bigsky
01-09-2013, 07:33 PM
Went to the Board of Regents of the Montana University System meeting Monday and Tuesday, because, as you know, I am one of the seven regents. It was the start of the ninety day legislature, and the new Governor was sworn in. The chamber had "Business at the Legislature" days, and I spent two days in very crowded rooms full of people I imagined all had the flu and strep, and I hope my immune system was up to it. We will know in a day or two.
But going, beside I'm obligated, paid off when I found that the new Governor had put into his budget two million dollars to help veterans wanting post secondary education, college, that is. Now, when I went to my first meeting, less than a year ago, there was no initiative, or goal, by the board or system or governor, (nor in the governor's proposed budget up until this week) helping veterans with post secondary education, to be funded by the upcoming legislature. No priority. I spoke up, and we formed a committee of service providers and others, and have come up with programs worth funding, and others worth pursuing. From zero to two million for veterans in ten months. And we have some great ideas from the providers on the ground, from veterans, and from other states.
And I'm egging on the Commissioner of Higher Ed to work with our Senators to pressure the Pentagon to use our common course numbering system, (same course numbers and curricula across the two and four year institutions) to come up with some equivalencies so their courses match the requirements of accrediting bodies for universities, and on the system to come up with answers for military training and experiential learning for everything from one year certificates to four year courses. For example, Ryan draws blood from my arm at the cancer clinic. He was, er, is a Marine, who did two tours as a medic? I can't remember what they call them. Didn't get any college credit for any of his training or experience. Ridiculous. So that's one of the larger non monetary program I'm pushing.
Anyway, we've got veterans centers at the four years in the budget, a dedicated, linked one stop shop website, some direct subsidy of the difference between GI bill and full tuition for servicemembers who didn't do three years active as some of the other ideas.
The GI bill is one of the least used veterans benefits, being used by less than twelve percent of vets. With the world of work what it is, that percentage should be more like sixty seven percent.
But going, beside I'm obligated, paid off when I found that the new Governor had put into his budget two million dollars to help veterans wanting post secondary education, college, that is. Now, when I went to my first meeting, less than a year ago, there was no initiative, or goal, by the board or system or governor, (nor in the governor's proposed budget up until this week) helping veterans with post secondary education, to be funded by the upcoming legislature. No priority. I spoke up, and we formed a committee of service providers and others, and have come up with programs worth funding, and others worth pursuing. From zero to two million for veterans in ten months. And we have some great ideas from the providers on the ground, from veterans, and from other states.
And I'm egging on the Commissioner of Higher Ed to work with our Senators to pressure the Pentagon to use our common course numbering system, (same course numbers and curricula across the two and four year institutions) to come up with some equivalencies so their courses match the requirements of accrediting bodies for universities, and on the system to come up with answers for military training and experiential learning for everything from one year certificates to four year courses. For example, Ryan draws blood from my arm at the cancer clinic. He was, er, is a Marine, who did two tours as a medic? I can't remember what they call them. Didn't get any college credit for any of his training or experience. Ridiculous. So that's one of the larger non monetary program I'm pushing.
Anyway, we've got veterans centers at the four years in the budget, a dedicated, linked one stop shop website, some direct subsidy of the difference between GI bill and full tuition for servicemembers who didn't do three years active as some of the other ideas.
The GI bill is one of the least used veterans benefits, being used by less than twelve percent of vets. With the world of work what it is, that percentage should be more like sixty seven percent.