SVAG - Analysis of UNC School System

analysis & audit OF

north carolina’s UNC SCHOOL SYSTEM

ALLOCATION & RECOGNITION OF GI BILL REVENUES for residency classification AND CORELATION TO providing ADEQUATE SERVICES, RESOURCES,

AND ASSISTANCE TO RECIPIENTS Report authored by Jason R. Thigpen Founder/President Student Veterans Advocacy Group Website: www.studentveteransadvocacygroup.org Email: [email protected] Follow us on: Facebook: facebook.com/SVANC Twitter: @Student_Vets

August 27, 2012

2

table of contents

Introduction 3 Results and Recommendations 4 Appendix A – Department of Veterans Affairs – North Carolina Statistics 6 (GI Bill use in NC 2000-2010) Appendix B – Median Costs to Attend NC Colleges and Universities 7 Appendix C – Cost Comparison of Attending NC Colleges and Universities 8 (for in-state and out-of-state residents in ’09-’11) Appendix D – Statistics for all NC Colleges & Universities 10 (Student Body Populations – Undergraduate) Appendix E – North Carolina General Statute 116-143.3 through 116-143.6 14 Appendix F – UNC SERVES – April 2011 “Report to the President” 16 Report authored by Jason R. Thigpen Founder/President Student Veterans Advocacy Group Website: www.studentveteransadvocacygroup.org Email: [email protected] Follow us on: Facebook: facebook.com/SVANC Twitter: @Student_Vets

3

introduction MISSION The Student Veterans Advocacy Group’s mission is to serve, assist, and advocate for our nation’s Veterans and their dependents – ensuring the benefits earned through their time in-service are accessible, adequate, and available. The Student Veterans Advocacy Group supports the rights of our Veterans nationwide, by safeguarding the education benefits owed to them, which results in a positive impact on our local, state, and national communities- at-large. OBJECTIVE This report is an analysis & audit of the UNC School System – allocation & recognition of GI Bill revenues for residency classification and its’ correlation to providing adequate services, facilities, resources, and assistance to said recipients in a proportional manner consistent with respect to the number of student Veterans using such GI Bill benefits. BACKGROUND The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) reported in 2010 - 24,508 Veterans and/or Dependents used GI Bill Education Benefits in North Carolina. Effective August 1, 2011 - the Post- 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-377) detrimentally impacted thousands of Veterans attending public colleges in North Carolina with the issue of in-state residency for tuition purposes, the results of which left Veterans with a financial burden of paying the difference between the in- state and out-of-state tuition rate. Prior to this change, the VA paid up to $17,500 in tuition per academic year, regardless of residency classification. While the State faced many challenges due to such complex changes in the GI Bill, the UNC School System implemented a working group for the System-wide Evaluation & Recommendation for Veterans Education & Services. The goal is to “improve access, retention and graduation rates for active-duty service members, Veterans, and their families at UNC institutions”.

4

RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FINDING Less Than 10% of UNC System Schools Offer Adequate Services, Facilities, Resources, and Assistance To Its’ Student Veterans Prior to August 1, 2011 residency for tuition purposes was of no concern for GI Bill beneficiaries or UNC System Schools because the GI Bill paid tuition rates up to $17,500 per academic year, regardless of whether the school classified the student as in-state or out-of-state. There were approximately 401,000 undergraduate students were attending North Carolina colleges and universities in 2010. Of this, app. 42% were attending UNC Universities, app. 50% attended UNC Community Colleges, leaving app. 8% attending private colleges and universities. Resulting in approximately 10,200 GI Bill recipients attending the 16 public universities and 12,600 attending the 116 community colleges within the UNC School System. The median cost-difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition costs for 4-year North Carolina universities in 2010 was app. $11,388 and $5,760 for 2-year Community Colleges in North Carolina. If all such student Veterans using the GI Bill were classified as in- state residents for tuition purposes in 2010 the UNC School System would have generated app. $66,000,000 and if all of them were classified as out-of-state residents for tuition purposes, the UNC School System would’ve generated app. $259,000,000 from respective attending student Veterans, in 2010. Assuming only 50% of such students were classified as out-of-state residents, the UNC School System received revenues of approximately $163,000,000 from GI Bill beneficiaries in 2010. Therefore, the UNC School System stood to lose between app. $97,000,000 and $193,000,000 unless billing such differences to said student Veterans, due to the change in law with the Post-9/11 GI Bill becoming effective in August of 2011. Since the inception of the GI Bill in the 1940’s, the Department of Veterans Affairs paid the cost billed by UNC System Schools, regardless of residency classification. Despite the numerous requests made to the UNC System Schools, for financial records and reports segregating the GI Bill revenues, the only consistent response thus far is none at all and they don't know. Unsettling questions regarding possible waste

