments, faculty, and staff.
- Establish communication with other state and community service providers.
- Provide information and resources through electronic methods at MyMilitaryEducation.org.
For a comprehensive overview visit the following resources: Higher Education Veterans Program Mission and Process Handout
