New Initiatives Benefit Veterans

Fairleigh Dickinson University announces Success for Vets Grant, the formation of a new Veterans Education Taskforce (VET) and participation in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Advancement program.

Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree-granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate for their states. The institution can waive up to 50 percent of those expenses, and the VA will provide payment of that amount.

“FDU has a rich history of serving veterans from all walks of life,” President J. Michael Adams said. “Early in our history, spurred by the GI Bill, the University rallied around returning veterans and provided important programs and invaluable services. We have continued this tradition over the years, and, today, we are a major education partner with the New Jersey National Guard; our University’s Center for Psychological Services works in partnership with the New Jersey Division of Military and Veterans Affairs counseling veterans and providing them psychological treatment; and we have a free veterans-mentoring program for fledgling entrepreneurs.”

With nearly 2 million U.S. military veterans expected to return home from deployment and active duty, the University is welcoming the opportunity to enhance its role in educating and serving this special population. “The imminent return and reintegration of thousands of veterans has moved FDU to rededicate ourselves to our historical legacy as a preferred choice for veterans,” said Adams, speaking as an educator and a veteran. Key individuals concerning the Yellow Ribbon program are Stefanie Ulrich, director, Center for Psychological Services (Metro), and Jason Scorza, philosophy/political science (Metro) and associate provost for global learning (Metro/Flor).

Veterans Education Taskforce

In support of the Yellow Ribbon program, FDU has formed a Veterans Education Taskforce (VET) to develop a comprehensive model for veterans’ services. The VET is divided into five subcommittees focusing on academic affairs, process design and systems, psychological services, outreach and communication and campus and community reintegration. Co-chairs of the task force are Jane Tsambis, director, grants/sponsored projects (Metro), and Jason Scorza.

Created through a directive from Adams, the VET looks at the entire University, asking “how veteran-friendly is FDU?” The goal of VET is a comprehensive veterans-education model, including full support from the time the veteran enters FDU through graduation and beyond. A new Office of Veterans Services will allow FDU to offer one-stop services, counseling and referrals.

This new initiative builds on three well-established programs. First, FDU has been an education partner with the National Guard Bureau (J3 and J7) since 2003. Through this program, FDU currently provides undergraduate and graduate degrees online to members of the National Guard. The online courses in the National Guard program include the complete master of administrative science degree with emphasis on homeland security and certificate programs to assist Guard personnel.

The Center for Psychological Services, operated by the School of Psychology, has been a provider of mental-health services to veterans and their families since 1983 through a contract with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The program, developed and directed by licensed psychologists, provides assessment and treatment for post-traumatic and other stress disorders, redeployment and readjustment difficulties, mild traumatic brain injury and other related issues. Services are provided to veterans’ families affected by deployment-related issues. The center is developing a group program for wives of deployed troops as well as a play-therapy group for children of returning veterans. The program has provided individual, family and couples’ treatment to nearly 250 combat veterans to date.

Finally, the free Veteran Mentor Program at FDU’s Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies focuses on the opportunities and challenges in starting and growing one’s own business. Developed by a Vietnam veteran and staffed with skilled mentors, each veteran is assigned a mentor who serves as a coach and sounding board as the veteran goes through the steps to entrepreneurship. The program makes use of the institute’s extensive resources in academic and outreach programs as well as outside resources.

As a result of FDU’s veterans-education experience, the University is taking a leadership position to help academic advisers evaluate military educational experiences and occupational specializations of veterans for college credit. On April 17, FDU sponsored and hosted a training workshop for higher-education employees in New Jersey. The workshop featured a representative of the American Council on Education Military Programs Office. In addition, a webcast, “Building a Veteran-friendly Campus,” was provided on each of FDU’s New Jersey campuses on April 29.

Success for Veterans Grant

The Wal-Mart Foundation and the American Council on Education announced April 23 that Fairleigh Dickinson University is a recipient of a Success for Vets Grant. These $100,000 grants were awarded to 20 institutions across the U.S. that operate model programs advancing access and success in higher education for veterans and their families.

The grants will support services to veterans as they transition from military service to college. The Fairleigh Dickinson University grant is to develop and implement an integrated veterans’ services model to enhance one-stop support and expand capacity to provide psychological services.

“This award is a prominent honor that recognizes our ongoing commitment to our nation’s veterans,” said Adams. “I want to especially thank Christopher Groff, executive director of corporate and foundation relations [Metro/Flor]; Jason Scorza, associate provost for global learning; Jane Tsambis, director of grants and sponsorship projects; and Stefanie Ulrich, director, Center for Psychological Services, for their outstanding work in submitting a very compelling application.”