1. Thank You! Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs 07/15/2013

2. Why Goal Setting?  You need a plan to meet your life goals  You need a plan to search for employment  You need a plan to wisely use educational benefits GOALS + PLANS = SUCCESS

3. www.gpslifeplan.org/mnscumilitary

4. Planning Your Education  Selecting a School  Program  Accreditation  Cost  Credit award and transfer  Graduation rate/Placement rate  Paying for it (benefits)  HAVE A PLAN!

5. Higher Education  Public Colleges and Universities  State supported  Certificates—advanced degrees  Private Colleges and Universities  Not for profit  For-profit businesses  Certificates—advanced degrees

6. Accreditation  National accreditation of college/university  Credits may not transfer  Regional accreditation of college/university  6 defined regions  Program specialized accreditation or approval  Program specific

7. Credit Award and Transfer  AARTS  JST – Joint Services Transcript  Credit for courses  Credit for MOS  Credit for Prior Learning  Transfer: Ultimate Goal?

8. JST Advice  JST does NOT contain deployment(s)  Meet with transfer specialist and faculty!  Recommendations don’t equal transfer  NCOER’s, E-4 Evals, Counseling Statements

9. Costs Average Annual Tuition2012-2013 Community/Tech Colleges$5,355 State Universities$7,340 University of Minnesota$12,881 Private Colleges$33,815 Private “Trade Schools”$17,267

10. www.veterans.mnscu.edu

11. VETS Veterans Education Transfer System

12. VETS Veterans Education Transfer System

13. Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Higher Education Veterans Programs Regional Coordinator www.MyMilitaryEducation.org Revised 07/17/14

14. Education Benefits Benefit Overview:  Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)  Go Army Ed  State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)  GI Bill  Chapter 1606  Chapter 1607  Chapter 30  Chapter 33  Chapter 31  OJT/Apprenticeship  Free Application for Federal Student Aid  MN GI Bill

15. Education Benefits Federal Tuition Assistance Go Army Ed  FTA funds tuition and some course specific fees  New PT and height/weight holds – can take up to 30 days to clear  Pays up to $250.00 per semester credit or $167.00 per quarter credit, with a maximum of $4500.00 or 16 semester credits per fiscal year.  Credit cap for undergraduate is 130 semester credits and 39 semester credits for graduate level courses.  To apply for FTA go to www.GoArmyEd.com.  You may apply up to 60 days prior to course start date.  SOU are now electronic and Soldier will be reminded in GAE if required.  DEADLINE TO APPLY IS THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR CLASS!!!

16. Education Benefits GoArmyEd Process  Create an Account at www.goarmyed.comwww.goarmyed.com o Complete Steps 1-6 o Must have signed SOU o Create Helpdesk ticket for approval  Upload Documents to eFile o SOU (must have most current version and all pages) o Degree Plan (“DARS Report” if MnSCU) Create Helpdesk ticket for approval o Course Schedule o Billing Statement  Request TA and complete Course Planner o Input data for each class (must know cost per credit & fee amounts per class)  Print Approval Form o After TA request has been approved, print the authorization form and turn in to the Business Office at your college  School will Enter Grades to GoArmyEd

17. Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)  Pays up to 100% of tuition at UMN rate, no fees  New: Cap per state fiscal year $13,000 for undergraduate level and $22,000 for graduate level  144 Semester credits, max lifetime benefit  Must submit Obligation Request Form to Unit Administration no more than 45 days after start of semester  Must submit Payment Request Form, Grades, and Fee Statement to Unit Administration within 90 days of course completion  Payment will be made directly to the Soldier Education Benefits

18. Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR) Extended Option  Time limit to use STR may be extended 2 years, plus the amount of time you served on federal active duty or federally funded state active duty.  New: Cap per state fiscal year $13,000 for undergraduate level and $22,000 for graduate level  144 Semester credits, max lifetime benefit  Must submit Obligation Request Form to ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets- education@mail.mil no more than 45 days after start of semesterng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets- education@mail.mil  Must submit Payment Request Form, Grades, and Fee Statement to ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets-education@mail.mil within 90 days of course completion ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets-education@mail.mil Education Benefits

19. Spouse State Tuition Reimbursement Option  Up to 12 semester credits per year  Service Member must have 8 years of qualifying service  Same process applies for requesting and receiving funds through Unit Administration  Now open to any rank Education Benefits

20. GI Bill  Each chapter of the GI Bill is limited to a max of 36 months of full time benefits  May receive up to 48 months of benefits if eligible for more than one chapter  May be used for: o College Degrees & Non-College Degrees o On-The-Job Training & Apprenticeships o Flight Training o Licensing & Certification  Break or interval pay is no longer payable on any chapter of the GI Bill  Payments will be calculated based on the dates your term begins and ends  Partial months will be prorated Education Benefits

21. GI Bill - Qualifying for Two or More Programs 36 months maximum benefit for any one program:  Chapter 1606, 1607, 30 or 33 48 months total benefit for two or more programs-must have qualifying service Examples: *Soldier uses 30 months of Chapter 1606, then qualifies for Chapter 1607 due to MOB; soldier is eligible for 18 months of CH 1607 benefits – total 48 month between CH 1606 & CH 1607. *Soldier uses 36 months of CH 1606, then qualifies for CH 30 due to AGR tour; soldier is eligible for 12 months of CH 30 benefits – total of 48 months between CH 1606 & CH 30. Education Benefits

