In this issue

• Letter from the Coordinator
• Minnesota GI Bill
• U of M Student Veterans Appreciation Day Event
• Veterans Orientation
• Welcome to Shadé Osifuye, student worker for Veterans Services
• Reminders from the U of M Veterans Certification Office
• Resources and Announcements
• Dates and Deadlines
• U of M Transition Assistance Program
• Fall billing due dates

Letter from the Coordinator

From the Veterans Certification Coordinator

Welcome back!

Some of you are just back from summer break, but many of you are back from a lengthy deployment. I hope that you enjoyed the summer and are having a productive fall semester so far.

There is much exciting news to share with you in this issue of the Veterans Connection: the Veterans Certification and Resource Offices are now in a convenient and welcoming location; the new veterans orientation sessions were a great success; and there is a University of Minnesota Student Veterans Appreciation Day in the works for November 14.

Please contact Duane Bauer, II, in the Veterans Resource office or myself with any questions you have about your veterans benefits. Or stop by the new office and say hello--the Veterans Service office is now located just to your left when you enter the One Stop location in 200 Fraser Hall.

Best wishes,

Carin Anderson
Veterans Certification Coordinator
One Stop Student Services

Minnesota GI Bill

You may be eligible for the Minnesota G.I. Bill, a new state program that provides postsecondary educational assistance to eligible Minnesota veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001. To be eligible, you must be a Minnesota resident enrolled at the University and:

• a veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch of the U. S. Armed Forces at any time on or after September 11, 2001,
  or;
• a non-veteran who has served honorably for a total of five years or more cumulatively as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of the U. S. Armed Forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after September 11, 2001,
  or;
• a surviving spouse or dependent of a person who has served at any time on or after September 11, 2001, who died or has a total and permanent disability as a direct result of that military service.

You are urged to apply early by completing the 2007-2008 Minnesota GI Bill Program application, available at: http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?PageID=1803&1534 or the Veterans Certification Office, 200 Fraser Hall. Please submit your completed application, along with your DD-214 form. Your application must be received before the last day of the term in which you want to use the benefits. In addition to your GI Bill application, you must complete the 2007-2008 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

If you have questions, concerns, or need assistance, contact the Veterans Certification Office by e-mail,
phone, or in person.

Student Veterans Appreciation Day event November 14

You are invited to join all veterans, students, faculty, staff, and the public for the University of Minnesota’s first Student Veterans Appreciation Day festivities scheduled on Wednesday, November 14, to honor student veterans’ sacrifice and service to our country.

A free chili lunch will be served to veterans and their guests beginning at 11:15 a.m. in the Northrop Auditorium atrium; lunch service will open to the public (while supplies last) at 11:30 a.m. The ROTC Joint-Service Color Guard and the Minnesota Marching Band will kick-off a program on the Northrop Plaza at 12:15 p.m. with featured speakers—Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty; University Regent Dean Johnson; University President Robert Bruininks, and University student veteran Aaron Ledebuhr.

The noon-time event will end with a U. S. Air Force F16 fly over the mall at 1 p.m. Co-sponsors are Comfort for Courage, Coca-Cola Beverage Partnership, Office for Student Affairs, One Stop Student Services, TCF Bank, and University Dining Services. For more information, please e-mail veterans@umn.edu.

Don’t miss this special event!

Veterans Orientation

At the beginning of this semester the Veterans Services Office offered four orientation sessions for student veterans. The orientation sessions provided an overview of the resources offered at the Veterans Services Office, the Veterans Transition Center, and the Veterans Resource Center. The feedback we received about these sessions was very positive, and we plan to offer similar sessions for new and transfer student veterans at the beginning of each semester. Please watch for upcoming dates and plan to attend.

Welcome to Shadé Osifuye

Shadé Osifuye will be joining Carin Anderson and Duane Bauer, II, in the Veterans Services office. As the new student worker, she'll be helping student veterans by answering the phone, greeting visitors to the office, and assisting with other projects. Welcome, Shadé!

Fall Billing Due Dates

Please note: If you have difficulty meeting these billing due dates because you have not received your veterans benefits, please contact the Veterans Certification Office at 612-625-8076 or veterans@umn.edu. You will not be charged late fees if your late payment is caused by delays in your certification that exceed the V.A.'s anticipated 10-12 week processing time.

Reminders

From the U of M Veterans Certification Office

Report changes in credit load: If you change your enrollment status (determined by the number of credits you carry), you must notify the Veterans Certification Office at 612-625-8076 or veterans@umn.edu. Enrollment changes must be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) to avoid delays in your V.A. Educational Benefits.

When you e-mail: Please remember to include your full name and student ID number when you e-mail veterans@umn.edu with questions or concerns regarding your certification. We can only respond to inquiries sent from your University of Minnesota e-mail account.

Veterans Services office location

The Veterans Certification Office has moved to a much more convenenient location. The new Veterans Services office houses both Veterans Certification and the Veterans Resource Office. When you enter the One Stop in 200 Fraser Hall, look for the signs--the office will be directly to your left. With the new location, you won't have to wait in the One Stop line to speak with Carin or Duane; just go straight to the Veterans Services office.

Resources and announcements

The Veterans Linkage Line--Provides help for veterans and families. Call 1-888-LinkVet (546-5838) or visit minnesotaveteran.org.

Higher Education Veterans Programs--Thirteen campus representatives are in locations across the state. Visit the Veterans Resource office for more information.

Higher Education Support Center--Provides advice, research, referral, funding, and other education-related information for veterans, military personnel, and their families. Call 800-456-8519 (toll-free US); 651-556-0596 (international); 800-627-3529 (TTY); or visit www.MyMilitaryEducation.org.

Army launches benefits Web site--The Soldiers' Benefit Services Web site is now the Army's official one-stop resource for all benefits information. Visit http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil for the most current benefit information for active-duty and reserve-component Soldiers, retirees and family members.

NW Metro Military Family Support League--this new family group is open to friends and family of all branches of the military and will meet the second Saturday of each month in Brooklyn Park. (This group is not meant to replace your current Family Readiness Group.) The first meeting is November 10 at 11 a.m. at Living Word Christian Center, 9204 75th Ave. N. in Brooklyn Park. Lunch and refreshments will be served. Childcare is available on request; contact Nicole Rice at 612-695-1005.

Dates and Deadlines:
Fall 2007

Fall Semester drop/add deadlines