1. Veterans Success Initiative Report to the Board of Regents September 18, 2013

2. Veterans Success Initiative Description: Ensure that the MUS continues to excel as a veterans friendly system by providing the services and instruction needed for today’s veterans to complete college. Received $1M one-time only funding for the 2015 biennium for veterans space and services

3. Space and Services Funding Specific items to be funded: – Ensure dedicated space for veterans is available on all campuses – Veterans oriented academic and student services, advising, peer mentoring, counseling, and health/mental health services – Financial literacy education and outreach activities to engage veterans on campus – System-wide veterans website/portal to provide information on veterans benefits and opportunities, admissions and college planning, transfer of military training/courses – Enrollment and student success tracking Entire amount allocated to campuses for direct impact Developed MUS Veterans Information Website/Portal

4. Measures Service levels across the system will be increased to meet the unique challenges veterans face with engaging and succeeding in higher education Enrollment (total # of veterans enrolled each year) Retention Rates (% returning for 2 nd year of enrollment) Completions (# veterans receiving degrees and certificates) Workforce Placement (% of veterans receiving degrees and certificates that find) employment in Montana within one year following graduation) Report to the Board at a future meeting

5. Process Best Practices from Veterans Taskforce Best Practices Campuses completed Gap Analysis Allocation/RFP Process to ensure space and services were addressed Allocation amounts based on number of veterans enrolled at a campus and veteran population who could potentially become students in the area served by the campus

6. Allocations Campus Funding for 2015 Biennium UM Missoula $ 325,000 MSU Bozeman $ 308,095 MSU Billings $ 156,825 Great Falls College - MSU $ 50,000 MT Tech $ 35,000 Flathead Valley CC $ 30,000 MSU Northern $ 30,000 UM Western $ 25,080 Miles CC $ 15,000 Total $ 975,000.00

7. MUS Veterans Website One-stop shop for veterans to access information – Benefits available – Services available at campuses – Transfer of credits – Online learning options – Links to individual campus veterans websites – Campus veterans websites being upgraded as part of the initiative – Promotion of website in collaboration with Governor’s Office

8. MUS Veterans Website http://files.safmt.org/vet/index.html

9. Questions?