Published: July 30, 2009 09:55 pm      

SHSU prepares to ease transition for post-9/11 vets

After World War II, the United States braced for a flood of weary GI’s and, as a nation, decided that going to college was a better option for both them and the nation than idle hands and unemployment.

Since Congress has pumped up educational benefits for the surge of returning and demobilized veterans who have served since 9/11, the nation’s colleges are preparing to ease their transition from combat to computer labs.

A lot of young Walker County vets might be surprised to find their entire college education could be paid for, plus $1100 a month housing allowance, under the new Post-9/11 GI bill that goes into effect Saturday.

When Marine Corps veteran Wade Dixon enrolled at Sam Houston State after two combat tours in Iraq, talking with fellow freshmen three months out of high school, “We were speaking more or less the same language but we weren’t making any sense to each other.”

SHSU and other universities have since learned how to ease the transition to civilian life, and college life for vets like Dixon.

 “We recognize that vets have a different life’s experience than the traditional beginning freshman,” said Kathy Hudson, who coordinates a new Veterans Resource Center opening this fall at Sam Houston State.

“We’ll hold a special orientation for vets on Aug. 6 because their needs are so different from traditional freshmen.”

Hudson said that Post 9/ll GI Bill benefits will cover virtually all college expenses for the typical returning vet at Sam Houston State, including tuition, fees and books, and provide a monthly housing allowance of $1,134 per month.

The center will also facilitate academic advising, tutoring and counseling for vets, help them find jobs, and provide a lounge for vets to meet and share experiences with other vets.

In addition to helping vets understand their benefits, Sam Houston State will award credit for military training, and refund their money if they are recalled to active duty in the middle of a semester.

Sam Houston State has also trained its frontline staff in advising, financial aid and counseling to better assist student veterans, encourage and support veterans student organizations and, beginning next spring,  give vets priority in registering for classes.