VETERAN SERVICES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Transcription

1 VETERAN SERVICES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Veteran Services at USC... 3 Using Your Military Benefits at USC... 4 Coordinating Verteran Benefits with Financial Aid at USC... 6 Scholarships for Veterans... 8 Programs Veteran Transition Resources Student Organizations Transfer Admissions Welcome Prospective Student, Thank you for taking the time to consider the University of Southern California as an institution to pursue your educational dreams. USC has a long history of commitment to those who have served in this country s armed forces and we are proud to continue this tradition. We recognize that men and women who have served bring a wealth of skill and experience that enhances many parts of the university community, particularly in the classroom. In addition to the wide array of degree programs available to meet your educational and career interests, USC also offers a number of services and benefits to military veterans to assist with your transition and overall experience at USC available as either an undergraduate or graduate student. We hope the information available in this guide will demonstrate our commitment to our veteran students who are integral members of the Trojan Family and that this support inspires you to choose USC as part of your educational journey. Sincerely, Michael L. Jackson Vice President of Student Affairs 2

3 VETERAN SERVICES AT USC Veteran services at USC are offered through two primary areas: the Veteran Certifying Office in the Registrar Department, and Transfer and Veteran Student Programs in the Office of Campus Activities. The Veteran Certifying Office certifies enrollment for USC students who apply and are eligible for educational assistance administered by the Veterans Administration. The Veteran Certifying Office processes all applications and forwards enrollment certifications to regional offices of the Veterans Administration, provides assistance to students with problems that relate to the Veterans Administration educational (or covered) programs, and maintains a reference file on all VA students for up to 3 years. The Veteran Certifying Office is located in John Hubbard Hall (JHH) on the first floor. For more information and forms, please visit Transfer and Veteran Student Programs strives to facilitate a smooth transition into USC for transfer and veteran students that results in a strong connection to the Trojan Family. TVSP achieves this by serving as a comprehensive campus resource that also develops programs to enhance transfer and veteran students success academically, professionally, and socially, which results in increased retention, persistence and satisfaction. Our vision is to create a transfer and military friendly campus at the University of Southern California. Transfer and Veteran Student Programs is located in the Tutor Campus Center (TCC) room 330. For more information and to get connected, please visit 3

4 USING YOUR MILITARY BENEFITS AT USC The Veteran Certifying Office certifies and submits enrollment information to the Veteran Administration on behalf of veteran students. The following are covered programs at USC: Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation Chapter 32 - Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill Chapter 35 - Survivors & Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Chapter Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserve Chapter Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Yellow Ribbon Program GI Bill Program Submission Checklist for New Veteran Students Copy of the online application VA Application Form (VA )- For new applicants under VA programs: Chapters 30, 32, 33, 1606 and 1607 (eligible veterans) VA Application Form (VA )- For new applicants under VA programs: Chapters 35 (eligible dependents of veterans) VA Application Form (VA E)- For Transfer of Entitlement under VA program: Chapter 33 (eligible dependents of veterans) VA Application Form (VA )- For Change of Place or Program of Training under VA program: Chapter 33 (if VA educational benefits have been used at another institution). Applications are located on the VA website at For inquiries, please call GIBILL-1 ( ) All applications are located online using VONAPP (Veterans Online Application). Please retain a copy for your record. Copy of the certificate of eligibility This will come from the VA in response to the application for educational benefits. Completed Application for Semester Entitlement (ASE) form Available at Copy of valid photo I.D. Please , fax, or mail submissions. VA paperwork cannot be processed without the above forms. Please submit all documentation to: University of Southern California Veteran Certifying Office University Park Campus JHH-114 Los Angeles, CA (Phone), (Fax) 4

5 Yellow Ribbon Program at USC As a private institution, USC does participate in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, also known as the Yellow Ribbon Program, for both undergraduate and graduate students. Any tuition and fees charged beyond the G.I. cost cap for private institutions can be met or partially met through the Yellow Ribbon Program. The following USC programs and professional school graduate programs participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program: All undergraduate programs are eligible Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Gould School of Law Marshall School of Business Occupation Therapy Rossier School of Education School of Social Work The VA requires schools to offer participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program to students on a first come, first served basis. The VA specifically does not provide detailed guidance to colleges about the details of their first-come, first served policies. The policy that USC uses to determine this is the following: Veterans must be admitted to the University. Veterans must submit all required documents (see above). The School of the veteran s degree program must have declared itself a participant in the Yellow Ribbon program and have awards available. Veterans must be registered in class. Once all the above steps have been completed, the transaction date that the VA prints on the veteran s Certificate of Eligibility will determine the order in which the University awards Yellow Ribbon Program funds. Veterans who are registered in programs that participate in YR will automatically be reviewed for YR awards. There is no additional application process to receive a YR award. Students who have been awarded YR funding will be notified. 5

