| New veteran student project eases going to school |
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| Written by Temicca Hunter, The Shorthorn staff | ||||
| Thursday, 03 September 2009 07:56 PM | ||||
Veteran ResourcesFor a list of veteran resources, please visit the School of Social Work Web site:http://www.uta.edu/ssw/student-resources/veterans-resources.php The new GI Bill gives veterans who have served for a minimum of 90 days after Sept. 11, 2001, money for university costs. The bill will pay for up to 36 months of tuition at a veteran’s chosen university. It also pays up to $1,000 dollars a year for books. Social work assistant professor Alexa Smith-Osborne said the new Student Veteran Project, which started this semester, provides additional, individualized services to veterans. It’s sponsored by and headquartered in the School of Social Work. “The University of Texas at Arlington has been proactive in enhancing its infrastructure and its welcoming environment to serve this group of non-traditional students,” she said in an e-mail. The project offers counseling in areas a veteran student might need help in, including adjusting to college life from a war-like environment, applying for benefits and financial aid, math or money management. The counseling comes from licensed social workers and advanced student interns. Retired teachers and neurologists assist when needed. Also, specially-trained service animals will serve as a tool to help assist veterans with certain issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Social work graduate student Joel Chaverri served in Iraq from 2004 through 2005. He’s going to school with the help of the GI Bill. “I think it’s awesome. I think it’s a big step in the right direction,” he said. “It’s definitely an improvement over the last GI Bill.” He said it is much easier than the old bill because the school gets the money directly. “People are busy enough with work and school and other things,” he said. “Taking away that one step would take away some of the worry.” Eligible veterans also have the option of doing a federal work-study program. It allows students to work and pay a portion of their costs while attending classes. A veteran who wants a job under work study can only work anywhere related to veteran affairs, Perez said. This includes the Texas Workforce Commission, Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics. Warren Ponder, social work graduate student and veteran, said the new bill helped him attend classes this semester. He’s Veterans Alliance of UTA president. “The benefit’s office is staffed to the maximum and has provided excellent customer service every time I have had to go there,” he said. “They help by making the process easier if the veteran is reaching roadblocks.” The Student Veteran Project has been a good program so far, Ponder said. “It’s done a good job helping veterans return to school,” he said. Ponder said the Student Veteran Advisory Council’s meeting in July was the first step in helping veterans’ transition to the role of students. The meeting was where the Student Veteran Project idea originated. “The student counseling [services office] had a representative at this gathering and we brainstormed ways to make their services more effectively disseminated,” he said. “The community, University of Texas at Arlington, and the School of Social Work are demonstrating a very proactive stance in assisting veterans.” Views: 539 | E-mail
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