Group meets to discuss needs of student veterans

Because of improved changes to the GI Bill, colleges and universities are anticipating a possible rush of veterans who want to enroll in classes.

To ensure that Grand Valley is ready, a group of staff members from many departments met April 6 for the first of two open forums on student veterans' issues. The group included current students who have served in the military or are currently on reserve status.

Steve Lipnicki, director of Pew Campus Student Services, organized the forums. He said student veterans  can experience problems transitioning from military life to campus life. Often, they also need assistance navigating basic student services like financial aid, registration and military credit transfer.

According to statistics from the organization Support Education for Returning Veterans, a total of 8,100 people have been deployed from Kent County since September 2001. SERV said possibly 8,678 veterans from the area could enroll in college, many using the benefits provided by the new GI Bill.

The bill goes into effect in August. Eligible veterans can get their tuition covered, in addition to receiving housing and book stipends.

One student veteran at the forum said she had an "extremely difficult time" transitioning to college life after her military service ended. Others questioned why they earned so few credits for their military training and courses.

A Web site has been established, www.gvsu.edu/veterans , that will serve as an entry point for student veterans, offering information on scholarships, university forms and support services.

A second forum is set for Tuesday, April 14, 3 p.m., in the Kirkhof Center, room 2266. For more information, contact Lipnicki at (616) 331-7188.

Steve Lipnicki leads a group discussion on student veterans' issues in the Kirkhof Center / Photo by Amanda Pitts