Veteran Center. Important Dates. US Armed Forces Dates August 4 Coast Guard Birthday 7 Purple Heart Day

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1 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR VETERAN STUDENTS OF MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY Veteran Center Volume 29 Issue 1 AUGUST 2016 FROM THE DIRECTOR Your service is appreciated! The summer term has ended and the school year kicks off in a few short weeks. Minot State University Veteran students are reminded to complete their worksheet if they intend to use their educational benefits this fall. We will have a couple new programs available to veteran students. The VET (Veterans Education Training) program will begin in September. This program provides guidance in improving math, English, writing, reading, study and time management skills required to become a successful University student. The program is free of charge to qualified veterans. Please contact Andy Heitkamp at andy.heitkamp@minotstateu.edu to learn more. Looking forward to another successful fall term! Andy Heitkamp, Veteran Services director US Armed Forces Dates August 4 Coast Guard Birthday 7 Purple Heart Day 8 VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) 29 Marine Forces Reserve Birthday Events Attended July 1 Independence Day TV interview 6 Minot Veteran Center outreach on campus 7 Military review process meeting with registrar 8 Military review process meeting for design and implementation of webpage 11 Faculty and staff establishment of veteran mentoring program meeting 12 VET program teleconference for program kickoff in September 13 I Give campaign photos 14 Financial aid training 15 North Dakota National Guard outreach meeting 16 Military review process meeting with vice president for academic affairs AVECO conference St. Louis, MO. 22 Connect Military credit webinar by American Council on Education 23 North Dakota State Fair Parade walk Important Dates August 5 North Dakota Guard, Reserve or Active Duty Education office on campus for GoArmyEd, North Dakota Tuition assistance guidance 10 CONNECT Orientation Bookstore financial aid book charging 22 First eight-week classes begin 16 week classes begin after 4 p.m. 23 Troops to Teachers on campus 16 week classes begin 25 Last day to drop first eight-week class, or withdraw from all classes and receive 100 percent refund 31 Last day to add 16-week class Last day to drop 16-week class, or withdraw from all classes and receive 100 percent refund September 7 Tuition due and financial aid disbursed CHECK-OUT the MSU Veterans Center Facebook page and give it a like to stay current with events OFFICE HOURS 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. 500 University Ave. W. Minot, ND /

2 25 State fair booth 26 Deans council presentation on Military credit review 27 University Cabinet ISFAC meeting State Fair Minot State University luau 28 Student Affairs staff meeting 24 Served at Military Day at the Zoo 27 PTSD awareness event information and ribbons 29 Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps Homecoming 2016 James and Elizabeth s 2 Summer semester has ended and fall semester is upon us! We hope you enjoyed your two month break before getting back into the swing of homework and tests again. Students, please be aware that due to the governor s budget reduction recommendation, some Minot State University classes may have been cancelled due to lack of student enrollment. If you enrolled for fall classes early, verify on Campus Connection that your courses were not cancelled! In the event they were, quickly find one or more classes to substitute before they fill up. As always, do not hesitate to call the Veteran Center with any questions. The Minot State University Veteran Center will host a Veteran student Homecoming reunion this September. We are finalizing planning for the kickoff of the annual event, it will be held Saturday 17 September, after the parade with tailgating prior to the game with our Veteran Club members and current veteran students. Those interested please contact Andy Heitkamp, Veteran Center Director (701) or andy.heitkamp@ minotstaetu.edu. Please feel free to share with former Minot State University Veteran students as we look forward to visiting with past graduates and making a connection with current veteran students! Take advantage of the tutoring and help sessions available AT NO COST DROP IN TUTORING Old Main 101/103 Check the website for schedule or stop in the tutoring center. Math clinic is located in Model 212 Writing Center located in lower level of Gordon Olson Library Pam s Corner In a few weeks, we ll be in the swing of fall semester. Please remember to submit your fall worksheet so I can get your classes certified. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Pam Hopkins, Veterans School Certifying Official 2

