Inside this Month's Issue:

• Section 1 - Announcements: What you need to know to prepare for the Summer 2023 and Fall 2023 semesters.
• Section 2 – This Year Wrapped: See all of the exciting events that Veterans Services was part of during the Spring 2023 semester!
• Section 3 – Calendar 
• Section 4 –A special announcement to the graduating Class of 2023! #AUGRAD2023

Announcements

Preparing for the Summer 2023 semester

Are you taking Summer 2023 classes? Make sure that you submit your Request for Certification in a timely manner! Remember, our office will not certify your benefits until the add/drop deadline passes for your Summer course(s). This means that you will not receive a payment from the VA until about 4-6 weeks after your classes have started.  

Preparing for the Fall 2023 semester

Are you returning to take Fall 2023 classes? Make sure that you submit your Request for Certification in a timely manner! Remember, our office will not certify your benefits until the add/drop deadline passes for your Fall course(s). This means that you will not receive a payment from the VA until about 4-6 weeks after your classes have started. Also, please monitor your emails for announcements concerning Fall 2023 orientation and make sure that your Academic Advisor knows that you are using VA Education benefits so that they can be better postured to advise you on how many classes to take!

 

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 The American University Veterans Services office had an event-filled Spring 2023 semester! We held summer registration workshops and webinars orientations for Graduate students using VA Education benefits, participated in the Ann Ferren Conference, hosted the VA on campus to launch the new Enrollment Manager tool, attended Washington Week with Student Veterans of America, and hosted the Veteran and Military-Affiliated Affinity Commencement Celebration!

Ann Ferren Conference

In January, the Veterans Services Team with support of CAS Faculty member Erica Lesto had the incredible opportunity to present during the Anne Ferren Conference.

The conference is an opportunity for members of the AU community to share experiences and expertise in advancing teaching and research practices at American University. Our session was called “Military-Connected Students at AU: Creating an inclusive and supportive campus environment.” The interactive session taught faculty and staff how to identify the strengths our military-connected students bring to the classroom along with some of the unique aspects of the military-connected student experience. We also provided case studies to apply best practices to these scenarios. Participants gained valuable tools and resources to create a more military-inclusive community at AU. We were so happy with the great feedback from all of those who participated in our session, and we cannot wait to hold more training sessions in the future! Are you interested in helping the Veterans Services team create training sessions for Faculty and Staff so they can better support AU’s military-connected students? Please reach out to Dymeah Casey, Assistant Director Veterans Services by emailing dcasey@american.edu for more information! Watch the video recording of our session on YouTube!

 

Soft Launch of the VA Enrollment Manager Tool

The Veterans Administration handpicked American University to host a soft launch of the new School Certifying Official Enrollment Manager Tool! Prior to the new Enrollment Manager system’s official launch in April, the Veterans Administration hosted several workshops across the country so that School Certifying Officials could test drive the system and offer feedback to enhance usability. Enrollment Manager is a modernized platform for School Certifying Officials (SCOs) that will replaced VA ONline Certification of Enrollment (VA-ONCE). While the core functions of Enrollment Manager remain the same as VA-ONCE, it has a greatly enhanced user experience. Watch this video to see VA representatives, regional SCOs and American University staff and students at the soft launch!

Student Veterans of America Washington Week: March 1-2, 2023

Each year, Veterans Services Organizations across the nation convene on the Hill to discuss laws and policies that impact Veterans, their families, and their caregivers. Organizations like the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Black Veterans Association, and the Student Veterans of America get a chance to sit in front of Congress members and advocate for change that will drastically help our military-connected community. This year, the AU Veterans Services team attended Washington Week and sat in on the Student Veterans of America’s session. The event is free to attend and is an amazing opportunity to network with other Student Veterans on the Hill and nationwide. Interested in attending next year? Visit SVA’s website and set up an account for more information! Want to be more involved with other Student Veterans on campus? Join the American University Military Connected Club!

Graduate Student Webinars for VA Beneficiaries

This semester our office held 3 webinars for Graduate students using VA Education benefits over Zoom. These webinars gave graduate students a refresher on how their VA education benefits apply to their program and also provided information on federal aid available to Veterans, National Guard/Reservists, and Active-duty military members. If you attend one of these sessions and found it helpful or have any suggestions for improvements, please send an email to veterans@american.edu with your feedback!

Summer Registration Workshops: March 2023

In March our office held a Summer Registration Officer Hours session for VA Education beneficiaries wanting to take Summer 2023. During this workshop, students had the opportunity to meet with a Veterans Services Office representative who took a detailed look at their student accounts, reviewed the status of their VA Education Benefits, and recommended options about their decision to take courses for the Summer 2023 semester. Our office understands that everyone’s situation is unique concerning available VA Education benefits and so we took the time to teach students more about their individual benefits. We hope to host many more of these sessions in the future! If you would like to attend one of these events, please follow our office on Engage and also follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Veterans Lounge Revamp!

Have you seen the Veterans Lounge lately? Wow. What a difference! With the support of the Office of Campus Life, the Veterans Lounge is now an even more comfortable place to take your study breaks and find your community here at American University. There is a new comfy sofa, computer desk, organization cubbies, day use lockers, free snacks and refreshments to power you through study sessions, and more! We hope that you will stop by and check it out next semester! For access to the Veterans Lounge, send an email to veterans@american.edu 

Veteran and Military-Affiliated Affinity Commencement Celebration: April 28, 2023

It’s that time of year where we celebrate our graduating military-connected students! American University held our Veteran and Military-Affiliated Community student affinity graduation celebration on Friday April 28, 2023 in the Washington College of Law Faculty & Staff Lounge. The theme of the event was From Service to Scholar: honoring your military service and celebrating your academic achievements.”  During the celebration, we recognized the incredible accomplishments of our graduating students achieved during their professional and educational journey. The event was hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations and Advancement in conjunction with the Office of Campus Life, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Veterans Services office.It was an inspiring ceremony featuring keynote speakers, a Veterans cord and challenge coin ceremony, and recognition of our graduating students. We hope that you can join us at a future Veteran and Military-Affiliated affinity graduation event in the future!  

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Our newsletter will return for August 2023 where we will highlight exciting events coming up for Fall 2023. Have a wonderful Summer!

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Congratulations to our Spring 2023 graduating class! It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you during your time at American University. We commend your hard work and diligence to reach your educational goals. We wish you the greatest of luck in your post-graduation endeavors. Congratulations!

-The Veterans Services Team

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