5

and abuse, regarding potential over-billing to the Department of Veterans Affairs and attending student Veterans using GI Bill benefits, are surfacing due to the inconsistency and lack of transparency from the UNC School System and schools within. Even more troubling - only 4 UNC System Schools offer adequate designated services, facilities, resources, and assistance commensurate with the revenues received by these institutions from attending student Veterans. Around 90% of the remaining UNC System Schools don't offer enough to be noteworthy or reported. RECOMMENDATIONS We recommend a comprehensive audit and investigation be done on each institution in the UNC School System segregating all GI Bill related funds and recipients from 2007-2011 by: year, residency classification, and the number of student beneficiaries represented in the same. This comprehensive audit should be done by a third-party non-affiliate in cooperation with our organization within a reasonable timeframe. Additionally, we recommend the UNC School System and schools allocate funds proportional with the number of GI Bill beneficiaries attending their respective institutions to provide services, facilities, resources, and assistance to such students. Lastly, we recommend the UNC School System and schools within implement a consistent program, by working with our organization in a manner that may unilaterally bridge the divide currently present to such students in the UNC School System. OUR PERSPECTIVE "Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." (1894) - Theodore Roosevelt "A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled, and less than that no man shall have." - Theodore Roosevelt

6

APPENDIX A Department of Veterans Affairs Education Program Beneficiaries by Geography1: FY2000 to FY2010

Fiscal Year

Total Beneficiaries

Program Name

MGIB-‐AD Trainees

MGIB-‐SR Trainees

DEA Trainees

VEAP Trainees

REAP Trainees

Post-‐9/11

Trainees North Carolina 2000 12,682 -‐-‐ -‐-‐ -‐-‐ -‐-‐ -‐-‐ -‐-‐ 2001 12,883 -‐-‐ -‐-‐ -‐-‐ -‐-‐ -‐-‐ -‐-‐ 2002 13,960 9,960 1,807 2,161 32 -‐-‐ -‐-‐ 2003 14,912 10,399 1,820 2,670 23 -‐-‐ -‐-‐ 2004 15,172 10,515 1,523 3,115 19 -‐-‐ -‐-‐ 2005 15,794 10,462 1,812 3,505 15 -‐-‐ -‐-‐ 2006 15,179 10,242 1,280 3,642 15 -‐-‐ -‐-‐ 2007 16,552 10,447 1,222 3,865 14 1,004 -‐-‐ 2008 16,148 10,423 1,376 3,938 13 398 -‐-‐ 2009 15,730 9,785 1,327 3,861 12 745 -‐-‐ 2010 24,508 7,973 1,598 4,267 7 595 10,068

7

APPENDIX B http://info.sreb.org/DataLibrary/tables/Tuition11.xlsx MEDIANS (COSTS) Undergrad. In-State Undergrad. Out-of-State State Type ’09-’10 ’10-’11 % ’09-’10 ’10-’11 % Change NC Four-Year 1 5,550 6,597 19 20,737 22,172 7 Four-Year 2 4,331 5,056 17 15,517 16,460 6 Four-Year 3 4,404 4,961 13 14,552 15,778 8 Four-Year 4 3,177 3,476 9 13,520 13,940 3 Four-Year 5 3,629 4,114 13 12,726 13,291 4 Four-Year 6 3,681 4,185 14 14,064 15,389 9 All 4yr 4,330 4,797 11 15,039 16,185 8 Two-Year w/ bachs (7)

Two-Year 1 (8) 1,694 1,811 7 7,816 7,571 -3 Two-Year 2 (9) 1,680 1,798 7 7,802 7,558 -3 Two-Year 3 (10) 1,676 1,780 6 7,798 7,540 -3 All 2yr 1,682 1,798 7 7,804 7,558 -3

8

APPENDIX C http://www.sreb.org/page/1357/data_library_higher_ed_tuition__fees.html Undergrad. In-State Undergrad. Out-of-State State Institution ’09-’10 ’10-’11 ’09-’10 ’10-‘11