3 Remember your educational benefits hotline: 1(888) Disability services are also available for anyone with a service documented disability by contacting Evelyn Klimpel, disability services coordinator, at (701) Alternate format, testing accommodations, notetaking and electronic books are just a few of the accommodation available, Veterans Women s Health care info uvoxco20tco&feature=em-subs_digest ND Guard on campus for GoArmyEd training 5 AUGUST HRS. Army tuition assistance users Guard, reserves, or active duty. Questions will be answered by, Lisa Rankins, education services specialist, Raymond J. Bohn Armory, 4200 E. Divide Ave. Rm 351, PO Box 5511, Bismarck, ND Comm: DSN: Fax: NEW PROGRAM TO BEGIN September 2016 VET program info link: Contact Andy Heitkamp for more information Hepatitis C Testing Minot State University Veteran students can be tested for Hepatitis C by contacting the Student Health Center, Lura Manor, south entrance (701) VA education and training source= 11&utm_medium= &utm_ term=iga&utm_content=education-benefits&utm_ campaign=opt-in-list Six Tips for Veterans to Succeed in University 1. Prepare for a transition: Assuming control of your university path is an initial challenge for some, who are accustomed to following a regimented schedule. In the service, there s going to be somebody higher ranked than you who s going to tell you where you need to be that day. You come to university and you re a management major; you need to register for classes. Me being military, I think, What classes do I need to take? You don t [schedule] it for me? You also need to take charge of your studying and test preparation which may initially seem just like a foreign land after years of learning through simulation and hands-on training. While that can be tough, it isn t an impossible transition.

4 2. Be open to a new mindset: When first on campus, some veterans are very standoffish, they think to themselves that anything an 18-year-old said in class was the stupidest statement you ve ever heard in your life. We tend to kept to ourselves, and if there is something said about the military or foreign policy or whatever, we will usually chime in and say, You re stupid and you re wrong. After a bit of time, we definitely become more open to hearing different opinions and more sides to the story. Many will not change as far as their views, but I ll at least hear others out. This evolving mindset is related to daily interaction with new people, differing opinions, and backgrounds unlike our own. Just hearing what others think and what others feel, is definitely something that will reshape you and push you to new levels of understanding. 3. Seek out other veterans: Going to a university with a vibrant program for veterans can help students to realize that they aren t facing challenges alone. It s definitely a good thing to meet other people who are going through the same situation as you. If your school offers veteranspecific orientations or groups, as Minot State University does, they can serve as quick ways to connect with peers from similar backgrounds. 4. Hang out with civilians: While a peer group of simultaneously-transitioning veterans is key, it s also important to broaden your horizons and actually get to know the civilians you sit alongside in class. Do things on campus outside of the little veterans sphere, such as joining fraternities and sororities that can create a brotherhood or sisterhood. 5. Strongly consider traditional University: All these interactions will likely be easier and more common for students who go to school on a physical campus. While earning a degree online may make the most sense for some students for financial or family reasons, consider enrolling in a traditional school if possible. When you re doing an online-only university [program], you re actually taking away a key piece: interaction with other individuals that are not in the military. Going to a traditional, on-campus school, going to classes, going to events, and being a part of different organizations on campus, interacting with regular, old university students, can help you move away from being in that military mindset and transitioning yourself into being a civilian again. The anticipated bigger payoff, will come after graduation: When you go to a job interview, it s not [going to be] your first interaction with a civilian; You ve been interacting with them all along. 6. Practice patience: Most Military Veterans are older than many of their peers in their university courses. It is recommended that veterans with more years and experience should give their younger classmates some slack, don t jump to conclusions about age and knowledge. Having a lot of patience is key. Trying to take some time and just letting things slide is something that needs to happen for older veterans, and for veterans in general. Grant available for ND Veterans with PTSD North Dakota Veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may now apply for a grant which may provide them with a specially trained Service Dog. These service dogs are trained right here in North Dakota to assist Veterans who suffer from PTSD. The dogs provide the special needs of the veteran they are to serve whether it is calming anxiety attacks, providing comfort and assurance in public settings or waking a veteran from a nightmare. PTSD service dogs have proven to greatly assist Veterans in returning to a more normal life and reintegrating back into their community. Service Dogs for America has several of these highly trained service dogs ready to be placed with a veteran in need. To meet the minimum qualifications for a PTSD service dog the Veteran must be a North Dakota resident, have a diagnosis of PTSD, be engaged in counseling or therapy and have a doctor s recommendation for a PTSD Service Dog. All qualified Veterans are urged to apply. The grant is made possible by the 63rd ND Legislative Assembly and private donors. 4

5 To learn more or to submit an application, visit Service Dogs for America, download the Preliminary Application and contact Minot State University Veteran students who wish to be certified to use their VA educational benefits, please submit the worksheet for the upcoming fall semester if you have not yet done so classclimate/online.php?p=8unsp9qx 23 August 11 a.m. Marvin Zerr TTT, ND Rep Toll Free (866)

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