You served our country, and now it’s time to serve yourself by putting your education first. Whether you're registering for college for the first time or completing your degree after many years away, it’s never too late to go back to school.
SNU’s Veterans Educational Transitions Success (VETS) Center provides military students with both academic and professional support to ensure that life after service can be one of excitement and reward.
Military students who enroll at SNU may have heard of the VETS Center prior to their arrival, but may not understand or realize the full range of resources available to them. We’ve broken down the opportunities available, so you can make the most of your education as a military veteran at SNU.
The VETS Center: A Brief Overview
SNU’s VETS Center was originally established in 2015 with the support of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education. The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) named SNU one of thirteen Centers of Excellence for Veterans Student Success.
Since the very beginning, SNU has made it its mission to support military students and their families as they embark on a new life journey. The VETS Center supports military students at every step along their journey, from early enrollment to maximizing benefits through student engagement, academic achievement and career prospects post-graduation.
All staff members at SNU’s VETS Center are former military or military spouses who appreciate the difficulties of the transition from military to civilian life. Together, students and their counselors make sure that students’ college experience is as seamless as possible and that when students hit roadblocks along the way, they have support available to jump each hurdle.
SNU accepts ACE credit for military training and experience. SNU has two VETS Center locations, at the Tulsa and Bethany locations.
Student Services
SNU is committed to seeing military students succeed. A plethora of resources are available to students as they set out on their academic adventure.
Benefit Navigation
Former military earn benefits toward their college education, but navigating these benefits alone can prove to be a daunting task. SNU has pooled together staff and resources to assist you in applying for your benefits. SNU also eases the process due to its relationship with the VA. Because SNU is compliant with PL 115-407 The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act, Section 103, students don’t need to worry about being penalized because of a delayed VA payment.
Academic Assistance
Once students begin their coursework, they may realize they need extra academic support in some areas. SNU’s VETS Center offers free tutoring via tutor.com. On-campus students can also request in-person tutoring at the writing center. The Renew Counseling Center at SNU’s Bethany Campus provides additional one-on-one academic support for students. The office is open from 9am to 8pm so students can get the help they need, no matter how busy their schedules are.
Students should be equipped with all the tools they need to succeed academically, wherever they are. SNU’s reference library gives students access to online research databases and peer-reviewed articles. Get online assistance from a virtual librarian and borrow books geared towards academic, career, and personal development.
Disability Services
All students deserve educational access. SNU’s disability services ensure all students have ample support and accommodation to perform academically. Additionally, SNU’s VETS Center provides a Veterans Services Support Representative to incoming veterans with service-related injuries.
On-Campus Student Organizations
SNU hosts many on-campus student organizations for the military, including:
- Student Veterans of America (SVA)
- Veterans National Honor Society (SALUTE)
- Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
Student Programs
SNU meets military students where they’re at along their academic journey. Some students are just starting out, and others are finishing what they once started long before they enlisted. Military veterans can choose to pursue traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate, graduate or doctoral programs.
Just to name a few, students can choose adult undergraduate degrees like:
- Associate of Arts in General Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Gerontology
- Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership
- Accelerated General Education
Graduate degree programs in business and education include:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration
- Master of Arts in Administration of Special Education (MAASE)
- Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL)
- Doctor of Education in Administration and Leadership (Ed.D)
Military Benefits and Financial Aid
A variety of benefits and financial aid relief services are available to military students — it’s simply a matter of knowing which resources are available and how to best take advantage of them. SNU staff at the VETS Center can help students maximize their benefits and navigate the VA application process.
Students can access these military benefits at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level. These benefits include grants, loans and tuition assistance. Although eligibility for each program varies, staff are well-equipped to answer questions and help students contact the VA office for any outstanding inquiries. You can also check out SNU’s free e-book for a complete guide to military benefits.
The following are a few of the most common military benefits.