NC North Carolina State University 5,475 6,529 17,960 19,064

NC University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 5,625 6,665 23,513 25,280

NC University of North Carolina at Charlotte 4,427 5,138 15,039 16,185

NC University of North Carolina at Greensboro 4,234 4,973 15,995 16,734

NC Appalachian State University 4,491 5,251 15,112 16,563 NC East Carolina University 4,477 4,797 15,311 16,871

NC North Carolina A&T State University 3,696 4,416 13,138 13,858

NC North Carolina Central University 3,922 4,561 13,991 15,134

NC University of North Carolina at Wilmington 4,873 5,322 15,755 16,421

NC Western Carolina University 4,330 5,124 13,927 14,721 NC Fayetteville State University 3,177 3,476 13,520 13,940

NC University of North Carolina at Pembroke 3,736 4,140 12,943 13,347

NC Winston-Salem State University 3,522 4,088 12,508 13,234 NC Elizabeth City State University 3,032 3,640 12,081 13,277

NC University of North Carolina at Asheville 4,330 4,729 16,047 17,501

NC Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College 1,655 1,783 7,777 7,543

NC Cape Fear Community College 1,737 1,847 7,859 7,607

NC Central Piedmont Community College 1,798 1,926 7,920 7,686

NC Fayetteville Technical Community College 1,660 1,800 7,782 7,560

NC Forsyth Technical Community College 1,662 1,772 7,784 7,532

NC Gaston College 1,776 1,886 7,898 7,646

NC Guilford Technical Community College 1,773 1,883 7,895 7,643

NC Pitt Community College 1,686 1,796 7,808 7,556

NC Rowan-Cabarrus Community College 1,702 1,822 7,824 7,582

NC Wake Technical Community College 1,682 1,792 7,804 7,552

NC Alamance Community College 1,630 1,740 7,752 7,500

NC Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute 1,656 1,774 7,778 7,534

NC Catawba Valley Community College 1,669 1,797 7,791 7,557

NC Central Carolina Commuity College 1,688 1,798 7,810 7,558

NC Cleveland Community College 1,665 1,775 7,787 7,535

NC Coastal Carolina Community College 1,630 1,740 7,752 7,500

9

NC Craven Community College 1,716 1,826 7,838 7,586

NC Davidson County Community College 1,710 1,820 7,832 7,580

NC Durham Technical Community College 1,680 1,790 7,802 7,550

NC Edgecombe Community College 1,672 1,782 7,794 7,542 NC Haywood Community College 1,701 1,811 7,823 7,571 NC Isothermal Community College 1,638 1,748 7,760 7,508 NC Johnston Community College 1,697 1,807 7,819 7,567 NC Lenoir Community College 1,703 1,603 7,825 7,333 NC Mitchell Community College 1,670 1,780 7,792 7,540 NC Nash Community College 1,728 1,816 7,850 7,576 NC Randolph Community College 1,666 1,776 7,788 7,536 NC Robeson Community College 1,660 1,800 7,782 7,560 NC Sandhills Community College 1,697 1,807 7,819 7,567 NC Stanly Community College 1,720 1,830 7,842 7,590 NC Surry Community College 1,703 1,815 7,825 7,575

NC Vance-Granville Community College 1,686 1,808 7,808 7,568

NC Wayne Community College 1,672 1,782 7,794 7,542

NC Western Piedmont Community College 1,627 1,827 7,749 7,587

NC Wilkes Community College 1,719 1,829 7,841 7,589

NC Beaufort County Community College 1,664 1,834 7,786 7,594

NC Bladen Community College 1,682 1,780 7,804 7,540 NC Blue Ridge Community College 1,695 1,795 7,817 7,555 NC Brunswick Community College 1,700 1,810 7,822 7,570 NC Carteret Community College 1,666 1,776 7,788 7,536 NC College of the Albemarle 1,690 1,811 7,812 7,571 NC Halifax Community College 1,718 1,832 7,840 7,592 NC James Sprunt Community College 1,670 1,780 7,792 7,540 NC Martin Community College 1,638 1,748 7,760 7,508 NC Mayland Community College 1,696 1,806 7,818 7,566

