S 2677 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide grants to institutions of higher education to establish programs for the provision of services and support to veterans who are students at such institutions, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 28, 2008

Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mrs. CLINTON, and Mr. OBAMA) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide grants to institutions of higher education to establish programs for the provision of services and support to veterans who are students at such institutions, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Supporting Education for Returning Veterans Act of 2008'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SUPPORT OF VETERANS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1133 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`PART F--PROGRAM FOR SUPPORT OF VETERANS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

`SEC. 781. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SUPPORT OF VETERANS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

`(a) Grants Authorized-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary is authorized to award grants to institutions of higher education to enable the institutions of higher education to establish programs that support veterans who are students at such institutions by providing and coordinating services that address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of such veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) GRANT PERIOD- A grant awarded under this section shall be awarded for a period of 3 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Selection of Grant Recipients-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) APPLICATION- An institution of higher education seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) APPROVAL- The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approve or disapprove each application submitted by an institution of higher education under paragraph (1). In determining whether to approve or disapprove an application, the Secretary shall consider the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) The number of veterans enrolled as students at the institution of higher education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) The needs of such veterans at such institution.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) The ability of such institution to sustain a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success described in subsection (c)(2)(A) after the completion of the grant period described in subsection (a)(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) The equitable distribution of grants under this section among various types and sizes of institutions of higher education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) The equitable geographic distribution of grants under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) The equitable distribution of grants under this section among rural and urban areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Use of Grant Funds-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) PROGRAM REQUIRED- Each institution of higher education receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant to establish a program that supports each veteran who is a student at such institution by providing and coordinating services that address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of such veteran.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) REQUIRED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES- Each program established under paragraph (1) shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) Establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on the campus of the institution of higher education that provides a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for veterans who are students, including the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) Admissions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) Registration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) Financial aid.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) Veterans benefits.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(v) Academic advising.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(vi) Student health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(vii) Personal or mental health counseling.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(viii) Career advising.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ix) Disabilities services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) Establishing a support team for veterans who are students, including representatives from the student veteran association and veteran service office of such institution of higher education, if any.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) Providing a full-time or part-time coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) With respect to such veterans, monitoring the rates of enrollment, persistence, and completion of programs of education at such institution.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) OPTIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES- With respect to veterans who are students at an institution of higher education receiving a grant under this section, a program established under paragraph (1) by such institution may include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) Outreach to, and recruitment of, veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) Supportive instructional services for veterans, which may include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) personal, academic, and career counseling, as an ongoing part of the program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) tutoring and academic skill-building instruction assistance, as needed; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) assistance with special admissions and transfer of credit from previous postsecondary education or experience.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) Assistance in obtaining student financial aid.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) Housing support.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) Providing classes that are limited to veterans to help them fulfill general education requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) Providing activities designed to ease the transition of veterans to life on the campus of such institution.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) Support for veteran student organizations and veteran student support groups on campus.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(H) Coordination of academic advising and admissions counseling with military bases and National Guard and Reserve units in the area.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) Such other support services as the institution considers necessary to ensure the success of veterans in achieving the veterans' educational and career goals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Evaluation and Accountability Plan- The Secretary shall develop an evaluation and accountability plan for programs established under subsection (c)(1) to measure the impact of such programs, including an objective measure of whether the rates of enrollment, persistence, and completion of programs of education at institutions of higher education by veterans increase as a result of such programs.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink