View all text of Part T [§ 1161t - § 1161t]
§ 1161t. Model programs for Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success
(a) Purpose
(b) Grants authorized
(1) In general
(2) Grant period
(c) Use of grants
(1) Required activitiesAn institution of higher education receiving a grant under this section shall use such grant to carry out a model program that includes—
(A) establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on the campus of the institution to provide a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students;
(B) establishing a veteran student support team, including representatives from the offices of the institution responsible for admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits, academic advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career advising, disabilities services, and any other office of the institution that provides support to veteran students on campus;
(C) providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model program carried out under this section;
(D) monitoring the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence, and completion; and
(E) developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success after the grant period.
(2) Other authorized activitiesAn institution of higher education receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out any of the following activities with respect to veteran students:
(A) Outreach and recruitment of such students.
(B) Supportive instructional services for such students, which may include—
(i) personal, academic, and career counseling, as an ongoing part of the program;
(ii) tutoring and academic skill-building instruction assistance, as needed; and
(iii) assistance with special admissions and transfer of credit from previous postsecondary education or experience.
(C) Assistance in obtaining student financial aid.
(D) Housing support for veteran students living in institutional facilities and commuting veteran students.
(E) Cultural events, academic programs, orientation programs, and other activities designed to ease the transition to campus life for veteran students.
(F) Support for veteran student organizations and veteran student support groups on campus.
(G) Coordination of academic advising and admissions counseling with military bases and national guard units in the area.
(H) Other support services the institution determines to be necessary to ensure the success of veterans in achieving educational and career goals.
(d) Application; selection
(1) Application
(2) Selection considerationsIn awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider—
(A) the number of veteran students enrolled at an institution of higher education; and
(B) the need for model programs to address the needs of veteran students at a wide range of institutions of higher education, including the need to provide—
(i) an equitable distribution of such grants to institutions of higher education of various types and sizes;
(ii) an equitable geographic distribution of such grants; and
(iii) an equitable distribution of such grants among rural and urban areas.
(e) Evaluation and accountability plan
(f) Authorization of appropriations
(Pub. L. 89–329, title VIII, § 873, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title VIII, § 801, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3428.)