NC McDowell Technical Community College 1,668 1,778 7,790 7,538

NC Montgomery Community College 1,665 1,775 7,787 7,535 NC Pamlico Community College 1,635 1,745 7,757 7,505 NC Piedmont Community College 1,648 1,759 7,770 7,519 NC Richmond Community College 1,658 1,768 7,780 7,528

NC Roanoke-Chowan Community College 1,701 1,811 7,823 7,571

NC Rockingham Community College 1,716 1,826 7,838 7,586 NC Sampson Community College 1,676 1,756 7,798 7,516

NC South Piedmont Community College 1,738 1,848 7,860 7,608

NC Southeastern Community College 1,699 1,809 7,821 7,569

NC Southwestern Community College 1,665 1,775 7,787 7,535

NC Tri-County Community College 1,659 1,769 7,781 7,529

NC Wilson Technical Community College 1,687 1,809 7,809 7,569

NC North Carolina School of the Arts 5,449 6,453 17,395 18,811

10

APPENDIX D North Carolina College and University – Student Enrollment Statistics http://collegestats.org/colleges/north-carolina/lowest-instate-tuition Institution Asheville-‐Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville NC 6,408 Randolph Community College Asheboro NC 2,521 Vance-‐Granville Community College Henderson NC 4,135 Southeastern Community College Whiteville NC 1,811 Craven Community College New Bern NC 3,032 Brunswick Community College Supply NC 1,162 Davidson County Community College Thomasville NC 3,399 Southwestern Community College Sylva NC 2,040 Central Carolina Community College Sanford NC 4,603 Sandhills Community College Pinehurst NC 3,826 Western Piedmont Community College Morganton NC 2,448 Alamance Community College Graham NC 3,925 Forsyth Technical Community College Winston Salem NC 7,276 Roanoke-‐Chowan Community College Ahoskie NC 384 Pamlico Community College Grantsboro NC 393 Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville NC 4,349 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Hudson NC 3,728 Piedmont Community College Roxboro NC 2,575 Catawba Valley Community College Hickory NC 4,765 Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock NC 1,968 Haywood Community College Clyde NC 2,127 Cleveland Community College Shelby NC 2,064 Isothermal Community College Spindale NC 2,131 Richmond Community College Hamlet NC 1,799 Martin Community College Williamston NC 755 Wilson Community College Wilson NC 1,642 Wayne Community College Goldsboro NC 2,988 Tri-‐County Community College Murphy NC 1,079 Robeson Community College Lumberton NC 1,788 Stanly Community College Albemarle NC 2,390 Wake Technical Community College Raleigh NC 12,238 Beaufort County Community College Washington NC 1,476 Rowan-‐Cabarrus Community College Salisbury NC 5,158 Surry Community College Dobson NC 3,201

11

Montgomery Community College Troy NC 954 Sampson Community College Clinton NC 1,278 Cape Fear Community College Wilmington NC 7,570 College of the Albemarle Elizabeth City NC 2,117 James Sprunt Community College Kenansville NC 1,118 Johnston Community College Smithfield NC 4,145 Mitchell Community College Statesville NC 2,687 Bladen Community College Dublin NC 1,226 Edgecombe Community College Tarboro NC 1,687 Lenoir Community College Kinston NC 2,733 South Piedmont Community College Polkton NC 2,250 Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro NC 2,476 Mayland Community College Spruce Pine NC 1,472 Pitt Community College Winterville NC 6,499 Rockingham Community College Wentworth NC 2,013 Nash Community College Rocky Mount NC 2,916 Halifax Community College Weldon NC 1,142 McDowell Technical Community College Marion NC 1,134 Carteret Community College Morehead City NC 1,628 Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville NC 9,063 Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown NC 10,571 Durham Technical Community College Durham NC 5,170 Gaston College Dallas NC 5,718 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte NC 18,052 Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City NC 3,061 Winston-‐Salem State University Winston-‐Salem NC 5,870 Fayetteville State University Fayetteville NC 6,692 North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro NC 10,498 North Carolina Central University Durham NC 8,383 University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke NC 5,937 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro NC 18,627 University of North Carolina at Asheville Asheville NC 3,701 Western Carolina University Cullowhee NC 9,056 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte NC 22,388 Appalachian State University Boone NC 15,871 Carolina Christian College Winston Salem NC 30 East Carolina University Greenville NC 25,990 University of North Carolina-‐Wilmington Wilmington NC 12,180 Apex School of Theology Durham NC 120 University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston-‐Salem NC 867 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh NC 31,802 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill NC 28,136 New Life Theological Seminary Charlotte NC 63

