USMEA Continues Improvements on Veteran Supportive Campus Needs and Certification

WASHINGTON - Sept. 9, 2014 - PRLog -- USMEA, Mr. Ramlogan, states "on the heels of the recent Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) changes on September 5, 2014. To include Executive Order: Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other Family Members". USMEA has been proactively working on changes to their "Veteran Supportive Campus" development and movement throughout the United States of America.

USMEA, Mr. Ramlogan, announces changes to come with their revised “Veteran Supportive Campus Initiative” in partnership with ACVET “Accrediting Council for Veterans Education and Training”.

ACVET and USMEA will offer a specific certification process which will be based upon the guildelines set forth in becoming a certified "Veterans Supportive Campus" or Institution.

There are hundreds of accrediting organizations throughout the United States which charge institutions tens of thousands of dollars to go through their process.

USMEA has been assisting individual states with the implementation, training and professional guidance to set up a “Veteran Supportive Campus Certification Process”.

USMEA was proactively working with Arizona Department of Veteran Services leadership since April 2012, on the steps and/or process of implementation.

During the month of January 2013, USMEA was the first non-profit military organization to ever sign a MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) with the State of Arizona Department of Veterans Services. Signing authority was State Director, Joey Strickland, MOA signing was witnessed by his leadership team to include Robert Barnes Deputy Director, Mike Klier Assistant Deputy Director and Fred Irwin Training Officer & Information Manager.

According to USMEA, Mr. Ramlogan, “there will be a lot of spin off accrediting bodies which will be trying to create and/or duplicate this process to charge tens of thousands of dollars”.

ACVET will not be charging tens of thousands of dollars to have institutions go through their certification process. This is an additional certification step which will take approximately 90 days if institutions are proactively working with ACVET to complete.

This certification process will allow educational institutions the opportunity to take a step forward in providing additional services and support to the veteran student population.

USMEA, Mr. Ramlogan states "this process is not just for the elite schools, “any” school which provides services to a military members, active, reserve and/or veteran students will be allowed the opportunity to go through the certification process with ACVET and USMEA". "We will allow non-traditional schools and DETC schools to participate as well".

USMEA has also been in the process of developing a similar certification for those institutions which are 100 % online as well.

USMEA, Mr. Ramlogan, states "if vocational school, community college, university and/or for-profit post-secondary institution whether they are nationally or regionally accredited would like to take part in the certification process. ACVET and USMEA will gladly assist them as needed, in a professional timely manner".

Mr. Ramlogan, states that “USMEA assistance has been requested by individual state representatives to provide their expertise on the process of what is required to implement and manage a “Veteran Supportive Campus” program within their state.

According to Mr. Ramlogan,"USMEA is focusing on schools improving student, veterans retention rate, graduation rate, and most importantly their placement and/or career services providing those graduates with employment opportunities within their degree fields of study".

As the cost of tuition continues to increase and limitations are placed on servicemembers it's best for schools to match tuition assistance with all their degree programs for active duty members.

For-Profit schools can spend thousands of dollars to attend an expo and/or military events to have instant contact with a military, veteran and/or their family member.

Student veterans are asking "why are schools not lowering their tuition for Active Duty Servicemembers so that they we can get more classes for less money"?

Standards are being changed currently with for-profit institutions in recent release on September 5, 2014 “Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1322.25, "Voluntary Education Programs," includes an appendix containing the DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DoD Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD) (P&R)) and educational institutions. DoD policy requires educational institutions that wish to participate in the DoD Tuition Assistance (TA) Program to sign an MOU conveying the commitments and agreements between the educational institution and DoD prior to an educational institution receiving funds from a service's TA program. The memorandum and a list of educational institutions that have signed can be found at www.dodmou.com”.

Once again, there are hard questions being asked by student veterans and lawmakers.

According to Mr. Ramlogan "We need to make a positive change and answer these questions".