Operation College Promise
NJ Association of State Colleges & Universities (NJASCU)
150 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
Email: info@operationcollegepromise.com
Phone: (609) 989-1100
Fax: (609) 989-7017
The
Yellow
Ribbon
GI
Education
Enhancement
Program
(Yellow
Ribbon
Program)
is a
provision
of
the
Post-9/11
Veterans
Educational
Assistance
Act
of
2008.
This
program
allows
institutions
of
higher
learning
(degree
granting
institutions)
in
the
United
States
to
voluntarily
enter
into
an
agreement
with
Veterans
Affairs
to
fund
tuition
expenses
that
exceed
the
highest
pubic
in-state
undergraduate
tuition
rate.
The
institution
can
contribute
up
to
50%
of
those
expenses
and
VA
will
match
the
same
amount
as
the
institution.
See
which
NJ
state
colleges
have
agreed
to
participate,
and
for
specific
information
on
an
institution's
Yellow
Ribbon
Program,
please
contact
the
campus
coordinator.
To
access
coordinators,
click
here.The 2012-2013 Yellow Ribbon Agreement is now available. Learn more, here.
 New
Retraining Program for
Veterans to Begin
Accepting Applications
on May 15, 2012.
Go here for more
details:
http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htmVeterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed Veterans. |
|
|
 Completing
the Mission: A
Pilot Study of Veteran
Students' Progress
Toward Degree Attainment
in the Post 9/11 EraAs the enrollment of military-affiliated students continue to surge at campuses across the country, OCP and the Arizona-based Pat Tillman Foundation released a paper reviewing their progress toward degree completion for a pilot population. The paper uses OCP's Graduation Probability Indices (GPI), a methodology developed in concert with campus officials and which include the following: Grade Point Average (GPA), credits earned compared to credits pursued, retention from semester to semester, and utilization of campus services. |
|
|
Operation College Promise (OCP) is a national policy, research and education program based in Trenton, New Jersey, which supports the transition and postsecondary advancement of our nation's veterans. Originating in 2008 as a web-based resource, the project was founded by the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU) to centralize transition information for servicemembers on a comprehensive website. In 2009, OCP was one of only 20 applicants awarded an ACE/Walmart Foundation "Success for Veterans" grant. Today, the project has partner institutions across the nation and has established a National Advisory Council (NAC) to support its rapidly expanding mission. (Our mission)
Education
Major projects include the development of the nation's first resource manual for veterans' service providers (The OCP Field Guide) as well as the first Certificate for Veterans' Service Providers (CVSP) program. The CVSP training has been offered at four different locations, including The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Texas State University-San Marcos, and the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. More than 200 professionals from 25 states have participated.
OCP launched its Speaker Series in March 2011 with a screening of "Warrior Champions" at William Paterson University and Richard Stockton College, along with theatrical performances of "Into the Fire" and the "Telling Project" at Stockton. To date, OCP has hosted more than 20 events, reaching more than 500 professionals in 15 states.
Educating veterans and servicemembers is a top priority. OCP staff regularly participate in the New Jersey National Guard's mandatory "Yellow Ribbon" Post and Pre-deployment programming and provides updated information on existing and emerging programs and services through the OCP website, monthly e-newsletter and social networking sites.
Research
To begin the process of evaluating the progress of student veterans' progress toward degree, OCP partnered with the Pat Tillman Foundation to survey institutions across the nation on a pilot evaluation of the Graduation Probability Indices (GPI) - a methodology developed by OCP. This report is available here. A more comprehensive longitudinal study will be launched in the summer of 2012.
Policy
OCP staff regularly testifies before the New Jersey Legislature on policy affecting veterans and their transition and was awarded a Senate Resolution for its efforts on behalf of veterans and servicemembers. The project collaborated with the New Jersey State Senate to establish the first "Veterans' Education Awareness Week," November 13-19, 2011. A federal resolution designating this week has been introduced in Congress. OCP is also researching and developing condensed degree programs to optimize benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The first of these, "VETeach," a streamlined degree plan, was signed into New Jersey Statute on April 5, 2012.
For more information on Operation College Promise, call 609-989-1100.
“The New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities and its member presidents demonstrated insightful leadership in recognizing early on the need to prepare their campuses for the arrival of this latest generation of returning veterans.”
-James Selbe, Assistant Vice President - American Council on Education (ACE)
-
We Can't Wait: President Obama Takes Action to Stop Deceptive and Misleading Practices by Educational Institutions
that Target Veterans, Service Members and their Families
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
April 26, 2012
On Friday, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will visit Fort Stewart in Georgia where the President will sign an Executive Order to help ensure all of America's service members, veterans, spouses, and other family members have the information they need to make informed educational decisions and are protected from aggressive and deceptive targeting by educational institutions. We have a sacred trust with those who serve and protect our nation. It's a commitment that begins at enlistment, and it must never end. That's why President Obama is committed to ensuring veterans and service members have the chance to get a college education and can find work when they return from service. Read full story, here.
- Operation College Promise Recognized by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
ESGR Press Release - April 20, 2012
Operation College Promise (OCP) recently signed a Statement of Support for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). OCP pledges to continually recognize and advocate support of our National Guard and Reserve members and their families in peace, crisis, and war. Read full release, here.
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Bill Sponsored by Hoboken Assemblyman to Help 9/11 Veterans Become Teachers Signed into Law
Jersey Journal - April 10, 2012
A bill sponsored by Hoboken Assemblyman Ruben J. Ramos and four other Assembly Democrats meant to help 9/11 veterans find employment through an expedited teacher program was signed into law last week. Read full story, here.