12

Heritage Bible College Dunn NC 84 Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Concord NC 358 Roanoke Bible College Elizabeth City NC 146 Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School Winston Salem NC 373 Shaw University Raleigh NC 2,866 John Wesley College High Point NC 109 University of Phoenix-‐Charlotte Campus Charlotte NC 1,250 University of Phoenix-‐Raleigh Campus Raleigh NC 596 Livingstone College Salisbury NC 960 Louisburg College Louisburg NC 754 King's College Charlotte NC 522 South College-‐Asheville Asheville NC 133 DeVry University-‐North Carolina Charlotte NC 473 Mount Olive College Mount Olive NC 3,277 Saint Augustines College Raleigh NC 1,284 Bennett College for Women Greensboro NC 678 ITT Technical Institute-‐Charlotte Charlotte NC 323 Johnson C Smith University Charlotte NC 1,463 Chowan University Murfreesboro NC 875 Pfeiffer University Misenheimer NC 2,053 School of Communication Arts Raleigh NC 325 Montreat College Montreat NC 1,145 St Andrews Presbyterian College Laurinburg NC 747 Wingate University Wingate NC 2,041 Gardner-‐Webb University Boiling Springs NC 3,892 Brevard College Brevard NC 675 Belmont Abbey College Belmont NC 1,337 Mars Hill College Mars Hill NC 1,253 Campbell University Inc Buies Creek NC 6,208 Barton College Wilson NC 1,130 North Carolina Wesleyan College Rocky Mount NC 1,583 Salem College Winston Salem NC 992 The Art Institute of Charlotte Charlotte NC 974 Lees-‐McRae College Banner Elk NC 882 High Point University High Point NC 3,064 Methodist University Fayetteville NC 2,118 Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte NC 2,243 Greensboro College Greensboro NC 1,180 Catawba College Salisbury NC 1,323 Warren Wilson College Swannanoa NC 946 Lenoir-‐Rhyne University Hickory NC 1,626 Peace College Raleigh NC 692 Johnson & Wales University-‐Charlotte Charlotte NC 2,569

13

Elon University Elon NC 5,456 Meredith College Raleigh NC 2,202 Guilford College Greensboro NC 2,688 Davidson College Davidson NC 1,674 Wake Forest University Winston Salem NC 6,788 Duke University Durham NC 13,598 Carolinas College of Health Sciences Charlotte NC 484 Hood Theological Seminary Salisbury NC 264

14

APPENDIX E

North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 116

Higher Education Article 14

General Provisions as to Tuition and Fees in Certain State Institutions. § 116-143.3. Tuition of armed services personnel and their dependents. (a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: (1) The term "abode" shall mean the place where a person actually lives, whether temporarily or permanently; the term "abide" shall mean to live in a given place. (2) The term "armed services" shall mean the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy; the North Carolina National Guard; and any Reserve Component of the foregoing. (3) Repealed by Session Laws 2007-484, s. 15, effective August 30, 2007. (b) Any active duty member of the armed services qualifying for admission to an institution of higher education as defined in G.S. 116-143.1 (a)(3) but not qualifying as a resident for tuition purposes under G.S. 116-143.1 shall be charged the in-State tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees for enrollments while the member of the armed services is abiding in this State incident to active military duty in this State. In the event the active duty member of the armed services is reassigned outside of North Carolina or retires, the member shall continue to be eligible for the in-State tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees so long as the member is continuously enrolled in the degree or other program in which the member was enrolled at the time the member is reassigned. In the event the active duty member of the armed services receives an Honorable Discharge from military service, the member shall continue to be eligible for the in-State tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees so long as the member establishes residency in North Carolina within 30 days after the discharge and is continuously enrolled in the degree or other program in which the member was enrolled at the time the member is discharged. (b1), (b2) Repealed by Session Laws 2004-130, s. 1, effective August 1, 2004. (c) Any dependent relative of a member of the armed services who is abiding in this State incident to active military duty, as defined by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and by the State Board of Community Colleges while sharing the abode of that member shall be eligible to be charged the in-State tuition rate, if the dependent relative qualifies for admission to an institution of higher education as defined in G.S. 116-143.1(a)(3). The dependent relatives shall comply with the requirements of the Selective Service System, if applicable, in order to be accorded this benefit. In the event the member of the armed services is

