By Jasmyn Belcher
Oswego, NY – The New York State Division of Veterans Affairs is working with colleges across the state to better accommodate returning vets and their families pursuing higher education.
The VA is placing select veteran counselors on college campuses to help connect vets with their education benefits, disability claims, property tax exemptions and other services.
"At this time last year there was about 16,000 users of federal education benefits in the state of New York. The VA predicted a 30 to 40 percent increase in that number," said Andrew Davis, the Training and Outreach Coordinator for the VA. "There's a significant increase when you look at the economy as well as just having a financial aid package to go back to school," said Davis.
According to Davis, the move is in a response to the post 9/11 GI Bill and the increase in the usage rates of state and federal education benefits.
Davis said schools such as Monroe Community College in the Rochester area have doubled and sometimes tripled their veteran populations due to the new GI Bill. Veterans' counselors are now available at several schools including Alfred State and Adirondack Community College.