Montgomery GI Bill®*: Active Duty (Chapter 30)
- Eligible for veterans and service members with at least two years of service
- Educational benefits for up to three years
Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
- Eligible based on service-connected disability
- Explore employment options and training opportunities
- Families are also often eligible for benefits
VA Education Benefits for Dependents and Survivors (Chapter 35)
- Eligible as a dependent spouse or child of an active military member or surviving spouse or child
- One of the following must be true of the service member:
- Perished in line of duty after September 10, 2001
- Missing in action or captured during service
- Detained by force or by governing body
- In the hospital to receive outpatient treatment and is likely to be discharged with disability
- One of the following must be true to receive benefits as a spouse or child of a veteran:
- Permanently and totally disabled
- Perished during active duty
Montgomery GI Bill®: Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
- Eligible for those currently serving in or honorably discharged from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard or Air National Guard
- Requires a six-year enlistment for reenlistment beginning on or after July 1, 1985
- Educational benefits for up to three years
Montgomery (MGIB) & Post 9/11 GI Bills®
- Eligibility requirements according to the Certificate of Eligibility
Yellow Ribbon Program
- Eligibility requirements:
- Served at least 36 months on active duty
- Received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001
- Served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break) on or after September 11, 2001
- Are a dependent child using benefits transferred by a veteran or a service member who has served for at least 36 months on active duty and qualifies at the 100% level
- Are a Fry Scholar
- Eligible for tuition assistance beyond what the Post-9/11 GI Bill® covers
Other Forms of Financial Aid
Apart from veteran-specific financial assistance, all students enrolled at SNU can apply for grants, loans, benefits and tuition assistance. Students may be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant or the Oklahoma OTAG Grant.
Tuition assistance may be offered through a student’s employer to cover the cost of courses, fees and course materials. Students who pursue this type of financial assistance may receive up to $5,250 per year.
Students can receive need-based and merit-based scholarships. More than 70% of SNU students receive some type of institutional scholarships and grants. Adult students and students at the graduate level can also apply for scholarships.
At the graduate level, some students may also choose to pursue an assistantship, in which students receive aid in exchange for on-campus work. The most common assistantships are in the athletic department. While the college offers only a few of these opportunities, students who land them can build professional skills while also actively paying down student debt.
Career Services
Earning your college degree brings you one step closer to realizing the dreams of your professional life. But even as you near graduation, you may hesitate to nail down next steps.
Career Goals and Planning
SNU’s career services are there to ease the process for all students. Especially for military students, college graduation signifies yet another major life transition. Career services can help students clarify their career goals and plan incremental steps towards achieving those major milestones.
Resume Help
Before you leave college, you’ll want to craft a resume. You can tailor your resume to suit job prospects or graduate school requirements, but having a basic resume template will give you a head start. If you’re not sure how to format your resume or what you should include, you’re in the same position as many new college grads. Work with SNU’s career services department to tailor and revise your resume based on your career goal.
Job Search Assistance
Most students begin their job search online using aggregate job boards like Monster, Indeed, and LinkedIn. SNU students have the added bonus of a tool called Handshake, specific to SNU college grads. As a college student, you can also take advantage of in-person job search and networking opportunities. Many students, including military students, may struggle to conceive of life after graduation. SNU’s VETS Center regularly hosts career fairs and seminars so that students can better prepare for their future and network with those in the field.
Mentoring
Although students may primarily regard the VETS Center as a source of academic support, military benefits and tuition assistance, students can also rely on the VETS Center for mentoring services. Most of the VETS Center staff are former military themselves, and they understand firsthand the difficulties that come with adjusting to civilian life.
Additional Resources
College is an exciting time for newcomers and returning students alike. That said, especially for military students, the commencement of college coursework also marks the beginning of a journey into uncharted and unfamiliar territory. The VETS Center is dedicated to easing this transition at every step of the way.
For more about the mission of the VETS Center and the resources available to veteran students, check out SNU’s military resources.
*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