6 COORDINATING VETERAN BENEFITS WITH FINANCIAL AID AT USC U.S. military veterans are encouraged to apply for all types of financial aid for which they may be eligible. If eligible, veteran students can be considered for scholarships, grants, low-interest loans and Federal Work-Study. Federal Need-Based Aid: Includes Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans and Pell Grants. University Aid: Includes USC s merit scholarships, the University Grant, and graduate assistantships and fellowships. How does the G.I. Benefit affect federal financial aid? In general, because veteran s benefits are not considered as part of your monthly income, they are excluded from calculations of your eligibility for federal need-based financial aid. For California residents pursuing a first bachelor s degree, G.I. benefits are also excluded from calculations of your eligibility for Cal Grants. For more information about how G.I. benefits impact your federal financial aid, please refer to the brochure provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at admission/fa/private/docs/1112/fafsa_and_va_education_benefits.pdf. How does the G.I. Benefit affect university financial aid? [ Undergraduate Students ] In general, your G.I. benefits will be excluded from calculations of your eligibility for need-based financial aid. If, however, the combined amount of your G.I. benefits and your need-based financial aid exceeds your total Cost of Attendance, your University Grant may be reduced. Example: Student A applies for need-based financial aid at USC. Her Cost of Attendance for the academic year is $55,578. Her Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is $14,758, so her calculated need is $40,820. Her ROTC/VB educational benefits would be excluded from the calculation of her financial need. She would receive her normal financial aid as follows: Need: $40,820 Loans: $8,500 Work Study: $3,250 University Grant: $29,070 Total: $40,820 However, Student A will also receive $22,000 in ROTC/VB educational benefits for the academic year. Added to her need-based financial aid, this exceeds her Cost of Attendance. Therefore, her University Grant will be reduced as follows: Cost of Attendance: $55,578 Need-based aid: -$40,820 ROTC/VB benefits: -$22,000 Difference: $7,242 Student A s University Grant will be reduced by $7,242 to $21,828. 6

7 G.I. Benefits and Tuition-only awards Some awards are restricted to paying for tuition only. These awards include the Cal Grant, assistantships, fellowships and some types of scholarships. The total amount of these awards, plus the tuition-payment portion of your G.I. Benefits or ROTC award, cannot exceed the total cost of tuition. How does the G.I. Benefits affect university financial aid for graduate students? In general, your G.I. Benefits will be excluded from the calculation of your eligibility for need-based financial aid. The receipt of G.I. Benefits does not negatively impact need-based financial aid. Need-based financial aid includes Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Perkins Loans. Graduate students are not eligible for Pell Grants or the University Grant. As an example: Student B applies for need-based financial aid at USC. His Cost of Attendance for the academic year is $55,578. His Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is $14,758, so his calculated need is $40,820. His G.I. benefits would be excluded from the calculation of his financial aid. He would receive the following: Cost of Attendance: $55,578 Need-based aid: -$40,820 G.I. benefits: -$22,000 Difference: $7,242 Student B could be eligible to receive the difference of $7,242 as a refund to be used for other educational expenses. OTHER STUDENT SERVICES BENEFITS Waiver of the USC Health Insurance Plan Fee USC requires that ALL students have supplemental health insurance to cover the cost of care that cannot be obtained on campus, especially in emergency situations where hospitalizations may be required. However, if you are a veteran student who is receiving health care through Veterans Health Administration, you may be eligible to waive the USC Health Insurance Fee upon admission. The waiver form must be completed each fall semester. For more information or assistance, contact the University Park Health Center Health Insurance office at (213) or b.well@usc.edu. 7

8 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VETERANS The Schoen Family Scholarship Program for Veterans William J. Schoen, a former United States Marine, established the Schoen Family Scholarship Program for Veterans in 1986 to aide veteran of the Armed Forces attending USC s Marshall School of Business. Eligibility is extended to incoming freshman and transfer students from an accredited community college or other 4-year institution (must be admitted to the USC Marshall School of Business or USC Viterbi School of Engineering and enrolled immediately in business or engineering courses). Continuing undergraduates at Marshall or Viterbi and new and continuing MBA students enrolled in the full-time 2-year program (MBA.PM, Executive MBA and IBEAR students not eligible). All candidates must have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces and served a minimum of three years of continuous, full-time, active duty in the last ten years. To apply: Newly admitted and continuing students are invited to share the following information for scholarship consideration: resume, proof of honorable discharge, and summary of active duty deployment. Please forward the information to the appropriate programs contact. For Incoming freshman and transfer students: USC Marshall School of Business, Undergraduate Admissions Office, busadm@marshall.usc.edu USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi.admission@usc.edu For Continuing undergraduate students: USC Marshall School of Business, Office of Undergraduate Advising, undergraduate.advising@marshll.usc.edu USC Viterbi Admission and Student Affairs, vstuserv@usc.edu New/Continuing Marshall full-time MBA students: Marshall MBA Program Office, mmba@marshall.usc.edu 8

