The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: News

Media Credit: The Roanoke Times, Matt Gentry Police and officials gather outside the lobby of the Donaldson Brown Graduate Life Center at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Wednesday night Jan. 21 2009. A female student was stabbed to death on Virginia Tech's campus, the first killing at the school since a deadly mass shooting there in 2007.

CSU is expecting an influx of war veterans on campus, pending President Barack Obama's actions to bring military troops home from foreign soil, CSU officials confirmed, especially in light of changes to the G.I. Bill that increased the level of financial support provided to returning soldiers.

In order to prepare for the arrival of the new veterans, Off Campus Student Services and the Registrar's office are working to develop services to improve the success of each individual's transition into college.

"We have approximately 340 men and women getting Veteran Assistance benefits on campus," VA certifying officer Glen Vance of the Registrar's office said. "We are anticipating a 20 to 40 percent increase of veterans, but of course that is just guessing."

While the exact number of new veterans headed to CSU in the coming semesters is merely speculation, OCSS coordinator Ann Ingala said she believes the new veterans will come in two waves.

"Some will come directly to CSU to begin their college education while others might initially choose to start at a community college if it has been a few years since they were in school," she said. "They might want to ease into it and get a feel for it. We'll see those student veterans in later years down the road. How many? We really don't know."

"Most universities are trying to develop programs, but CSU is being proactive and already offering services for veterans, making the transition from military to college life easier," Ingala said.

In addition to the social programs designed for student vets, improvements to the G.I. Bill will help more individuals sustain the financial burden of paying for college, officials said.

More than ever, veterans will be receiving aid for college under the post-9/11 G.I. Bill, also known as the "new" G.I. Bill. The terms of the new G.I. Bill, which will be enacted on Aug. 1, give those who have served in active duty on or after Sept. 10, 2001 the following:

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