15

reassigned outside of North Carolina or retires, the dependent relative shall continue to be eligible for the in-State tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees so long as the dependent relative is continuously enrolled in the degree or other program in which the dependent relative was enrolled at the time the member is reassigned or retires. In the event the member of the armed services receives an Honorable Discharge from military service, the dependent relative shall continue to be eligible for the in-State tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees so long as the dependent relative establishes residency within North Carolina within 30 days after the discharge and is continuously enrolled in the degree or other program in which the dependent relative was enrolled at the time the member is discharged. (d) The person applying for the benefit of this section has the burden of proving entitlement to the benefit. (e) A person charged less than the out-of-state tuition rate solely by reason of this section shall not, during the period of receiving that benefit, qualify for or be the basis of conferring the benefit of G.S. 116-143.1(g), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (l). (1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1034, s. 57;1985, c. 39, s. 1; c. 479, s. 69; c. 757, s. 154; 1987, c. 564, § 7; 1997-443, s. 10.2; 2003-284, s.8.16(a); 2004-130, s. 1; 2005-276, s. 9.38; 2005-345, s. 14; 2005-445, s. 7; 2007-484, s. 15.) § 116-143.6. Full scholarship students attending constituent institutions. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Board of Trustees of a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina elects to do so, it may by resolution adopted consider as residents of North Carolina all persons who receive full scholarships to the institution from entities recognized by the institution and attend the institution as undergraduate students. The aforesaid persons shall be considered residents of North Carolina for all purposes by The University of North Carolina. (b) The following definitions apply in this section: (1) "Full cost" means an amount calculated by the constituent institution that is no less than the sum of tuition, required fees, and on-campus room and board. (2) "Full scholarship" means a grant that meets the full cost for a student to attend the constituent institution for an academic year. (c) This section shall not be applied in any manner that violates federal law. (d) This section shall be administered by the electing constituent institution so as to have no fiscal impact. (e) In administering this section, the electing constituent institution shall maintain at least the current number of North Carolina residents admitted to that constituent institution. (2005-276, s. 9.27(a).)

16

UNC SERVES April 2011 Report to the President Our nation has a tradition of offering education benefits to its veterans. In the 1940s, the first “G.I. Bill” was transformative for the 7.8 million veterans that used the benefit. For every dollar invested in veterans, seven dollars was generated. Veterans earn better grades and have a 75 percent graduation rate. With the exception of white males, veterans in all other race and gender groups earn more money than their non-veteran counterparts. Veterans start more small businesses. In general, Veterans outperform non-Veterans. The first G.I. Bill sparked economic growth and expansion for a whole generation of Americans; a more robust G.I. bill holds the same potential for today’s economy. This could not be truer than for North Carolina. To realize this potential our state must actively support military-affiliated students in its systems of public higher education. We want these students to choose a UNC education and we want them to live and work in North Carolina. The UNC SERVES Working Group believes that educating service members yields a high return on investment for North Carolina and the nation. And, in doing so the University makes a significant down payment on the promise of UNC Tomorrow to be more demand-driven, relevant and responsive to the needs of North Carolina. The UNC SERVES Report to the President is a recommendation for first steps toward fulfilling the promise of UNC Tomorrow for North Carolina’s military family. And, in light of the next Base Realignment and Closure process scheduled for 2015, we want to continue to demonstrate why North Carolina should receive continued military investment. While this report does not recommend all that can be done to improve access, retention and graduation rates for military-affiliated students at UNC, the UNC SERVES Working Group believes that this report recommends that which can be reasonably tackled and achieved at this time. The UNC SERVES Working Group intends for this document to represent a “stake in the ground” to reaffirm the University’s commitment to North Carolina’s military. To borrow a phrase from Uncle Sam – we want you in the University of North Carolina. UNC SERVES

