Veterans Get Help at Bellevue College

Assisting U.S. Army veteran Thomas McElearney, Jr., are Leslie Strand, assistant financial aid director, and Veterans’ Office assistant Joshua Kienlen

Since the Post 9/11– G.I. Bill was passed in the fall of 2008, Bellevue College has responded by adding more services for veterans.

Federal education benefits for veterans represent a substantial investment by the government and by veterans in time and effort. But veterans can encounter serious obstacles as they adjust to academic life and that is why BC’s Veterans’ Office is so important. Access to career and education advising programs enable more veterans to successfully complete degrees and to pursue satisfying careers.

In a Military.com interview, Kathy Snead, director of Service Members Opportunity Colleges, a government-funded organization that helps veterans complete their degrees, said “A campus veterans’ organization or office that helps service members feel more engaged in student life is one key indicator of whether they will be academically successful.” At Bellevue College they get both: a Veterans’ Office and they can join the Bellevue College Association of Veterans.

Located in the Student Services Building, BC’s Veterans’ Office helps veterans activate their Veterans Affairs (VA) Educational Benefits, which can be confusing without help. Getting direction from the Veterans’ Office staff is very important since there are actually several different GI Bills with different eligibility requirements and benefits. We’re here to help them move through the process of getting the best benefits possible.

A lot of progress has been made in serving veterans in the past 10 years. We have established a Veterans’ Advisory Committee (VAC), established the Bellevue College Veterans Association (BCAV), and created a Veterans’ Navigator position, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. The current Veterans’ Navigator is Pete A. Smith who helps our veterans work with all the various college departments to make their academic and professional life successful.

Over the years, through the direction of the VAC, BC has offered classes to faculty and staff educating them about how to work with veterans. Well-known experts on veterans’ issues have been speakers, including Dr. Bridget Cantrell, Dr. Peter Schmidt, Dr. Edward Tick, and Dr. Scott Copeland.

The Veterans’ Advisory Committee is actively looking for members. If you would like to participate in making a difference for veterans attending Bellevue College, please contact the Veterans Office at veterans@bellevuecollege.edu or call (425) 564-2220.

Veteran’s Office staff, several of whom are veterans themselves, help our student veterans through the hurdles to enrollment they may face. One of the hurdles is the timing of payments coming in from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It can present a problem if receipt of payment doesn’t line up with college tuition and class enrollment deadlines. If the VA tuition payment is past our tuition deadline staff can add a deferment code to ensure that veterans don’t get dropped for non-payment.

The office also helps our veterans get the classes and books they need and when they need them. Students need to have their books at the start of the quarter, so staff also works with the VA to get book allowances for veterans upfront.

Once veteran students receive aid, maintaining eligibility is an ongoing process. In addition to re-applying each year, they need to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and make sure they manage class enrollments and payments in a way that will not jeopardize or delay receiving their award. “We help them learn the ropes of how to keep their aid,” says Leslie Strand, assistant Financial Aid Director in charge of the Veterans’ Office.

Most veterans attending Bellevue College are young, many under 30 years old, and eligible for GI Bill assistance. BC also has some older veterans and retirees, but most of them have used up their entitlement. There are also benefits beyond education that the Veterans’ Office can help with, including help finding resources and making referrals to other services through numerous agencies.

Though they make up a relatively small subset of the student population, veterans have made a positive impact on campus. Student veterans have created a culture of respect for veterans and enrich many classes with their contributions to class discussions and projects.

– by Sharon Berg

Are You a Military Member or Veteran Seeking Career Help?

Wesley Jones
Wesley Jones

Bellevue College’s Veterans Program is designed to assist military service members and their families with a broad array of career-oriented services. Whether you are active duty, a reserve member, or a veteran, we are here to help you and your family with assistance selecting a career path, writing a resume, connecting to jobs or internships, and much more. Veterans’ career help is available through The Center for Career Connections, located on the 2nd floor of the “B” Building (Student Services) on the Bellevue College Main Campus.

Questions? United States Air Force veteran Wesley Jones, BC’s Veterans Career Advancement Program Manager, would be happy to take your call at (425) 564-2279 or you can e-mail him at wesley.jones@bellevuecollege.edu.

Last Updated October 3, 2016