DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR STUDENT-VET CENTER GRANTS

AMVETS helped to commission federal grant program for veterans returning to campus

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2010—This morning the Department of Education began accepting applications for grants to commission student-veteran “centers of excellence” on college campuses nationwide.

“These centers will offer academic, administrative, and peer support for today’s student-veterans, who are often underserved in the academic community,” said AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley. “Finally funding such centers is a major step in ensuring that student-veterans have all the tools to succeed once they decide to use their new G.I. Bill benefits.”

AMVETS partnered with Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran, or SERV, in 2008 to introduce legislation commissioning federal grants for student-veterans’ centers on college campuses in an effort to prepare colleges and universities for today’s returning warriors, seeking to use their landmark Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits. AMVETS’ language was included in the 2008 Higher Education Act, establishing the grants. AMVETS and SERV then successfully pushed for funding in the FY2010 federal budget.

The pilot program offers 19 individual awards totaling nearly $6 million for 36 months to institutions of higher learning around the country to establish student-veterans’ centers of excellence, similar to the SERV model at Cleveland State University, Youngstown State University and University of Arizona. A link to the official solicitation can be found in the Federal Register at the link below:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-15919.pdf

Interested institutions must submit grant applications no later than July 30, 2010, with federal review to be completed by Sept. 28, 2010.

AMVETS leaders were happy to see the Department of Education finally publish its guidelines, but expressed some concern over the review deadline, which already falls one month into the upcoming semester.

“We were hoping to see these centers up and running in time for students arriving on campus in the fall,” said Kelley. “Though the September deadline gives the Department of Education some wiggle room, we hope they will work quickly to approve grants in August so that colleges and universities will have the key personnel in place in time for the start of the school year.”

AMVETS urges interested colleges and universities to contact SERV director John Schupp, j.schupp@serv.com, to learn how to successfully implement student-veterans’ centers on their campuses.

AMVETS leaders will monitor the implementation of these grants closely. For updates, check back regularly with the American Veteran blog at http://americanveteranmagazine.blogspot.com.

About AMVETS:
A leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured by America’s armed forces, AMVETS provides support for veterans and the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, as well as community service and legislative reform that enhances the quality of life for this nation’s citizens and veterans alike. AMVETS is one of the largest congressionally-chartered veterans’ service organizations in the United States, and includes members from each branch of the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. To learn more visit www.amvets.org.