17

««««««««Working Group Members«««««««« Ann Marie Beall (UNC-Wilmington), Chair Dr. Thomas Conway (Fayetteville State University), Chair Dr. Steve Duncan (East Carolina University), Chair Committee I: Access (Ann Marie Beall, Chair) Goal: Assist and encourage qualified military-affiliated students to identify and enroll in UNC programs best suited to meet their educational needs. Admissions, Financial Aid, Enrollment, Residency, Orientation, Marketing, Recruitment, Communication, Institutional Reporting, Yellow Ribbon Program, Transfer of General Ed Credit, Compulsory Separation, Transfer Articulation, Ft. Bragg “One-Stop Center” Ann Marie Beall UNC-Wilmington, Admissions Dr. Susan McCracken Appalachian State University, External Affairs Dr. Scott Jenkins North Carolina A&T State University, Institutional Research Steve Farmer UNC-Chapel Hill, Admissions Norma Houston UNC-Chapel Hill, Faculty, School of Government Shannon Miles UNC-Wilmington, Financial Aid Chuck Gross Western Carolina University, Military Programs Dr. Bruce Mallette UNC General Administration, Academic and Student Affairs Gilberto Alvarado Fayetteville State University, UNC One Stop Center Committee II: Academic Services (Thomas Conway, Chair) Goal: Ensure an academically rigorous learning experience for military-affiliated students & veterans that is relevant, attractive, and convenient. Transition, Academic Counseling, Degree Relevancy, Communication, Adaptable Course Offerings, Distance Education, Transfer of Departmental Credit, Separation & Readmission, Base Education Centers Dr. Thomas Conway Fayetteville State University, Chief of Staff Clayton Sessoms East Carolina University, Continuing Studies Dr. Vivian Mott East Carolina University, Chair, Counselor and Adult Education Dr. Lou Riggans Fayetteville State University, Faculty and Transfer and Advisement Dr. Tracey Ford North Carolina A&T State University, Advising Dr. Roger Lowery UNC-Wilmington, Chair, Dept. Public and International Studies Dr. Remonda Kleinberg UNC-Wilmington, Faculty Dr. Sandie Gravett UNC Faculty Assembly, Chair Dr. Richard C. Kearney North Carolina State University, Faculty Dr. Jim Sadler UNC General Administration, Academic Planning Ryan Beck UNC General Administration, Military Affairs UNC SERVES

18

Committee III: Support Services and Outreach (Jose Picart, Chair) Goal: Provide a coordinated system of support services to enhance military-affiliated student success. Establish a campus environment that values and appreciates military-affiliated students. Veteran Student Life, Disability Services, Health and Wellness, Communication, Community Engagement, Veterans Administration Relations, ROTC Engagement, Campus Engagement Dr. Jose Picart North Carolina State University, Diversity and Inclusion Mary Chakales UNC-Asheville, Student Affairs Dr. David Spano UNC-Charlotte, Counseling Center Mary Helen Walker UNC-Pembroke, Disability Services Matt Goers (Student) UNC-Wilmington, Student Veterans Organization Amy Hector UNC-Wilmington, Student Affairs Dr. Joe Wescott North Carolina State Approving Agency Logan Cason UNC-Charlotte, Veteran Student Outreach Aubrey Swett UNC-Pembroke, Community and Civic Engagement Dr. Karrie Dixon UNC General Administration, Academic and Student Affairs Craig Kabatchnick North Carolina Central University, Faculty, School of Law Joshua Green UNC-Greensboro, Student Affairs Committee IV: Strategic Planning (Ron Lingle and Beth Barton, Chairs) Goal: To fulfill the promise of UNC Tomorrow for North Carolina’s Military Family through effective Military Relations to positively impact the North Carolina Military Family and the State of North Carolina. Military Relations, “UNC Online,” Marketing, Institutional Planning, Communication, Community College Collaboration, Statutory Changes, Independent College & University Collaboration Dr. Ron Lingle Coastal Carolina Community College, President Dr. Beth Barton UNC-Wilmington, Military Liaison Dr. Steve Duncan East Carolina University, Military Liaison LTC Ken Ratashak North Carolina State University, Professor of Military Science Holly Danford North Carolina State University, Veterans Certifying Official Erin Schuettpelz UNC-Chapel Hill, State Relations and Communications Mike Tarrant UNC-Greensboro, State and Federal Relations Dan Lewandowski UNC General Administration Kimrey Rhinehardt UNC General Administration, Federal Relations Ethan Elliot (Student) North Carolina State University, Student Staff to the Working Group Kimrey Rhinehardt, Vice President for Federal Relations, UNC General Administration Ryan Beck, Advisor for Military Affairs, UNC General Administration UNC SERVES

