By Tamika Dillard
Student News Service
RICHMOND, Va. — The fight might be over on the battlefield, but many Virginia Commonwealth University student veterans still are fighting the battle for better benefits.
James Chambliss, student veteran association adviser and veteran affairs coordinator, says one important issue on the association’s agenda is military educational entitlements.
Chambliss says the problem is the student veterans pay for benefits, but the money is counted against them because the government considers the money part of a veteran’s income when applying for financial aid.
As a result student veterans’ federal aid is reduced.
“It is not fair, how can you call it a benefit when the money is coming out of my own pocket,” Chambliss said.
The Student Veterans Association has been established for 30 years. It is not a political organization but a support group for veterans and veteran supporters.
“One issue on the association’s agenda is VCU‘s lack of participation in veteran programs,” said Keia Watkins, SVA president.
One of the programs that the association seeks VCU participation in is the Service Members Opportunity College. The SMOC is a network of colleges that accept military work for college credit.
Concurrent admission is another program that the SVA wants VCU to take part in to guarantee admittance to students returning from the war.
“I believe VCU should participate in these program because it helps (student veterans) to have a smooth transition,” said Saif Khan, former SVA member.
Associate Vice Provost Delores Taylor says VCU is not participating in these veteran programs, but there is nothing stopping the university from participating.
“I don’t think funding is an issue,” Taylor said. “Is it something that’s going to benefit prospective students, veterans, and the university? All of those things would have to be reviewed.”
However, Chambliss says these veteran programs would benefit VCU because it would bring more student veterans to the school.
“The University is losing a certain amount of the veteran population (because) they go elsewhere,” Chambliss said. “(The university) is losing dollars so it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