22. Chapter 1606 - Selected Reserve  Expires 14 years from the date of graduation from AIT/OBC  Three Main Eligibility Criteria: o 6 Year Contract o High School Diploma or Equivalent o IADT (AIT/OBC) Graduation  Monthly full-time rate is currently $356 per month Education Benefits

23. Chapter 1607 - Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)  With 8+ years of service, expires 10 years after ETS  With less than 8 years service, expires at ETS  Payment is based on amount of continuous active duty service  Monthly full-time rate is currently: - Continuous Service of at least 90 days: $625.60 - Continuous Service of 1 year+: $983.40 - Continuous Service of 2 years+: $1251.20  Optional $600 Buy-Up Education Benefits

24. Chapter 30 - Active Duty  Expires 10 years after discharge from active duty  Generally earned by serving 36 months continuous Title 10 service  Guard/Reservists who have served at least 20 months of 24- month Title 10 orders MAY be eligible  AGRs may be eligible  $1200 buy-in and optional $600 Buy-Up  Monthly full-time rate is currently: $1564.00 Education Benefits

25. Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill  Expires 15 years from date of separation from active duty  Requires minimum of 90 days aggregate active duty service on or after September 11, 2001; or 30 continuous days of active duty service and discharged due to service-connected disability (includes AGR)  Pays eligible percentage of $19,198.31 annually at private colleges for Tuition and Fees  Pays eligible percentage of Tuition and Fees at public colleges, with no cap Education Benefits

26. Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill  Pays eligible percentage of Monthly Housing Allowance based on E-5 with dependents using school zip code  Housing allowance for students enrolled solely in distance learning is payable based on eligible percentage of $714.50  Service Members on active duty, including AGR, are not eligible for monthly housing allowance  Pays eligible percentage of Books and Supplies up to $1,000 per academic year  Service Members on active duty, including AGR, may receive eligible percentage of books and supplies stipend Education Benefits

27. Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill  Eligible percentage is determined by amount of aggregate Title 10 service after September 10, 2001 At least 36 months 100 % At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to service connected disability 100 % At least 30 months < 36 months 90 % At least 24 months < 30 months 80 % At least 18 months < 24 months 70 % At least 12 months < 18 months 60 % At least 6 months < 12 months 50 % At least 90 days < 6 months 40 % Education Benefits

28. Transfer option for Chapter 33  Transfer option is ONLY available to Service Members who are currently serving  Served 6 years and agree to serve an additional 4 years (AD or SELRES) on date of election  Transfer may only be made to dependents enrolled in DEERS  Payment rates based on Service Member’s eligible percentage  Expiration Date: Spouse 15 years after last active duty separation; Children until age 26 (transfer must be submitted prior to age 23)  Spouse is not eligible for monthly housing allowance when Service Member is on active duty Education Benefits

29. Kicker - Enlistment Contract Incentive  A Kicker is an enlistment or re-enlistment incentive  If eligible, a Kicker is used in conjunction with Chapter (CH) 1606, 1607, 30, or 33  Maximum benefit is 36 months  If you have a kicker and decide to apply for CH 33, always relinquish CH 1606 or CH 30, if eligible. If you relinquish CH 1607, your kicker will not transfer. Education Benefits

30. Chapter 31 – Federal VA Vocational Rehabilitation  Veteran with at least VA 10% disability rating may qualify for vocational rehabilitation services – possibly including retraining  If eligible for retraining, you may receive: o Monthly subsistence allowance o Tuition o Fees o Books o Supplies o Equipment o If needed, special services

31. On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training  On-the-job training (OJT) is training employees receive while performing a job and earning wages.  6 months to 2 years o Examples: Police Officer, Highway Patrol Officer, Jailer, Mechanic  Apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction  2 years to 5 years o Examples: Machinist, Ironworker, Electrician, Carpenter, Plumber, Power Line Worker Education Benefits

32. On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training  Chapter 33 (Post 9/11)  100% of eligible housing allowance for the first 6 months of training  Percentage of eligible housing allowance is reduced by 20% every 6 months  Once reduced to 20%, will continue for remainder of training  Up to $83 per month for books and supplies  Chapter 30, 1606, 1607  75% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the first 6 months of training  55% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the second 6 months of training  35% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the remainder of the training program Education Benefits

33. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  Complete application online at: www.fafsa.ed.gov  If FAFSA reports income is too high for Grants eligibility, request a “Special Circumstances Evaluation” from your Campus Financial Aid Office Education Benefits

34. Minnesota GI Bill Eligibility:  Honorably discharged veteran (as defined by MN Statute 197.447)  Dependent eligible to receive Ch 35 or Ch 33  MN resident (as defined by MN Statute 136A.101, subd. 8)  Attending a MN institution or approved OJT program in MN  Maximum benefit: o $1K/semester (full-time), $1K/year OJT o $3K/fiscal year o $10K lifetime Process:  To apply, contact a Regional Coordinator  “Last Dollar In:” Cost of attendance minus Aid and Benefits Education Benefits

35. Questions? Contact a Regional Coordinator www.mymilitaryeducation.org