19

««««««««The Charge«««««««« Questions for the UNC SERVES Working Group: How are UNC institutions currently serving active service members, student veterans and their families (military-affiliated students)? What are the accepted best practices for serving these students? What can the University reasonably do to improve access, retention and graduation of these students? What are metrics of success for the University in serving these students? Charge to the UNC SERVES Working Group: Report and Recommend to the President of the University: Evaluation of current state of active duty military and veteran affairs on UNC institutions Institutional, system-wide, and state/federal statutory policy changes, regulations and/or guidelines to improve access, retention and the graduation of active duty military and veterans on UNC institutions, Institutional and system-wide best practices to improve access, retention and the graduation of active-duty military and veterans on UNC institutions Opportunities for institutional and system-wide improvement Factors for UNC SERVES Working Group Recommendations: Diversity of institutions, including size, capacity, and number of active duty military and veterans Constrained resources – Consider all options but prioritize no cost, low cost recommendations Return on investment Costs should accompany each recommendation, if possible Definition of Military-Affiliated Student: A military-affiliated student is one who is: in Active or Reserve status, in Veteran status, or a spouse or dependent of a service member in active, Reserve, or Veteran status, and in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Forces Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve. Exclusions from UNC SERVES: Research policies or practices, Pre-deployment training or “reach back” development, and Recommendations for specific Academic content or Academic program development. The End State: Position the University to attract, retain and graduate military-affiliated students. Develop a system-wide approach to supporting military-affiliated students and the campuses that serve them. Enable campuses to share information, best practices and possible solutions for system-wide issues facing military-affiliated students. SERVES National Need For nearly a decade, American men and women have been engaged in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our nation is in an “era of persistent conflict” and our armed forces are serving the American people in various capacities around the world. Institutions of higher education are critical to the military’s strategy to develop, prepare and deploy the leaders required for current and future global conflicts. Active-‐duty service members totaled nearly 1.5 million at the end of January 2011 and, each year approximately one-third of these service members enroll in post-secondary education using Department of Defense Tuition Assistance funds. Veterans are entitled to education benefits. Veterans who have served since September 11,

20

2001 have earned additional educational benefits. These benefits are the most comprehensive educational benefits since the “Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944,” also known as the “GI Bill.” The original GI Bill is said to have produced 50 years of economic prosperity for America. With over 2-million service members having served since 2001, the Post 9/11 GI Bill has the potential to unleash the next “Greatest Generation” and reinvigorate economic prosperity. Active-duty military and veterans are non-traditional students with non-traditional needs and experiences. These students work full-time jobs, often in some of the most remote locations in the world. Veteran students are attempting to integrate themselves into civilian society while simultaneously dealing with serious social and emotional challenges. The University is not immune to these challenges. Since July 2009, the American Council on Education and the Lumina Foundation issued three major reports on higher education support for service members, veterans and their families. In general, these reports reinforce the need for all institutions of higher education to: collect data on these students; train faculty and staff about the military population – particularly staff that must process student accounts and financial aid; provide disability and mental health services; extend consistent transfer of credit guidelines and transparency of the guidelines; provide targeted orientation and information sessions for these students; and establish a campus-based student veterans group to provide support among peers. North Carolina and the Military In North Carolina, the military is more than just a federal government presence – the soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and their families are part of the North Carolina family. As such, the University endeavors to fulfill the promise of UNC Tomorrow for all North Carolinians and most especially for North Carolina’s military family. “America can succeed only with leaders who are themselves full-spectrum in their thinking. The military will not be able to train or educate you to have all the right answers – as you might find in a manual – but you should look for those experiences and pursuits in your career that will help you at least ask the right questions. The diversity of experiences and essential adaptability of this generation are crucial to dealing with the complexity of conflict in this century.” Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense To the Cadets of the United States Military Academy (West Point, NY) February 25, 2011 North Carolina has the third largest active duty, National Guard, and Reserve presence in the country where just five states host roughly half of the nation’s armed forces. On a per capita basis, North Carolina has the highest percentage of the total active duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel in the country. And, North Carolina’s active duty military population continues to grow. The projected economic impact of the military in the state will be nearly $26.3 Billion in 2013. While these figures are significant, they do not account for economic growth resulting from military-affiliated students seeking a higher education and transitioning to private sector employment, including new small business. The UNC SERVES Working Group believes that educating service members yields a high return on investment for North Carolina and the nation.

SVAG - Analysis of UNC School System

Documents

Transcript of SVAG - Analysis of UNC School System