OVERVIEW SB1538OVERVIEW SB1538ALLEN Grundy, M.Ed ALLEN Grundy, M.Ed

Program ManagerProgram Manager

UH VETERANS’ SERVICES UH VETERANS’ SERVICES OFFICEOFFICE

HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACTOPPORTUNITY ACT

July 31, 2009July 31, 2009

The House passed the final version of the The House passed the final version of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, H.R. 4137Higher Education Opportunity Act, H.R. 4137

which was instituted to make college more which was instituted to make college more affordable and accessible. This legislation is affordable and accessible. This legislation is the first reauthorization of the Higher the first reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in 10 years.Education Act in 10 years.

H.R. 4137 HIGHLIGHTSH.R. 4137 HIGHLIGHTS

Increase college aid and support for veterans Increase college aid and support for veterans and military familiesand military families

Creates a new scholarship program for active Creates a new scholarship program for active duty military personnel and family memners, duty military personnel and family memners, including children and spouses of active duty including children and spouses of active duty military service members or veteransmilitary service members or veterans

Establishes support centers to help veterans Establishes support centers to help veterans succeed in college and graduate.succeed in college and graduate.

PURPOSE OF SB 1538PURPOSE OF SB 1538

The purpose of the SB 1538 is to initiate The purpose of the SB 1538 is to initiate Veteran Resource Centers which would be Veteran Resource Centers which would be provide centralized focal points of assistance provide centralized focal points of assistance and resources resembling a one-stop-shop for and resources resembling a one-stop-shop for veterans, spouses and dependents on higher veterans, spouses and dependents on higher education institutions throughout the state of education institutions throughout the state of Texas.Texas.

LETICIA DE VAN PUTTELETICIA DE VAN PUTTE

AuthorAuthor

Senator Van de Putte currently serves as Chair Senator Van de Putte currently serves as Chair of the Veteran Affairs and Military of the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee, and serves as a Installations Committee, and serves as a member of the Senate Committees on member of the Senate Committees on Education, State Affairs and Business and Education, State Affairs and Business and Commerce. She is also the Chair of the Texas Commerce. She is also the Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic CaucusSenate Democratic Caucus

SB 1538 NEEDSB 1538 NEED

Currently, no state program exists to address Currently, no state program exists to address the issues of having a centralized location on the issues of having a centralized location on campuses that can be accessed by veterans and campuses that can be accessed by veterans and their families to provide assistance and their families to provide assistance and information to veterans and their families information to veterans and their families during their educational experience..during their educational experience..

TEXAS VETERANS TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSIONCOMMISSION

1538 Proposed vision1538 Proposed vision

The Texas Veterans Commission proposed to The Texas Veterans Commission proposed to establish Veterans Resource Centers to serve establish Veterans Resource Centers to serve the needs of OIF/OEF veterans and their the needs of OIF/OEF veterans and their families in the state of Texas. The purpose of families in the state of Texas. The purpose of these Veteran Resource Centers is to provide these Veteran Resource Centers is to provide centralized focal points of assistance and centralized focal points of assistance and information during their educational information during their educational experienceexperience..

TEXAS VETERANS TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSIONCOMMISSION

Mission Mission

The Texas Veterans Commission is committed The Texas Veterans Commission is committed to provide superior service through agency to provide superior service through agency programs of claims assistance, employment programs of claims assistance, employment services and education that will significantly services and education that will significantly improve the quality of life of Texas veterans improve the quality of life of Texas veterans and their families.and their families.

ON POST-9/11 GI BILLON POST-9/11 GI BILL

Since Since May 1May 1, VA has received more than , VA has received more than 20,000 applications and the number climbs by 20,000 applications and the number climbs by roughly 3000 a day.  New GI Bill benefits are roughly 3000 a day.  New GI Bill benefits are to begin Aug. 1, in time for fall classes to begin Aug. 1, in time for fall classes

LOCATION OF CENTERSLOCATION OF CENTERS(REGIONS)(REGIONS)

High PlainsHigh Plains Northwest Texas Northwest Texas MetroplexMetroplex Upper East TexasUpper East Texas Southeast Texas Southeast Texas

Central Texas Central Texas Gulf CoastGulf Coast South TexasSouth Texas West TexasWest Texas Upper Rio GrandeUpper Rio Grande

REQUIRMENTS OF REQUIRMENTS OF INSTITUTIONSINSTITUTIONS

MOU with TVCMOU with TVC

Understanding that institution would provide Understanding that institution would provide and bear cost of office space to include and bear cost of office space to include internet access (1) computer site, (2) office internet access (1) computer site, (2) office equipment, (3) telephone access and ADA equipment, (3) telephone access and ADA compliant.compliant.

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER PERSONNELPERSONNEL

Program manager (1)Program manager (1)

Provide overall management of centerProvide overall management of center Evaluate effectiveness of centersEvaluate effectiveness of centers Supervise regional counselorsSupervise regional counselors Prepare an annual budgetPrepare an annual budget

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER PERSONNELPERSONNEL

Regional Coordinators (10)Regional Coordinators (10)

Establish Resource Centers and supervise, Establish Resource Centers and supervise, Veterans Resource Counselors and Veterans Resource Counselors and Administrative Assistants. Administrative Assistants.

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER PERSONNELPERSONNEL

Regional Counselor (4)Regional Counselor (4)

Oversee centers in regionOversee centers in region Housed at a regional center institutionHoused at a regional center institution Visit institutions in regionVisit institutions in region Develop supportive environment for veteranDevelop supportive environment for veteran Work with local, state and national veterans Work with local, state and national veterans

groupsgroups

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER PERSONNELPERSONNEL

Work with local workforce and institutes Work with local workforce and institutes career servicescareer services

Work with TAP military installationWork with TAP military installation Create and manage publicity campaignsCreate and manage publicity campaigns Maintain statistical info of student veteransMaintain statistical info of student veterans Other activities assigned by TVCOther activities assigned by TVC

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER PERSONNELPERSONNEL

Administrative Assistant (1)Administrative Assistant (1)

Provide administrative support under the Provide administrative support under the Program ManagerProgram Manager

Provide oversight of travel and expendituresProvide oversight of travel and expenditures Oversee all faxes, telephone, and e-mails Oversee all faxes, telephone, and e-mails

correspondencecorrespondence

UH VETERANS’ SERVICES UH VETERANS’ SERVICES OFFICEOFFICE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & VETERAN AFFAIRS &

MILITARY INSTALLATIONSMILITARY INSTALLATIONS

*March 25, 2009 *March 25, 2009

http://http://www.senate.state.tx.us/avarchive/?yrwww.senate.state.tx.us/avarchive/?yr=2009&lim=150=2009&lim=150

*March 25, 2009 *March 25, 2009

http://http://www.senate.state.tx.us/avarchive/?yrwww.senate.state.tx.us/avarchive/?yr=2009&lim=150=2009&lim=150

UPCOMING SEMINARUPCOMING SEMINAR

June 18June 18thth, 2009, 2009 ““COOPERATIVE SUPPORT FOR VETERANS COOPERATIVE SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

RESOURCE CENTERS”RESOURCE CENTERS”

WHERE: University of HoustonWHERE: University of Houston

PLACE: University CenterPLACE: University Center TIME: 10:00-4:00 PM (Free)TIME: 10:00-4:00 PM (Free)

TO RSVP call: (713) 743-5490TO RSVP call: (713) 743-5490