As more young people return from serving the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, Miami University is helping these veterans transition from military service to life in the classroom.
Fall 2009 is Miami's first semester using the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. This bill provides financial assistance to veterans for higher education, said Archie Nelson, director of admission and financial aid at the Hamilton campus.
"This fall, 86 veterans are attending the Hamilton and Middletown campuses, and 68 veterans are at the Oxford campus," Nelson said.
This number changes by the day, according to Jody Cosgrove, assistant director of student financial assistance.
"We have a lot of new students and are still processing paperwork," Cosgrove said. "Every day this number grows."
The bill allows more veterans to attend college without breaking the bank. According to the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs' official Web site, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover "all in-state tuition and fees at a public institution of higher learning in the veteran's state, but veterans can still attend any approved school."
The veterans must have served at least 90 days on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and have received an honorable discharge from service.
"The GI Bill connects veterans directly to campus," Nelson said. "The VA (Veterans Affairs) checks come directly through with no loans needed. It's much easier for veterans to go to school."
The bill also gives qualifying veterans a book stipend of $500 a semester. If the veterans are taking seven or more credit hours, they can receive a Cincinnati-region housing allowance of $1,263 per month, Cosgrove said.
According to Cosgrove, parents of Miami students that qualify for veteran benefits can pass these financial benefits to their children.
Making the transition from military life to campus life is difficult, Cosgrove said. She added that trained student workers help educate and guide future post-9/11 veteran students into life on Miami's campuses.
"We have one VA work-study peer counselor from each of the three campuses," Cosgrove said. "These are current Miami students that are receiving veterans' benefits."
Amberly Crisp, a VA peer counselor and senior sociology major at Miami-Middletown, said the transition from military life to college life is very difficult.
"In the military, there is a sense of camaraderie that is missed," Crisp said. "My job is to give the students hope."
Crisp said her job is to help student veterans set up benefits and fill out forms to receive financial aid.
"I'm someone (the veterans) can relate to because I'm a veteran and am aware of the issues," Crisp said.
Because of their military background, most student veterans major in engineering, sociology or nursing, Crisp said. With the growing number of veterans coming to campus, Crisp said she could use more help with her job.
"I'm glad Miami has allowed me to do this, but I wish it would be a full-time position," Crisp said. "Who's going to take my position when I leave?"