9 Town & Gown Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Organized in 1904 as the Women s Club of the University of Southern California, Town and Gown was given its present title when Mrs. Rufus B Von Kleinsmid became its president in Its name exemplifies the understanding and amity among those members from Town (the Community) and from Gown (the Academic Circle). As friends of USC, our purpose is to develop and award scholarships to outstanding students and to encourage social and intellectual programs for both the campus and community. Town and Gown s Scholarship program continues to be a major interest. The scholarships are made possible by private donors, membership dues, and a benefit luncheon held each spring. Our members take pride in the students awarded to hold these scholarships. The care and attention given by Town and Gown and by the University to their selection gives reason to believe that each of them will be a credit to the University and that the unselfish generosity of the benefactors will be rewarded by their accomplishments. Beyond its investment in student potential, Town and Gown has provided the University with the Student Administrative Services Building (originally Elizabeth von Kleinsmid Dormitory), the melodious Carillon, Town and Gown Foyer, as well as the new Town and Gown Mall and Patio. For more information, visit 9

10 PROGRAMS First Year Experience Seminars The bi-weekly seminar sessions for undergraduates focus on a general topic (i.e. academic preparedness, financial resources, career preparedness, student involvement) that incorporates department representatives that have resources and information about that topic. The goal of the seminar sessions is to provide students the necessary action steps to access pertinent resources and services at USC, which will support their transition into the university community. This program is sponsored by Transfer and Veteran Student Programs. Peer Advocate Mentor Program This program is designed to assist newly admitted transfer and veteran undergraduate students with their transition to USC by providing them with peer groups to facilitate their integration into the campus community, specifically during the first semester. This is a self-selection program. New admits are invited to participate in the program. Space is limited. Two mentors will be assigned a group of 10 mentees for the semester meeting as a group twice during the semester and one-on-one with each mentee at least once. This program is sponsored by Transfer and Veteran Student Programs. Transfer, Commuter and Veteran Student Welcome BBQ As part of Welcome Week, the Welcome BBQ is an opportunity for veteran, transfer and commuter students to kick off the new year by mingling with other incoming students and learn of the resources around campus that specifically target veteran, transfer and commuter students. This event is sponsored by Transfer and Veteran Student Programs, Undergraduate Student Government Commuter Senators, Trojan Transfer Organization and USC Veterans Association. Veterans Day Appreciation Reception The annual Veterans Day Appreciation Reception is held in commemoration of the nationally recognized Veterans Day in November. The reception is sponsored by the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy along with other departments and units across campus to celebrate the students, staff and faculty who have served this country. Veterans Appreciation Dinner USC s annual Veteran Appreciation dinner is held in March to honor veteran and Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) students hosted by the President s Office. Other Programs and Events Family and Friends Tailgates (Football and Basketball seasons) Veterans Day Recognition Spring Welcome End of the Year Spring Reception 10

11 VETERAN TRANSITION RESOURCES The Center for Academic Support The Center for Academic Support, located in Student Union (STU) 301, houses several programs designed to support students in their academic success at USC. A staff of professionals and paraprofessionals meet with students regularly to provide needs-assessment, services and academic counseling to students participating in these programs. For more information, visit edu/academicsupport/centerservices/index.html. The USC Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity offers an innovative approach to assisting students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other identified learning differences. Equipped with state-of-the-art assistive technology and enhanced academic support services, the center provides insight and guidance into your preferred method of learning. Visit the Kortschak Center Student Union (STU) 311 or at Disability Services and Programs (DSP) provides support services to enable students with disabilities to develop their academic potential, while having the dignity of working toward an independent lifestyle. Services for students with physical, psychological and learning disabilities include: Assistance in providing readers, scribes, note-takers and interpreters Advocacy with faculty Special accommodations for test-taking needs Auxiliary aid and equipment loans Assistance with architectural barriers Information on accessible seating at USC sporting events Assistive technology Support for individual needs Information on various disabilities Accommodations are available through DSP for any USC student with a documented disability. All permanent disabilities including learning disabilities, physical disabilities, psychological disabilities, and chronic illnesses will be considered for accommodation through DSP. Students are responsible for contacting DSP in order to receive services. Visit Disability Services and Programs in STU 301 or at 11

