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.
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.
SNU is committed to seeing military students succeed. A plethora of resources are available to students as they set out on their academic adventure.
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.
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.
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.
SNU hosts many on-campus student organizations for the military, including:
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:
Graduate degree programs in business and education include:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.