12 Center for Occupation and Lifestyle Redesign Lifestyle Redesign is a practice that helps to pinpoint and remove counterproductive habits, as well as incorporate new positive routines into daily life. Through this process, stress is reduced, physical and mental health is improved, and quality of life is increased. To discuss your situation or to make an appointment, call (323) , or otfp@usc.edu, or visit for more information. Recreational Sports and Intramurals Recreational Sports provides the university community the opportunity to pursue a balanced, healthy lifestyle through participation in recreational activities. Rec Sports manages the Lyon Recreational Center, the McDonald Swim Stadium, and the Physical Educational Indoor Pool all located on the University Park Campus. It also manages the Health Science Campus Fitness Center. Each center offers state of the art fitness equipment, racquet ball rooms, and fitness classes. Visit for more information and schedules. The Intramurals Program is one of the most popular undergraduate and graduate student activities at USC with more than 9,600 participants. IM sports promote physical fitness and competition, social interaction, and student involvement. Visit imleagues.com/uscrecsports for more information. Counseling Services Counseling Services is dedicated to providing a broad range of quality programs to assist students during their time at USC. All of the services reflect the strong commitment to diversity and to the individual needs of students. Students are encouraged to utilize Counseling Services and view the services as part of a support system. Counseling Services offers individual counseling, group therapy, crisis appointments, psychiatric services, workshops, and consultations. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call (213) , or visit shtml 12

13 STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS The Office of Campus Activities believes the unique Trojan experience is enhanced by activities and programs outside of the classroom. Our role is to provide a link between students classroom experiences to activities beyond the classroom. With over 750 student organizations at USC, it is helpful to identify what type of organization you are interested in joining. Our 750+ student organizations are responsible for the majority of the programs and events held on campus each year including concerts, lectures, special events, spirit rallies, cultural and social events, and conferences. To get involved, visit USC Veterans Association USC Vets is group consisting of men and women from all branches and ranks of the Armed Forces. As students, the members include undergraduate and graduate students from varying degree programs. This combination of experiences and perspectives has created several current and future opportunities and access to resources. The formation of this group is the product of our spirit de corps that is shared as Veterans and Trojans. To get connected, uscvets@usc.edu or join the Facebook group at USC Veterans Association. Graduate Student Government The mission of the Graduate Student Government is to enhance the graduate and professional student experience at USC by serving as the face of the graduate student body. Students as elected officers, elected senators, and involved students participate in various programs and committees to provide a voice for graduate students, build a community that fosters interdisciplinary exchanges, and inform students of their rights, resources, and opportunities. For more information, visit 13

14 TRANSFER ADMISSIONS USC definitely welcomes veterans! Keep in mind that admission is competitive, and students who have completed all suggested courses might not be offered admission. Successful transfer applicants have generally completed a year of rigorous academic courses, including two semesters of English writing and, at minimum, algebra II in high school or intermediate algebra in college. USC defines a transfer student as anyone who has attended college since finishing high school. In an effort to streamline our application process, USC now uses the Common Application exclusively. Students wishing to apply for admission to the academic year should submit the Common Application and the USC Supplement, both of which can be accessed at Please be aware of this important application deadline: February 1st: Transfer Application Deadline for Scholarship and Regular Consideration 14

15 Basic Academic Requirements In planning your transfer to USC, keep in mind the following academic requirements: If you are applying to enter at less than junior standing, you may either choose a specific academic major or apply as Open (Still Deciding). If you will be a junior (64 or more semester units), you must declare a major. Some majors have a significant number of lower-division requirements that may be completed prior to applying. Concentrate on USC-transferable courses that build on your high school record, satisfy general education and other requirements, and include preparation for your major. Seventy-five percent of the transferable courses should cover these areas, and you are expected to have at least an A-/B+ average on transferable work. There is no minimum number of transfer units you must complete before applying for admission. However, if you have completed fewer than 30 units, we will focus primarily on your high school record and results from the SAT or ACT. You must submit secondary school records and proof of graduation. At minimum, your high school record should consist of 16 year-long courses, including 13 in academic solids and up to three in acceptable electives. Graduate Admissions The University of Southern California attracts high-achieving graduate and professional school applicants from throughout the United States and from more than 100 countries worldwide. Our 16,000 graduate and professional students constitute nearly half the entire student body a testament to the value USC places on advanced degree programs. For more information about applying to a graduate degree program at USC, visit admission/graduate/. You must complete two semesters of English composition before enrolling at USC. You may need to complete nontransferable skills-building courses in writing and mathematics prior to admission to USC. Placement exams offered at your current college will determine your need for any remedial course work. We encourage you to take advantage of the strength of USC s General Education Program. In fact, you do not have to complete all transferable general education requirements or all prerequisites elsewhere to be admitted. We consider trends in your grades and college attendance patterns. Consistent degree progress and strong recent performance are important. Visit the website for information about transferring to USC including obtaining a Transfer Planning Workshop and finding your USC Admission Counselor. 15

16